426 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [December 



the fullest acquaintance. The type source of W. filijera is unknown, 

 the native home of W. gracilis remains unvisited, the haunts of W. 

 sonorae seldom have been penetrated, but many botanists have stood 

 beneath the groves of the desert W. robusta, and it has long been 

 familiar in cultivation in southern California. 



Distribution. — Its distribution appears to have been determined 



r. 



by the boundaries of the great lake which, in the not very distant past, 

 occupied the central depression of the Colorado Desert- We may 

 reasonably suppose the shores of this ancient lake to have been 

 enlivened, here and there, with groves of stately palms. A few vener- 

 able trees still linger near the upper shore line of this vanished sea, 

 gaunt and ready to perish, and without offspring to succeed them; 

 but the most have retired to the caiions of the surrounding mountains. 



homes 



moistened 



tions. The 

 distribution. 



The most 



moisture 



miles 



some of the neighboring washes. This belt may be considered the 

 center of distribution. The finest grove occupies, for a mile or more. 



row Palm Cafion, on the opposite side of th 

 Jacinto Mountain. Here hundreds of fine 

 the stream or cling to the rockv bases of it: 



The 



older trees are still vigorous, and there are abundant younger ones of 



all sizes. It is convenient of access 



Springs. 



from 



Most of the canons at the desert bases of San Jacinto 



palms. 



Whitewater 



estem 



southern outpost 



northern limit 



kno 



Duration of the leaves.— It is seldom that one sees a desert palm, 

 either indigenous or cultivated, that has not been marred by human 

 agency. A naked trunk, crowned with living leaves, beneath which 

 is a mass of dead ones deflexed, is not the natural aspect of the tree. 

 The effete leaves, were they not artificially removed^ would conceal 



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