FLORA OF THE PACIFIC COAST 



(Artemisia tridentata), rabbit-brush (Chrysothamnus 

 of several species), hop sage (Grayia spinosa), ante- 

 lope brush (Purshia tridentata), and in alkaline soil 

 black greasewopd (Sarcobatus vermiculatus). 



The Mountain Flora (Transition, Canadian, Hud- 

 sonian, and Arctic-Alpine zones). In the mountain- 

 ous districts the most important life zone is the 

 Transition, so-named because here the boreal and 

 the southern elements of the flora meet. Except 

 along the coastal strip it coincides in general with 

 the yellow pine belt. Here the botanical traveler 

 will find a delightful and exhilarating climate dur- 

 ing the summer months. If he comes from the east- 

 ern states most of the genera and some of the species 

 will be already familiar to him, if from the north or 

 from northern Europe he will feel more at home, 

 botanically, in the higher zones. Vast areas of yel- 

 low pine forest are easily accessible by wagon road 

 or trail from all the mountain settlements and re- 

 sorts, while those who desire more strenuous mount- 

 aineering will find ample test for their skill. 



In the open forests will be found a scattering 

 growth of flowering herbs. These increase in abun- 

 dance as the trees become better spaced, thus admit- 

 ting more light. Pentstemons are plentiful, especially 

 in the south. Monardellas, Gilias, several species 

 each of Pedicularis, Lathyrus, Hosackiq, and many 

 other genera are not uncommon. Thick-stemmed 

 saprophytes like Pterospora, Pleuricospora, Coral- 

 lorhiza, and Pyrola aphylla force their way through 

 the carpet of pine needles. The most popular of 

 these saprophytes is the snow plant (Sarcodes san- 

 guinea) the thick red stalks of which appear soon 

 after the snow has melted and remain as conspicu- 

 ous elements until autumn. Although not abundant 

 it may be expected anywhere in this zone from 

 southern California to Oregon. 



But it is only in the forest openings that one finds 

 flowering plants in profusion. Gravelly slopes along 

 rocky outcroppings and exposed ridges are the most 

 productive. Such localities may be yellow with 

 Eriogonum and Eriophyllum, both of which western 

 genera are represented by many species, or blue 

 with Erigerons or Asters, or brilliant with several 

 sorts of Pentstemon, but always with an admixture 

 of many species belonging to other genera. 



Here and there the forest opens up to make room 

 for a mountain meadow the composition of which 

 will vary with the moisture content of the soil as 

 well as with geographical position. A small meadow 

 in Butte County, California, may be described as 

 typical of those to be found in the Sierra Nevada. 



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