170 Education through Nature 



The gall which is of particular interest to us here in 

 Ellensburg is that of the sage-brush. These sage galls, 

 green globe-like bodies, vary in size from one-half inch to 

 an inch in diameter, and are formed from the tip or middle 

 portions of the leaves, as shown in drawing on the first 

 page. The growth is certainly peculiar, for the middle- 

 lines of the leaves may be traced through the galls. I have 

 even found the gall closely surrounded by a group of 

 leaves and formed from a part of each leaf, as represented 

 by drawing, Fig. 2. 



In structure, these galls are fibrous and porous within, 

 covered by a thick skin without, the latter being sur- 



FIG. 2. Gall Uniting Several Leaves. 



mounted by innumerable grayish hair-like projections 

 causing a fuzzy appearance of the galls. Sometimes the 

 outer surface is smooth and shiny. I have noticed that 

 the galls with such a surface seem to be the oldest. In all 

 probability these smooth galls were once pubescent, like 

 their younger sisters. 



In the very heart of the gall there starts from the base a 

 conical capsule, varying in length from one-sixteenth of 

 an inch to one-eighth of an inch, and composed of a thin 

 green skin with a hard crust -like base (Figs. 3 and 4). 



