SANTA CATALINA ISLAND. 137 



crabbed variety of C. cuneatus, which, no doubt, regards its beauti- 

 ful lavender-flowered relative with envy. 



There are large groves of Quercus tomentella in a canon near the 

 middle of the island, with trees over fifty feet high, and so closely 

 set that the sunlight peers in wonderingly, and searches among the 

 fallen leaves tor the acorns, and the little stream trickles along not 

 knowing through what rare shade it flows. And here is one large 

 Quercus MacDonaldi, if there be such a species! For those who 

 think they know differ. The Scrub Oak is always at hand, and is 

 a variety of Quercus duraosa. 



Late in June, Rhus laurina blooms ; it is abundant. Spiraea 

 arisefolia flowers in the same month; it has been found in but one 

 canon. 



In autumn, Rhus diversiloba, in company with the red-berried 

 Lonicera hispidula and its yellow-berried relative, and the white- 

 haired Clematis climb Populus trichocarpa, which thrives in all 

 canons, large and small, where there is water for its roots. On all 

 the Cottonwood trees noticed, the staminate ament is as long as the 

 pistillate. 



In open places where Rhus diversiloba finds no support, it 

 abandons the hope of leaning, and does its best to become a tree, 

 although a very poor sort of a tree it usually is; if chance offers, it 

 gladly takes the first opportunity to climb. However, in La 

 Canada Diablo there are fine arborescent specimens fifteen to 

 twenty feet high. 



Mr. Lyon speaks of a trifoliate form of Rhus integrifolia, and 

 Mr. Brandegee says: "The ternate leaves are usually scattered 

 among those of the normal shape, and no bush with any large pro- 

 portion of the abnormal ones was seen." I have collected the 

 teroate-leaved form in every part of the island. There are trees 

 on five trails leading in as many directions out of Avalon. It 

 thrives at the extreme "West End." It is found in the broad, 

 sunny, and valley-like canons of the "South Side" as well as in the 

 narrow arroyos which lie like green threads between the shattered 

 cliffs at the " East End." In two canons it predominates. 



It is as though some new life principle has touched the hearts of 

 the Rhus leaves. While upon some trees there is found only now 

 and then a ternate leaf, all the other leaves seem to be turning and 



