CALIF ORNI AN DRY-WJXTER FLOWERS. jj\. 



its winter's wear. This species is covered with a villous pubescence, and 

 this with the accumulation of dust rendered the inflorescence far from 

 a brightly " painted cup." The flowers are, however, not small, as the 

 specific term would suggest. They are well-nigh as large as those of 

 C. coccinia, Spr., of the Middle States. Another member of the same 

 family is the Serophularia Californica, Cham., or California figwort. 

 This was not abundant, and might be easily mistaken for the Linnaean 

 species S. nodosa, L., of Europe and the Atlantic States. The western 

 species may, however, be distinguished by the coarsely, doubly in- 

 cised, or sometimes laciniated leaves, and by the sterile stamens being 

 spatulate or pointed near the apex. Like the eastern species, this is a 

 fine illustration of proterogyny in flowers fertilized by means of insects. 

 The pistil first appears upon the lower lip of the flower. After the 

 style has become flabby and reclined upon the corolla, the four stamens 

 take its former place and shed their pollen upon the bodies of nectar- 

 seeking insects. 



A " four-o'clock," one of the three species within the Golden State, 

 namely, 3IirabiUs Californica, Gray, was found, with its viscid pubes- 

 cent, thickish, almost sessile leaves coated with dust, while the small 

 rose-purple flowers were in striking contrast with their surroundings. 

 We found this one of the most diflicult of all species to prepare for 

 the herbarium. After weeks of drying, the viscid covering would still 

 remain. At least two species of nettles were found in bloom, but as 

 far as showiness goes they might as well have been in fruit ! Around 

 Los Angeles there is a very coarse, tall species ( Urtica Breweri, Wat.), 

 which reaches above a person's head, and is loaded with the green pani- 

 cles of flowers. The leaves are frequently six inches long and finely 

 pubescent. The stems are hispid, and the stinging hairs produce a 

 burning sensation upon the flesh that is akin to numbness, which lasts for 

 several days. One of the ancient natives, observing the writer among 

 these much-dreaded plants, volunteered the information that they were 

 worthless and much to be avoided. He could see no reason why any 

 one would deliberately handle such vile things. The small, slender, 

 stinging nettle of Europe ( Urtica urens L.) was also in bloom. 



Among the CompositCB we note Gentaurea milltensis, L., or star- 

 thistle, with its heads armed with a spinose involucre, which includes 

 the pink flowers. This is one of the miserable weeds of waste places 

 that has effected an entrance from the Old AVorld. The Gnaphalium 

 nmrgaritacenm of Linnaeus, now placed in the genus Anaphalis, D. C, 

 with its white, woolly, leafy stems, and pearly, scaly involucres, was 

 frequently met with, and sustained its old-time reputation for being 

 one of the beautiful " everlastings." The most showy of all the her- 

 baceous composites was the Solidacjo Californica, Nutt,, which is a 

 strict -stemmed plant, about three feet high, with lanceolate entire 

 leaves, and a pyramidal panic^Je of racemose heads of yellow flowers. 

 This is the Californian representative of S. nemoralis, Ait. The 



