SOME GROUPED FLOWERS 67 



pronunciation of the letters "11" as "y" ; so they have 

 been writing the name "Toyon." However, we can 

 spell it correctly, just as we spell San Jose correctly, 

 and not "San Hosa." 



We have come to mis-spell another Spanish plant 

 name, by depending upon our ear. When the early 

 Spanish Californians explored the Sacramento Val- 

 ley, they came to a river whose banks were gor- 

 geously draped in the autumnal festoons of wild 

 grape leaves and fruit. They were footsore and 

 thirsty. The acid fruit was so welcome to the tired 

 adventurers that they named the stream the Grape 

 River, Rio Uva. Now, the Spanish Californians 

 pronounce "v" much like they did "b." So when 

 they said "Rio Uva," the Americans replied, "Oh, 

 yes. Uba River." That did not look very well, so 

 they prefixed a "y" ; and so we have, since before 

 the days of the famous Dam, the "Yuba River." 

 So, too, we have "abalone," instead of "avalone." 

 Spelling comes and spelling goes, but we must re- 

 member that the tumbling Yuba River owes its 

 name to the useful plant that still beautifies its 

 banks, the wild grape, or "la uva." 



The plants already treated in this chapter arrange 

 their blossoms in clusters for advertising purposes, 

 but each little perfect flower swings on its own indi- 

 vidual stalk. However, one plant family, the larg- 

 est in existence, has advanced beyond co-operation 



