124 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



like Agua Dulce, stagnant and green, because, as the guide 

 said, it had not rained enough for six years to make the pool 

 overflow. Plants in bloom can be found at any time of the 

 year, but the majority, and especially the annuals, blossom 

 after the fall and winter rains have begun. The luxuriance 

 of the flora depends upon the amount of the rainfall, prob- 

 ably even more than does the familiar flora of California. 



At Magdalena Bay and San Gregorio, annuals were nearly 

 all well developed in January and February, and by April 

 most of them had dried up and disappeared. Many shrubs 

 were in mature fruit early in January, and had evidently 

 flowered in November and December. Most of the different 

 species of cactus and many perennials do not blossom until 

 the hot weather of April and May. Farther northward, 

 of course, the seasons are later, and winter - bloomers are 

 not so numerous. 



Cactaceoe. are extremely abundant and the most noticeable 

 portion of the flora north and south, often forming forests 

 and impassable thickets and, in May, adorning the landscape 

 with showy flowers. Agaves are common and in some lo- 

 calities cover the ground; when blooming they are always 

 conspicuous. Leguminous trees of several genera are 

 abundant and furnish much of the wood used for various 

 purposes. The multitudes of cactus bear spines, straight 

 or hooked, almost every shrub or bush is thorny, and 

 even the ground is often covered Avith old prickly burrs of 

 an annual grass (Cenchrus). 



Some of the native plants afl'ord products useful to the 

 inhabitants. The collecting of " orchilla " gives employ- 

 ment to many persons. Several species of cactus bear 

 delicious fruits, and the juice of the plants will quench 

 thirst in time of extreme need; the bark of Veatchia, Lysi- 

 loina and Bursera is used for tanning hides; " jicamas " are 

 liked by everyone; Maytenus, Frosopis, Cereus and Opuntia 

 supply firewood; the stems of a Cereus are used for stupi- 

 fying fish; several species of Agave are responsible for the 



