CALIFORNIAN DRY-WINTER FLOWERS. -jjs 



berry, and quite distinct from all other lilbes. As the branches hang 

 loaded with the clusters of drooping flowers, like beautiful ear- 

 pendants of rich hues, this is one of the most striking sights among 

 the dust-laden vegetation. No one is, however, much inclined to gather 

 quantities of the canes for home decoration, because they are gener- 

 ously provided with prickles, which stand guard upon all sides, and 

 effectively keep away Avhatever would bring harm. Samhucus glauca, 

 Nutt., is the elderberry of California. It grows less like a shrub and 

 more like a tree than our old S. Canadensis, L., and the leaves are of 

 a firmer texture. The greenish-white flowers are in large, flat-topped 

 cymes. 



The California lilac ( Ceanothiis thyrsiflora, Esch.) is a showy winter- 

 bloomer, and well merits the attention it receives as an ornamental 

 shrub. The plant attains a height of ten to fifteen feet, and the large 

 lead- or lilac-colored flower-clusters appear before the leaves. These 

 are frequently gathered in abundance by tourists for showy bouquets. 

 Bhamnus Californica, Esch., of the same order, was loaded with its 

 inconspicuous flowers. A wild prunus was in full bloom, and reminded 

 the writer of spring days in the Atlantic States. The leaves and fruit 

 were not at hand, and the species was not therefore determinable. The 

 mountain-laurel, or "spice-tree" {Umbellnlaria Californica, 'Suit.), is 

 the only representative of the olive family in the section visited. This 

 is symmetrical in form, with thick, shining leaves. The flowers are 

 borne in clusters, apparently at the ends of the straight branches. All 

 parts of the tree are pervaded with a disagreeable odor, which becomes 

 quite intense when the fresh foliage is broken, and it may excite sneez- 

 ing in extreme cases. 



Among forest trees, we saw the young bolls hanging from the 

 recently clothed branches of the Platayms racemosa, Nutt., or syca- 

 more. This tree, along with the live-oak ( Quereus agrifoUa, Nees), is 

 common in the caiions, reaches a large size, and assumes picturesque 

 forms and positions. The small male catkins were hanging from the 

 short ultimate branches of the live-oak. Abius rhomhifolia, Nutt., 

 w^as opening its gummy inflorescence, while the willows were arrayed 

 in their delicate " pussies." 



When we come to the introduced ligneous plants of the city road- 

 side or plaza, where no water is supplied by irrigation, we find the 

 blue gum {^Eucalyptus globulus), from Australia, the most show^y of 

 the trees. These began to flower in Los Angeles by the 20th of 

 January, and a month later those in Santa Barbara were so loaded with 

 the large, top-shaped disks and their whorls of long, white, feathery 

 stamens as to change the somber complexion of the tall, sparsely 

 branched trees. The bees were sometimes so numerous in these trees 

 as to remind one of an eastern basswood during honey-harvest. The 

 pepper-tree, with its di'ooping, graceful, fern-like tops, seems to be 

 always in flower. On the same plant may be seen all stages, from the 



