Immigrant Plants in Los Angeles County, Cal. 189 
early pioneer, that led the Indian to call it the “ white man’s foot.” 
A farther traveled and more constant companion of civilization is 
the Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella Bursapastoris), already abundant in 
California. 
This hardy and prolific weed accompanied the Roman legions 
in their conquest of Gaul and Britain; and, after the lapse of cen- 
turies, followed the Anglo Saxon in the peaceful conquest of the 
West. The more useful European species have, of course, been pri- 
marily introduced for agricultural or domestic purposes. Of these the 
most valuable and most interesting historically is the Medicago sativa 
Lin., the alfalfa of the Spaniard, and Lucern of the French. This has 
been so long and so commonly cultivated in Spain that it seems but 
natural they should have introduced it here in the early days of the 
conquest. Though cultivated before this time by the Greeks and 
Romans, it is not indigenous to Italy, having been brought from 
Media at the time of the Persian war, 470 years before the Chris- 
tian era. The very name (Alfalfa) indicates its origin, being the 
Arabic derivation of the Persian name. The history of Alfalfa is 
but the history of many of our now supposed indigneous plants; 
they have by accident, or otherwise, followed the path of civiliza- 
tion westward, till it becomes difficult to discriminate between what 
is indigenous, or otherwise. 
Among the other useful fodder plants, abundant around Los 
Angeles, are: Erodium cicutarium and Erodium moschatum, or 
Filaree, better known in Europe as the Stork’s bill and Melilotus 
parviflora, the Melilot. Whether these, like Alfalfa, were inten- 
tionally introduced, I have no mzans of knowing, but the proba- 
bility is their introduction was accidental, and once introduced, and 
their value recognized, their wide-spread distribution is easily ac- 
counted for. Around Los Angeles, it seems to me its introduction, 
useful though it is, is not altogether an unmitigated blessing, as it 
has crowded out the natural and more enduring native grasses that 
otherwise would afford grazing supplies long after the filaree has 
disappeared. 
Of grasses, I have observed Lolium perenne (rye grass), Dactylis 
glomerata (cock’s-foot), Phleum pratense (cat’s-tail), Festuca myu- 
rus, Phlaris canariensis and Poa annua, in the lawns and waste 
places within the city. Eragrostis poeoides and Panicum crusgalli are 
not infrequently near the river. Lolium temulentum exists spar- 
ingly at San Pedro; Bromus racemosus general, and in many parts 
common, and seems the only important grass that tends to naturalize 
and increase. 
Of the clovers, Medicago deticulata, the Burr clover alone is com- 
mon, the nature of its fruit ensuring its maintenance and continued 
extension; Medicago lupulina and Trifolium arvese, or Dutch 
clover, are merely casuals, and rare at that. 
First cultivated, as useful plants, Brassica nigra (wild mustard), 
