California Fruits and Flowers. 135 



large edible bulb produces one or more flower stems which rise 

 trom one to two feet above the sand in which they grow, bear- 

 ing from a tew to thirty white fragrant flowers. A single species, 

 H. undulata. 



HETEROMELES. 



H. ARBUTIFOLIA Roemer. The California Holly, or Christ- 

 mas berry, is a handsome dark evergreen shrub, with white 

 flowers and producing clusters of bright scarlet berries, which 

 ripen at Christmas time. 



JUNIPERUS. 



}. Californica Car?. Californian Juniper. A small shrub 

 of ornamental value, common in Southern California. 

 J. OCCIDENTALIS Hook. These two are very similar in aspect. 



LASTHENIA. 



L. GLABRATA Lindl. A composite plant, a span to a loot 

 high, producing a multitude of showy yellow flowers. Annual. 



LATHYRUS. 



L. SPLENDEN5 Kellogg. 'The Pride of California.' A splen- 

 did hardy perennial, producing a profusion of its large, brilliant 

 rose red to crimson blossoms,* in clusters of ten or more. The 

 most magnificent of the native climbing plants of West America. 



L. VENosus Aluhl. The flov/ers of this perennial pea are but 

 a little smaller or less beautiful than the last, of a deep magenta. 

 It has often been mistaken for L. splendens, but if once seen 

 together they can always be recognized. 



L. VESTlTUs Nuit. Lovely white flowers, veined with rose. 



LAYIA. 



This genus was named in honor of Thomas Lay, the natural- 

 ist in Beechey's voyage. They are hardy annuals, thriving in 

 any ordinary soil. 



L. ELEGANS 7". <2f G. The California Layia is a beautiful up- 

 right bushy plant, about a foot high, and producing in abund- 

 ance brilliant lemon yellow* single flowers, two inches across, 

 the tips of the rays forming often a scolloped white border. 

 Showy. 



LEPTOSYNE. 



L. DoUGLASii DC. Easily mistaken for Layia elegans by 

 those who are not botanists. Equally pretty but more modest 

 and retiring. 



L. MARITIMA Gray. A striking and showy plant, perennial, 

 the succulent stems a foot or two high, producing large yellow 

 flowers of great beauty, in abundance. Common on ocean 

 beaches. 



