92 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



edge. They form an effective background for the 

 crimson blossoms. 



Under cultivation, the Pentstemon enhances its 

 beauty, increasing in size and softening its texture, 

 while losing none of its ability to choose brilliant 

 color. Its common name is Beard-Tongue, from 

 that changing fifth stamen. It is this organ that 

 gives it the botanical name, as the ancient scientists 

 wished to emphasize the fact that it was present. 

 Newberryi is in honor of Dr. J. S. Newberry, who 

 was a member of Lieutenant Williamson's party 

 that made one of the first surveys of California, be- 

 ginning in 1853. All these Government surveying 

 parties had among their number botanists who col- 

 lected the new plants and introduced them to the 

 world of Science. 



A close relative of the Pentstemon is the Mimu- 

 lus, they both being members of the Scrophularia- 

 ceae or Figwort Family. The Pink Mimulus is one 

 of the lovely flowers of the high Sierras. Its pale 

 green foliage and rather weak stems crowned by 

 its exquisite rose pink blossoms give the impression 

 that it is an escape from the conservatory. On first 

 acquaintance, one marvels that such a delicate crea- 

 ture can live under such extremes of climate. With 

 a longer observation, one sees that this delicacy 

 is only in appearance. Pink Mimulus is really 

 abounding in vigor. It sends out its first blossoms 



