276 



COUNACEyl<:. ('«> 



A "eims of about a ilozt-n specios, peculiar to tlie region from California to Texas and soulliward, 

 with a single one in the West InJies. 



1. G. elliptica, l)ou<,'l. A stout shrub or small tree, usually only 5 to 8 fict 

 high : luaviis clliplical, 1 A to 3 inches long, rounded or acute and niucronate at the 

 apex, mostly truncate or"roundcd at base, undulate on the margin, densely tomcn- 

 toso beneatii, smooth above : aments solitary or clustered ; tlu; sterile 2 to f) indies 

 long, with bracts truncate or acute, silky, as also the calyx-lobes ; fertile amejits 

 stouter, 1 to 3 inches long, with acuminate or acute In-acts : ovary tlensely silky- 

 tomentose, sessile: fruit globose, 4 lines in diameter. — Lindl. l>ot. Iveg. t. lG.S(i; 

 Maout & Decne, Traite J5ot. 25G, ligs. 



From Monterey northward to the Columbia near the eoast ; dry soil and hillsides, llowcring in 

 winter and early spring ; the staminate plant then very ornamental. 



2. G. Fremontii, Torr. Shrub, 5 to 10 feet high, becoming glabrous : leaves 

 ovate to oblong, not undulate, U to 2^ inches long, acute at each end, on petioles 4 

 to 6 lines long : aments solitary, 2 or 3 inches long, Avith acute somewhat silky 

 bracts ; the fertile aments rather slender : ovaries nearly glabrous : fruit globose, 2 

 to '2\ lines in diameter, shortly i)edicellate. — Pacif. li. Rep. iv. 13G. 



From the Ui»|ier Sai:ramcnto to the Yoscnate Valley and in tlio Cuast Ranges to Mount llnmil- 

 lon, JJicuYi-, ]-«iavi.s ligliUtr green and less laihesecnt llian in llio hiht. 



3. G. buxifolia, (iray. A snndl shrub, 2 to f) feet high : loaves oblong-ellipti(;al, 

 1 to l.>, inches long, l to 8 lines broad, acute at each end, smooth above, deusidy 

 white 'appre.sscd silky beneath; i)etioles 1 to 3 lines long: fertile aments an im;h 

 long, the short bracts acute, more or less silky : fruit globose, glabrou.s, nearly ses- 

 sile, 2h to 3 lines in diameter. — Troc. Am, Acad. vii. 349, 



Red Mountains, Mendoeino Co., Bulandcr, Kellogg. 



4. G. flavescens, AVatsun. A rather spreading .shrub, G to 8 feet high, pubes- 

 cent with closely api)ressed silky hairs : leaves coriaceous, elliptic-ovate to -oldong, 

 acute at each end, scarcely nuicromite, an inch or two long, Hat, entire, at length 

 nearly glabrous above, on petioles 3 to G lines long : aments j)endulous ; bracts G t(» 

 10 pair.s, broad, connate, acute or the lower acuminate, silky ; sterile aments 1 or 2 

 inches long, h)0.se, the pedicels (1 to 3 together) ecpialling or exceeding the bracts ; 

 fertile aments an inch long, dense, with solitary sessile flowers : fruit den.sely silky, 



ovate, 3 lines long. —Am. Naturalist, vii. 301. (J. 1, Watson, Ym\.. King 



Exp. 421. 



Var. Palmeri, Watson. Pubescence densely tomentosc : leaves smooth above, 

 mucronate, on short(!r petioles : fruit globose, 3 or 4 lines in diameter. 



Freijucnt IVom Souliiern Nevada and I'lah into Arizona and New Mexico, 'rin- variety at Mii- 

 (juatay, GO mihis from San Diego, on tlm Fort Yuma road, J'aliucr. branches ami leaves yellnw- 

 ish ; Iheimlii upon the beed stains a blight violet color. 



