ject to the cool fogs of the coast. Its attractive trifoliate leaves and striking 

 blossoms, however, make it a prized ornamental tree wherever it can be suc- 

 cessfully grown. 



CRAPE MYRTLE 



Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) was given its generic name in honor 

 of Lagerstroem, a Swede, and friend of Linnaeus. It is a small tree about 

 twenty feet in height, which is generally considered as a shrub because of its 

 slow growth. Its chief attraction are its showy_flowers which vary in color 

 from white to pink. It has small deciduous leaves and very smooth bark, 

 which with its flowers makes it a favorite choice for central parkings where 

 large trees would interfere with traffic, and where ornament is the chief con- 

 sideration. It is hardy in all valley portions of the state. 



CHRISTMAS BERRY 



The Christmas berry (Photinia arbutifolia) is a distinctive California 

 shrub which grows nowhere else in this country. All the other species, of which 

 there are about thirty, are found chiefly in southern and eastern Asia. It is 

 the glory of our hillsides in fall and winter with its bunches of crimson-red 

 berries in contrast with its glossy green foliage. 



Many people think that the Christmas berry, commonly called California 

 holly, is related to the English holly, which its leaves and berries closely 

 resemble. It has no botanical relationship, but the spirit that prompts its 

 use for decorations during the Christmas season recognizes no difference. 

 Every year witnesses more people gathering "red berries," and in some sec- 

 tions of the state there is danger that this attractive shrub will become extinct 

 because of the ruthless way in which it is treated. 



It is stated by forestry officials in southern California that the Christmas 

 berry in its canyons will become exhausted within three years unless com- 

 mercial and individual gatherers stop pulling the bushes up by the roots. 

 Commercial gatherers are said to be picking it by the ton to be made into 

 wreaths that retail at a dollar apiece. 



So destructive has been the gathering of holly in San Mateo County 

 that arrests have been made for trespass by owners as the only recourse of 

 stopping the vandalism practiced. People who would not think of going into 



(63) 



