THE WEST AMEEICAN SCIENTIST. 71 



Eriogonum fasciculatum, Benth. 



Aphanisma blitioides, Nutt. 



Chenopodium Californicum, Watson, 



Atriplex Californica, Moq. and A. canescens, James, 



Suaeda Torreyana, Watson, 



Parietaria debilis, Forst, 



Euphordia misera, Benth, 



Oalochortus splendens, Dougl. 



Stipa sp. ? Festuca Myurus, L., Bromus sp. ? and Elymus 

 condensatus, Presl. are the grasses found. 



Polypodium Californicum, Kaulfuss, and Pellaea andi'omedae- 

 folia, the onJy ferns seen. Edwakd L. Greene. 



CALIFORNIA PLANTS OF HORTICULTURAL VALUE. 



In 1825, the interest in Western American botany culminated 

 in a desire to know something more definitely of the floral pro- 

 ductions of this region. Accordingly, under the auspices of the 

 London horticultural society, David Douglas, a Scotch gardener, 

 visited the Pacific coast and discovered many of the choicest treas- 

 ures of California's flora. Other explorers followed after, sending 

 seeds and plants to Europe for cultivation, many of which have 

 met with the appreciation of every lover of flowers. 



The Californian flora is probably richest horticulturally in its 

 great variety of brilliant liliaceous plants — peculiarly its own, and 

 which are extensively cultivated in Europe though little known in 

 America. Our Southern Californian flora possesses certain Mexi- 

 can characteristics in addition— such as cactuses, palms, etc., and 

 is noted for its be^autiful ferns and flowering shrubs. 



The lily, the 'king of flowers,' is too well known to need the rep- 

 itition of any stereotyped praises of its stateliness and beauty. 

 There are about fifty si^ecies, of the northern temperate zone, ex- 

 tensively cultivated for their showy and often fi'agrant flowers. 



The following Californian varieties are highly prized in Europe 

 where some of the very handsome forms are in great demand: — 



Lilium Parryi, stout, 2 to 5 ft. high; flowers lemon-yellow, large 

 and very fragrant. Thrives in wet, sandy soil. Yery rare. 



L. Washingtonianum, tall, 4. to 6 ft. high, stout; white and ver v 

 fragrant flowers. A beautiful species, growing in loose soil en 

 ridges or lightly shaded hillsides. 



L. rubescens, an exceedingly rare lily resembling the last, th« 

 flowers changing from white to dark ruby-red after opening. 



