ESCHSCHOLTZIA. Od 



time to time they published descriptions of new species of plants and 

 animals. It was some time in 1820 before Chamisso published a 

 description of our state flower, under the name which embalms that 

 of his young friend. Eschscholtz, in turn, gave the specific name 

 Chamissonis to the blue-flowered, shrubby lupine, so common on this 

 peninsula. Chamisso called the white forget-me-not, so common in 

 moist places, Myosotis Chorisiana, in honor of the young artist. The 

 specific names of the so-called California coffee, California lilac, and 

 the common Solanum were given by Eschscholtz, who also named 

 the rare phacelia, which has leaves bristly with stinging hairs, like 

 those of a nettle. Our native blackberry, strawberry, and rose were 

 named by Chamisso, who honored the promoter of the expedition by 

 giving the name Romanzoffia to a charming woodland flower common 

 on mossy rocks by the stream sides of Tamalpais. Thus, the treasures 

 we gather in our rambles are constant reminders of the two naturalists, 

 of the young artist, and of the generous Eussian who sent them out 

 to explore the west coast of our country. 



The choice of eschscholtzia as the emblem of our state was a wise 

 decision. Although forms of it grow northward to Washington, east- 

 ward to Utah, and southward to Mexico, it reaches perfection only 

 within the limits of California. It grows in every county of the state. 

 It is by far the most conspicuous of our common herbs, making acres 

 in our valleys brilliant in the season of its best growth. It blossoms 

 continuously for a longer time than any other conspicuous plant. It 

 takes kindly to the conditions imposed by man, forming in orchards a 

 beautiful spring carpet, which keeps the soil from baking, and appear- 

 ing as a lovely and harmless aftermath in grain and hay fields. No 

 other flower behaves better in a vase. The stems assume graceful 

 attitudes toward each other, and the petals fall before wilting, leaving 

 the young pod in a red-rimmed cup. It changes its fashion. The 

 dense foliage plumes and large orange flowers of winter give place in 

 summer to light, open plumes of a softer green and small yellow 

 flowers on slender stems. As we study the plant, its beauty grows 

 upon us. The plume-like foliage of eschscholtzia, often tipped with 

 brown and red, surpasses in beauty the leaves of other plants. The 

 orange and yellow of the satiny flowers, with the pearly sheen of illusive 

 high lights, is at once the admiration and the despair of artists. Not 

 only does eschscholtzia change with the seasons, but it takes .on forms 

 to suit the conditions of soil and climate. This tendency to variation 

 tries a botanist and delights a florist. The one is puzzled in trying 

 to fix the limits of species; the other is aided in producing novelties. 



In conclusion, let us consider the names which have been given to 

 our flowers. There were probably many Indian names, but none of 



