INTRODUCTION. 



17 



region may "be noticed Styphonia serrata^ with its tliick evergreen leaves and Ohionc canescensj 

 which is very ahundant. A species of Lyciumy with yellow flowers and red berries, is also 

 conspicuous. This brief enumeration will serve to give a general idea of the characteristic 

 vegetation of what we have termed the Littoral llegion. 



SUrRA-LITTORAL REGION. 



Leaving the salt water, to the influence of which the characteristics of the preceding region 

 are due^ we come to the Snpra-Littoral district, which presents a more striking variety in its 



vegetable forms. 



This region includes a large proportion of shrubbery, to which, as it imparts peculiar features 

 to the scenery, we shall especially direct our attention. 



Before enumerating the plants which make up this woody growth, we would remark, tliat 

 nearly all the shrubs of this region are inclined to form a stunted and bushy growth, which is 



evidently caused b}' exposure to dry seasons and sea breezes. There is also to be noted a leaden 

 color of foliage, which does not depend upon the abundant growth of Artcmisicc ^ most of wliich 

 possess this tint, but is common to a large proportion of the shrubs of this region. Both of 

 these peculiarities of the vegetation have their influence upon the character of the landscape. 



One of the most striking shrubs is Eriogonum fasciculatum^ a neat evergreen, with small pink 

 flowers, disposed in crowded umbels at the summit of prolonged stalks. Its season of flowering 

 is during the midsummer, and it is generally characteristic of arid and barren tracts. Isomeris 

 arborea (Nutt.) is frequendy associated with this plant, and is distinguished by its yellow flowers 

 and singular bladder-shaped pods. Here is also found lihus aromaiica^ (Nutt.,) which frequently 

 acquires quite an arborescent growth and occupies extensive tracts. It is clothed with shining 



evergreen leaves, which resemble those of the holly and exhale a strong odor like that of laurel. 



JPhotinia arbutifoli 



symmetrically formed shrub 



This has rich evergreen foliage and beautiful bunches of white flowers, which are succeeded by 

 scarlet berries. In favorable localities this sometimes attains the height of twenty feet, with a 



trunk six inches in diameter at the base. 



Simmondsia 



» californica^ (Nutt.,) wliich has persistent leaves of a pale green color, and inclined to assume a 



vertical position. The plant is dioecious ; the mature fruit is about the size of a hazel nut, and 

 has a thin smooth three- valved husk, which separates spontaneously when ripe, disclosing a 

 brown triangular kernel. This fruit, though edible, can hardly be termed palatable; its taste 

 is somewhat intermediate between that of the filbert and acorn. It is, however, employed by 

 the Indians as an article of diet, and is called by them ^'jajoba/' The range of the Simmondsia 

 extends to the base of the mountains, and it is found again, in similar situations, upon the 

 eastern side, though less abundantly, as well as in the upper valley of the Gila, where it was 

 detected by Major Emory, in 1816. Besides the shrubs above enumerated, the Artemisia 



Califi 



by the Mexicans as a popular 



Estafiat 



resorted for fuel. 



On the San Diego i)romontory there is a c 

 both the people from the town and from th< 

 The greater proportion is furnished by Eriodictyon, which is a large shrub of from eight to 

 twelve feet in height, with a diameter of from two to four inches. The wood is very close- 



k 



matter 



