(<2 
10 BOTANY. 
giving the forests a peculiarly dark and sombre aspect, forming a strong contrast with the 
surrounding grassy plains, Two very distinct species of oak occur here, one of which I have 
marked on the profile as Quercus Gambellii, of Nuttall; the other is probably new. In the deep 
ravines or cafions of this district we iad an ash, (Braxinass velutinus,) common also to the 
copper mine region, and associated with it also a cherry, which may be anew species. Willow- 
leaved poplar is occasionally found along the arroyos, where water has lately been standing. 
Among the shrubs abounding in this region are found the blue-berried barberry, a species of 
currant, (Ribes,) and a species of very thorny Solanacex, of unknown genus. A new shrub, 
interesting on account of its botanical affinities, was found here, belonging to the small order 
of Garryacex, natives only of western North America and the West Indies. A second species 
of the genus Garrya is very common about the copper mines of New Mexico, which was also 
detected here, but not in fruit. Which of the two, if either, is the plant of Douglas, upon 
which the genus was founded, we are unable at present to determine. We find great difficulty 
in procuring publications of American plants, in the arrangement of orders subsequent to com- 
posite, up to which point we have been supplied, by the indefatigable zeal and learning of 
those excellent co-laborers in the field of botany, Drs. Torrey and Gray, in their Flora of North 
America, Since the acquisition of Texas, New Mexico, and California, with their consequent 
explorations and discoveries, the new genera and species, in orders previously passed over; are 
so many and important, that a new edition is now hacia nied called for, before their great 
work is finished. 
A walnut was found in this region, collected atbetien.; in the region of the copper mines of 
New Mexico, very nearly related to the black walnut of the Eastern States. From Devil’s 
river, in Texas, while on the boundary commission, were sent specimens and a figure of what 
was thought to be a new species, to Dr. Torrey, a description of which was read by him before 
the meeting of the American Association of the Sciences, in August, 1851, under the title of 
Juglans Whippleana ; which was not published. Dr. Engelmann had previously obtained, and 
named it J. ruprestris. Dr. Torrey has published figures of both of them, in Captain Sit- 
greaves’ report; our present plant, provisionally, a variety of that species. The differences 
between them, however, are greater, in my opinion, than those between the present variety and 
Juglans nigra; so that they may all ultimately come to be forms of one species, when still 
other and more closely connecting varieties are found. 
A Ptelea, closely allied if not identical with the shrubby treefoil of the States, is found ce 
A Condalia also, which is a Rhamnaceous shrub, bearing small dark-colored berries, several 
species of which are eaten by Mexicans and Sallis A beautiful shrubby spiraea, or a species 
of some nearly allied genus, was found here 
Along the banks of Turkey creek, Puchi. creek, and the streams which we first passed after 
crossing Aztec Pass, we observed large quantities of willows, which is rather an unusual oc: 
currence in this country. On the hills sunroninding the Aztec mountains, for the first time, we 
met with the beautiful shrubby arbutus, (Arctestaphales;) called by the Mexicans manzanita ; 
the bark of the plant is handsomely polished, of a dark mahogany color. From this place a 
the Pacific, and in California, there are several species of this genus, most of them bearing an 
edible berry, similar to the whortleberry. In California, a most valuable timber-tree of this 
genus grows all along the Coast range of mountains. It bears a larger edible berry, which is 
much sought after by Mexicans and Indians, who know it by the name of Madrona. Itisa 
beautiful tree. The wood is very hard, taking a polish equal to, and much resembling lignum- 
vr 
ae Bill Williams’ mountain we found in considerable quantities the aggregated ret 
noticed before ; but the species cannot well be determined, on account of the want of blosso: 
and fruit. It is very nearly allied to Dr. Engelmann’s Cereus polyacanthus, which yields an 
etihle Sinite called. by Mexicans pitahaya. It is sometimes in large oval masses, densely set 
with formidable eset The arborescent — first found near Zutii, which, to distinguish 
