GARDENS OF THE SEA 239 



tanned bark of the fishermen. Its berries are yellow 

 instead of red. 



The species of currant, incorrectly called a banyan 

 tree, at Avalon, is the only one not found on the main- 

 land or the neighboring islands. Curiously enough, 

 there are no sycamores here. There is a legend that 

 the pine once flourished, but was destroyed by fire. 

 The Cottonwood and willow are the conspicuous trees 

 of the cafions; and here Mr. Policy has found the rare 

 oak, Quercus MacDonaldii, known only here and at 

 Santa Cruz. 



If we are here at Christmas-time, we shall see the 

 beautiful apple-tree-like blossoms of the Crossosoma 

 Calif ornicum — a tree about fifteen feet high. Here 

 is the Malva rosa of the Mexicans, or Laterara. 



In our strolls we shall find the snake cactus {Cereus 

 emoryi), and great patches or forests of the prickly 

 pear. Eriogonum giganteum is an attractive shrub, 

 ten feet in height, with silvery foliage; while the plant 

 bearing the beautiful clusters of blossoms that over- 

 hang the cliffs in early spring is Leptosyne. 



Leptosyne gigantea, found nowhere else, is a most 

 interesting plant. As you row or sail along the island 

 near Cabrillo, the ice plant haunts the edges of the 

 cliffs and glistens in the sun. In the little caiion is a 

 NicoHana, a tall slender plant from which the natives, 

 it is supposed, obtained their tobacco. Here are the 

 golden stars of the silvery dusty miller {Ertophylliim 

 Nervinii), found nowhere else than at San Clemente 

 and Santa Catalina. In some of the canons to the 

 north of Avalon is the wild cherry of Catalina, with 

 its glossy leaves, which I can see as I write, from my 

 window at Pasadena, having an island tree on my 



