BEAR CLOVER 

 (ChaiiKcbatia foliolosa Benth.) 



(mOUNTAIX misery, BHAR-MAT, TARWKKI) j 



Bv J. A. Mitchell 

 Forest Examiner. U. S. forest Service 



No one can travel far through the Sierras of California without 

 becoming more or less familiar with this abundant, strong-scented, 

 low-growing shrub. Throughout the pine belt it occurs in great 

 patches, acres in extent, forming a dense mat or ground cover a foot 

 or so in depth. Often in open stands of western yellow pine it ex- 

 tends for miles, for all the world like a great green carpet. In early 

 summer its millions of dainty white blossoms against the vivid green 

 of new leaves make a sight never to be forgotten. From a practical 

 standpoint, however, few plants are less useful or more obnoxious 

 both to the stockman and the forester ; for, of no value in itself, it 

 occupies the ground to the practical exclusion of all other species. 



Botanically speaking of the rose family, bear clover is characterized 

 by minutely divided fern-like leaves, a white five-petaled strawberry- 

 like flower, sticky foliage, and a rank aromatic odor. The latter char- 

 acteristics are so marked as to give it the name "tarweed" in certain 

 localities and serve generally to identify it. Any one who has once 

 walked through a patch of it and smelled the pungent aromatic odor 

 it gives off when bruised is certain to remember it. The plant itself 

 is a low, woody evergreen shrub, growing from one to two feet high, 

 with numerous slender branchlets. It has a long taproot and many 

 laterals, which send up shoots at frequent intervals. This habit of 

 sprouting accounts for its rapid spread and its ability to withstand 

 repeated fires. In addition, it produces seeds abundantly and repro- 

 duces itself readily in this manner, particularly on areas where the 

 mineral soil has been exposed. 



Within its range, which includes the lower timber or yellow-pine belt 

 on the west slope of the Sierras, from the Kern River on the south to 

 the Pitt River watershed on the north, bear clover is a most important 

 forest weed. While growing in a variety of situations, it does best 

 where the soil is deep and where there is an abundance of sunlight. 



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