22 BOTANY. 



trunks — several springing from the same root — arch over till the top touches the ground, when 

 it takes root. Where the clumps of vine maple are numerous, and, as is frequently the case, 

 they are contiguous, their intermingled and rooted hranches constitute an almost impassable 

 barrier to the traveller. 



The vine maple requires considerable moisture for its vigorous growth, and it therefore be- 

 comes more and more abundant as one approaches the coast. There, in many localities, it forms 

 thickets, which are regarded by the inhabitants as well nigh impenetrable. 



The foliage of the vine maple in its general aspect resembles that of the sugar maple of the 

 east. The wood is hard, heavy, and fine grained, and is much used for small articles, when 

 these qualities are required. 



Acer glabrum, Torr., and Acer tripartitum, Nutt., are shrubs, which are not uncommon in 

 the Cascade mountains. 



Aectostaphylos glauca, Lindl. (Flate III.) Manzanita. 



A. glauca, Lindl., Bot. Reg. t. 1791. 



Xerobotrts glaucus, Nutt., Trans. Amer, Phil. Soc. 



Description. — A large evergreen shrub, growing in clumps ; bark red, exfoliating ; leaves 

 ovoid, smooth, coriaceous, entire, set vertically ; flowers in terminal racemes, urceolate, pinkish 

 white ; fruit spheroidal, flattened, black, smooth ; seeds triangular, rough. 



This shrub is highly characteristic of the Californian flora, being abundant on all the hills 

 and mountains, and extending northward into Oregon ; near the Columbia, however, it is gene- 

 rally replaced by A. tomentosa, which has much the same habit, and is very closely allied to it, 

 but apparently specifically distinct. The manzanita has received the Spanish name which it 

 bears from a fancied resemblance of its fruit to a little apple. 



It usually grows in clumps, six, eight, or ten feet in height, divided into many trunks, 

 which are rarely larger than one's arm, covered with a red exfoliating bark. 



The evergreen leaves are oval in form, about an inch in length, thick and shining, and (un- 

 like those of most plants) are set vertically. The flowers are urn-shaped, considerably resem- 

 bling those of some species of Vaccinium. The fruit grows in clusters, and is first white, sub- 

 sequently red, and finally black. It has the form of a flattened spheroid, a quarter to three- 

 eights of an inch in diameter, and is nearly filled with triangular stony seeds. These seeds are 

 covered by a pulp, which has the consistence and taste of that of the fruit of the "Black 

 Haw." 



The manzanita berry is regarded as eatable, and is the favorite food of the grizzly bear. It 



was frequently eaten by our party, but in most circumstances is too dry, and has too little flavor 



to be highly relished. As an ornamental shrub, the manzanita is well worthy of introduction 



into the parks and pleasure grounds of the eastern States ; and since it grows up to the line of 



perpetual snow on the mountains of California, it would doubtless be hardy in any part of the 



Union. 



The wood of this shrub is very dense and hard, of a reddish color, and somewhat resembles 



that of the apple tree. No use is made of it in the arts at present, except that rustic seats are 



sometimes formed from its crooked and twisted branches ; for which purpose it is exceedingly 



well adapted. 



