150 



OUTLINE OF PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



l,ia. and the small tiger-lily, L. parvum. The tall false hellebore 

 (Verairum Ccdifornicum) is a very striking and common plant, 

 and in the late summer the meadows are gay with asters, golden- 

 rod, Gaillardia, and others reminiscent of the northern prairies. 



Fig. 44. — Ceanothus sp., a characteristic chaparral shrub, Mt. Shasta region. 



The true alpine flora of the Sierras is much less developed than 

 on the snow-clad peaks of the Cascades and Rockies; but there are 

 a good many of the same, or closely related species, of Primula, 

 Phlox, Silene, Gentiana, etc. 



The flora of the Shasta region of northern California resem- 

 bles to some extent that of the Cascades, rather than the Sierra. 

 While both yellow and sugar pines occur, the commonest tree is 

 the Douglas fir, which is found also in the Sierra forest, but in 

 much smaller numbers. Where moisture is abundant the beauti- 

 ful Lawson cypress (Chamaecyperis Lawsoniana) also occurs near 

 Mt. Shasta, and deciduous trees, oaks, maples and dogwood, are 

 much in evidence. On springy hillsides, which are a feature of 

 this region, are many flowers which recall the northern woods. 



Columbine, bleeding-heart (Dicentra), monkshood, spring- 

 beauty (Claytonia) and tiger-lilies (L. pardalinum) , grow in the 

 wet mossy ground, with ferns of several species. Thimble-berry 

 (Rvbus X nth-anus), and cow-parsnip, with its huge leaves and great 

 umbels of white flowers are prominent in this plant formation. 



