1886. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 205 
in diameter, it forms one of the most beautiful and interesting 
features of our island flora. 
Prunus illicifolius Walp. on our coast range mountains a small 
leaved, straggling shrub; on Catalina becomes a stately tree of 
50 feet with leaves 24 inches long. 
Audibertia polystachya of abnormal size occurs on Catalina, 
and current with it A. Palmeri, common also to Guadalupe; the 
readiness of the genus to commingle and hybridize might lead us 
to anticipate under insular influences many modifications; none, 
owever, were noted except in that of size. 
The genus Rhus may be mentioned here as not only the 
genus of plants more than any other, which from its abundance 
of individuals and species gives character to the vegetation of the 
island, but as might be expected shows a tendency to vary 1 not 
noticeably in size, at least in a manner not observed upon the 
mainland. 
form possesses great interest as marking perhaps the initial steps 
to show the activity of physical conditions upon these islands in 
the production of ultra vigorous vegetable rth... Fi 
should not be forgotten that the collections upon W ich these 
notes are based were made in a season of unparalleled drouth, 
When the collection of depauperate specimens upon the mainland 
was the rule, a season so adverse to the development of abnormal 
luxuriance in vegetation that the fruits of many species for the 
collection of which I especially revisited Catalina in October of 
last year, failed to mature seeds of germinative power. 
* 
