216 WITH THE FLOWERS AND TREES 



did, for it really is an Arbutus, closely akin to the 

 European, though not, as Crespi thought, the same 

 species. 



Another remarkable tree, of which the traveler in 

 the California woods is not long ignorant is the Cali- 

 fornia laurel the laurel silvestre of the Spanish- 

 speaking population (Umbellularia Calif ornica). 

 It is peculiar to the Pacific Coast and is of the same 

 family with the camphor, the sassafras and the 

 laurel of history and literature ; a very variable tree 

 in matter of size, running all the way from twice 

 the height of a man to a hundred feet and even up- 

 ward. Whatever its inches, however, one need 

 never be in doubt about its identity because of the 

 pungent odor of the leaves, which, pinched between 

 the fingers, or even brushed against as one climbs 

 the trail, give off a fragrance not unlike that of bay 

 rum. The pleasant aroma sometimes tempts the 

 inexperienced to sniff a lot of it, but generally only 

 once, as it is apt to produce headache or violent 

 sneezing. Perhaps the latter effect is responsible for 

 the name pepper wood, by which the tree sometimes 

 goes. On the homeopathic principle, the Indians, 

 according to Mr. Chesnut, recommend a leaf put in 

 the nostril, or several in the hat, to cure headache ; 

 while as a discourager of fleas the foliage strewn 

 about the premises is said even by white people to 



