54 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
The central elevation consists of the mountain ridge which culminates 
in the peak of Calamahuie at an elevation estimated at about 3300™. 
To the eastward it breaks into lofty precipices and steep slopes which 
have not been surmounted between 30° 30° and 32° 30’ N., no passes 
having been found in this wild stretch of 100%". Between the main 
range and the coast lie numerous minor ranges disposed in laby- 
rinthine complexity, which also have not been explored. So faras 
available information may be relied upon, no botanist had previously 
visited this region, and some care was taken to secure living and 
preserved specimens of the native plants whenever at all possible. 
The lower coastal slopes were found to be sandy and gravelly, the 
depressions and near the shore furnishing suitable conditions for 
Lycium Torreyi and Parosela spinosa, which latter becomes a tree 
7™ in height. Asclepias subulata was abundant in clumps, and 
Ditaxis serrata grew on level areas. Other species, characteristic of 
the lower levels, were bervillea tonella, Croton californicum, Lupinus 
mexicanus, and the curious Frankenia Palmeri. The low alkaline 
pockets reached by the spring tides furnished conditions suitable for 
Spirostachys occidentalis. Covillea, with its enormous capacity of 
adjustment, extended from near the shore across the entire slope. 
and up the granite mountains through a range of over 600™ in eleva- 
tion. The various portions of the slope between the sea and the 
first range of mountains supported ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), 
which attained its maximum height of 10", palo verde (Parkinsonia 
microphylla), palo fierro (Olneya tesota), Bursera, and Gaertneria ilici- 
jolia. The streamways leading down from the mountains were inhab- 
ited by a number of Eriogonums and euphorbiaceous herbs. A few 
Opuntias of the cylindrical arboreous type, an Echinocactus, a Mam- 
millaria, and a small Cereus were also seen. Pilocereus Schottii, 
which is found on the mainland far southward, here reaches the 
greatest density yet observed, forming dense forests, acres in extent. 
Perhaps the most notable feature from a geographical point of view 
was shown by the presence of a great tree cactus, having the appear- 
ance of Cereus pecten-aboriginis. Cereus Pringlei is known to be 
abundant under the common name of “cardon” farther south, but 
this plant appears to agree with the former, and makes a splendid 
picture in the arid landscape, finding here its extreme northern limit 
of known occurrence. 
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