OCT.. 1899.] PLANTS. 143 



It is remarkable that a shrub of such wide distribution, and on«; dif 

 fering- so conspicuously from the tree chinquapin [GusUoKqj.si.s chryso- 

 phi/Jla), shoukl so long- escape recognition as a distinct species. 



Q,uercus californica (Torr.) Cooper. Black Oak. 



[==^^j>. heUixjgi Newb.J 



The only oak of Shasta, where it is confined to the basal slopes of 

 the Transition zone, reaching up on the south and west sides to an 

 altitude of 4,500 feet. It is fairly comnu)u in McCIoud Valley, more 

 comnion at Sisson, and increases in abundance to the northward. 

 Between Black Butte and Edgewood it is mixed with pouderosa pines 

 and is one of the most conspicuous trees. It does not attain such large 

 size in this region as nearer the coast and farther south in the Sierra. 



\Quercus (jaynjana was not found immediately about Shasta, and 

 Quercus ivislizeni, which pushes up the canyon of the Sacramento along 

 distance, does not fairly enter the region.] 



Asarum hartwegi Watson. Wild Ginger. 



Occurs here and there throughout the Transition zone, but is com- 

 monest in damp places on the lower slopes. It does not reach (juiteup 

 to Wagon Camp, but in a warm lava basin on the west side of the 

 mountain was found at an altitude a little higher than Wagon Camp. 



Eriogonum marifolium T. & G. Yellow Eriogonuui. 



Common at Wagon Cam]) and other points along the lower edge of 

 the Canadian zone and in the upper part of the Transition. The species 

 seems to belong to the Transition rather than the Canadian zone, and 

 Shasta is its type locality. (Identified by J. K. Small.) 



Eriogonum polypodum Small. Small-leaf Ali)ine Eriogonum. 



The commonest and most widely distributed Eriogowim of the higher 

 slopes, where it ranges from the lower edge of the Hudsonian zone up to 

 and far above timberline. The highest altitude at which it was obtained 

 is 10,000 feet. Its leaves are small and densely covered with a white 

 woolly or hairy material, and its tortuous prostrate branches are so 

 intertwined as to form little mats several inches in diameter on the stony 

 pumice sloi)es; these whitish mats are vastly more compact and dense 

 above timberline than l)elow. The roots are strong but rather slender, 

 and, like those of many other plants that live on the barren, wind-swept 

 pumice slopes, are of extreme length. The main root usually slopes 

 obli([uely for 80 or 90 millimeters, and then divides into four or five 

 slender rootlets 900 to 1,000 millimeters in length. The whitish tomen- 

 tose leaves rarely rise more than 25 or 30 millimeters above the ground ; 

 the fruit stems 100 to 150 millimeters. 



This i)laut and Polyijonuin slKt.sten.senre i)robably the most abundant, 

 conspicuous, and widesj)read plants of the Hudsonian and Alpine 

 zones. They thrive in very dry soils and therefore are not confined 



