128 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



Spain was dazzling Europe with the results of her 

 seeking a passage to the Spice Islands by crossing 

 the Atlantic, Monardes always mentioned what we 

 know as the Western Hemisphere as "The Indies." 

 He was the first scientist to write descriptions of 

 these newly discovered plants of the Indies, and his 

 works created much interest in all the civilized 

 countries. By 1579, they had been translated into 

 Italian, French and English, in the order men- 

 tioned. The horse mints were first named in his 

 honor, Monarda. When, later, new species of 

 Penny Royal were found in America, their genus 

 was called Monardella, or little Monarda. I am 

 particularly glad that we have among our native 

 plants one that keeps forever green the name of the 

 most illustrious botanist of the sixteenth century. 



Lanceolata, the species pictured, is named for its 

 leaves. It grows in the Coast regions, and was well 

 known by the Spanish Californians under the name 

 of Poleo, which is Spanish for Penny Royal. Our 

 English common name does not mean a royal rem- 

 edy at a low price, as imagination might lead us to 

 believe; but it is derived from the Latin through 

 the French, and means a royal remedy against fleas. 

 This virtue in the herb is what makes the mosqui- 

 toes dislike it so. 



There is no excuse for a camper suffering any 

 common disease to want a remedy. If he have 



