THE SHRUBS OF CALIFORNIA. 45 



states the latter is more abundant than it is in California. It covers 

 great areas, and it is a sight worth many miles of travel to see it when 

 in full bloorn. On Mount Tamalpais, where it is rather rare and forms 

 part of the brush, it looks like a garden of roses. The large rose-colored 

 llowers in great bunches, surrounded by the glossy evergreen leaves, 

 make a gorgeous bouquet. The azalea, if not quite so showy, is perhaps 

 more attractive to many on account of its perfume. The rhododendron 

 is without odor. At all seasons of the year the azalea can be found in 

 bloom on Mount Tamalpais. In May it is beginning to bloom in the 

 canyons, and generally along the streams ; but in the fall and winter the 

 clumps that grow near springs burst into bloom all over the dry stems, 

 and the flowers look like stars from a distance. The leaves of the azalea 

 turn the most beautiful shades of yellow, red, and brown in the fall, 

 and can be easily distinguished amid the other brush. There are two 

 varieties, one with white flowers marked in the throat with yellow, the 

 other rose-color, with similar markings in the throat. 



The huckleberry (Vaccinum ovatum Pursh) and salal (Gaultheria 

 Shallon Pursli] must not be forgotten. Both have beautiful foliage, 

 and are used for household decoration to an increasing degree. On the 

 hills of Marin County in the spring the young foliage is a bright scar- 

 let, and can be seen from a great distance. The flowers are lovely, and 

 the fruit of both excellent. 



The Ceanothi, or California lilacs, are found in abundance and 

 variety, and form a great part of the chaparral. In this group it is 

 almost impossible to exactly define the species or to say how many 

 species there are. No two botanists can be found to agree in regard to 

 their number or identity. California lilac is perhaps the most gener- 

 ally used common name, but in different localities they are called by 

 other titles, such as blue blossoms, red root, snow bush, etc. Some of 

 them become tall trees, while some lie flat along the ground, forming 

 mats, known as mahala mats. When in bloom the different species are 

 among the most beautiful of the flowering shrubs. The flowers are 

 small, but grow in such profusion on the bushes, in panicles terminating 

 the branches, or in bunches all over the stems, that they are most con- 

 spicuous; and as the different species follow each other in their periods 

 of bloom, often, however, overlapping, they are among the chief agents 

 in giving varying color to the ever-changing carpet of the hills. From 

 a great distance, even, different species can be distinguished by the color 

 of the hill slopes. The white ones look like snow over the bushes, the 

 blue ones seem to reflect the sky in their azure, while the lavender and 

 purple-flowered species, while less striking, are equally beautiful and 

 as readily distinguished. 



The Ehamnus, or coffee berry, belongs to the same family. Besides 



