64 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



will find it one of the best hedges our native Flora 

 produces. It grows quickly, its branches cling to- 

 gether and keep out intruders, and it is always a 

 joy to look upon. 



Another native shrub that can easily be grown in 

 our gardens is the Christmas Berry. It, too, early 

 acquired a knowledge of the advertising value of 

 massing color. Each small flower is perfect and 

 with its dish of nectar could attract a helper; but 

 the Christmas Berry blooms in summer when food 

 is plentiful, and then, too, she towers above the 

 ground so that her small individual blossom would 

 not attract notice were it not accompanied by a 

 goodly company of its fellows. 



The Christmas Berry, like the Barberry, makes 

 her leaves disagreeable to the wandering stock; and 

 so she is left undisturbed to grow year after year 

 until she often reaches beyond twenty feet. With 

 her white banners in the heat of summer and her 

 red in the days of cold weather, she ever adds beauty 

 to our landscape; and it is to be deplored that many 

 touring automobilists tear her apart so ruthlessly. 



Observe the calyx in this plant. See how narrow 

 it is below and broad above. It is said to be turbi- 

 nate, or top-shaped, with the apex down. As the 

 corolla falls off, the calyx curves inward and joins 

 together -its five parts, completely enclosing the seed- 

 case. As the seeds are growing, the calyx also 



