201. CEANOTHUS SPINOSCS 202. CEANOTHUS SOREDIATUS. 19 



201. CEANOTHUS SPINOSUS, NUTT. 

 REDWOOD MYRTLE, SPINY MYRTLE. 



Ger., Dorn'j< llyrte ; Fr., Myrte espineuse ; Sp., Myrto espinosa. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, elliptical to ovate, to H in. long, 

 pinnately veined, entire, rounded or emarginate at apex, somewhat cuueate at 

 base, glabrous, coriaceous, with slender petioles 2 to 4 lines in length, drying to a 

 brownish above and a clear green beneath ; branchlets glabrous and somewhat 

 spiny. Flowers blue, fragrant, in large thyrses sometimes 6 in. in length, the 

 lower peduncles of which are sometimes 1 to 3 inches long, springing from the 

 axles of leaves. Fruit capsules about 3 lines in diameter, depressed, scarcely 

 lobed, resin-coated, crestless. 



(The specific name, spinosun, Latin for spiny, refers to the fact that many of 

 the branchlets terminate in leafless spur-like points.) 



A small tree occasionally 30 ft. (9 m.) in height, with rather broad 

 open head, divaricate branches and trunk occasionally 12 in. (0.30) in 

 diameter. This is vested in a cinnamon-brown bark which is about 

 J in. thick and finally checked into firm irregular low ridges. It is 

 often only a shrub but in favorable situations assumes the stature and 

 habit of a tree. 



HABITAT. Among the California coast mountains from Los 

 Angeles to Point Conception, attaining its largest dimensions near the 

 mouths of canons which open along the coast. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, strong, of close grain 

 and of a light red or salmon color; the narrow sap-wood lighter. 

 The specific gravity, etc. , have not been determined. 



USES. Little use is made of this wood owing to its scarcity in size 

 large enough to be of service, though its properties would suggest its 

 value in turnery, for tool handles, etc. 



The glossy evergreen foliage of the tree and its ample, beautiful 

 clusters of bright blue flowers give it an ornamental value well worthy 

 of consideration. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES we believe have never been ascribed to this 

 species. 



202. CEANOTHUS SOREDIATUS, H. & A. 



DARK-LEAVED MYRTLE, SOUTHERN BLUE BLOSSOM, GREEN THORN. 

 , >'/'///, / F Heeler ; Fr. , Lilas meridional ; Sp., Lilac meridional. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Lea nes alternate, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, - to 1 

 in. long, with three primary veins, rounded or acute at base, acute or obtuse at 

 apex, with finely glandular-serrate margin, dull glabrous above at maturity, 

 grayish and with minute appressed silky hairs beneath: petioles short and finely 

 pubescent; branchlets, at first puberulous and olive-colored, become finally pur- 

 plish and finely red-warty, rigid. Flowers deep blue, in small simple pubescent 



