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from between long wavy leaves, a rather fleshy stalk bearing 

 from four to twelve large pure white flowers, all delicately 

 marked with green pencillings. This most capricious of Nature's 

 children is oddly endowed with a faculty for remaining dormant 

 through periods of dry years awaiting the more favorable 

 growing conditions when there is a rainy season on the desert. 

 . . . Many flowering plants grow scatteringly over these desert 

 mountains. The ARIZONA VERBENA (Verbena wrightii), 

 dainty in pale lavender-blue and the GOLDEN POPPY 

 (Eschscholtzia douglasii) , just as exquisite as the larger and more 

 brilliant California Poppy, are there inviting admiration; from 

 the shelter of low desert shrubs leap flaming scarlet tongues of 

 the INDIAN PAINT BRUSH (Castilleia angustifolia) ; and 

 clumps of lavender-purple DESERT ASTER (Aster tortifolius) 

 contrast delightfully with those of bright golden yellow DES- 

 ERT SUNFLOWER (Geraea canescens). 



Next the scene of floral enchantment is the vast Sacramento 

 Valley. The Black Ute Mountains are behind; and, across a 

 distance of extensive valleyland, loom the towering peaks of the 

 Hualapai Mountain Range. 



The SPANISH DAGGER (Yucca mohavensis) is the out- 

 standing tree of this immense sandy and rocky valleyland. It is 

 easily recognized by a black, shaggy massive trunk that 

 reaches, either branched or unbranched a height of some ten 

 feet or more. The yellowish green leaves are borne in a terminal 

 rosette and from their midst, in season, arise stubby panicles of 

 fetid, greenish white flowers. . . . Another Yucca is the SPAN- 

 ISH BAYONET (Yucca baccata). This is an acaulescent species 

 with basal rosettes of upturned bluish-green leaves and bears 

 the largest flowers of the genus. These showy flowers are creamy 

 white, flushed with bronze-red, and are followed by large 

 conical, edible fruits. ... A leafless tree, with short black trunk 

 and upright bright green, spine-tipped branches, was named, 

 both as to genus and species, Canotia holacantha, by Dr. Torrey. 

 Its local name is PALO CHRISTI. The Palo Christi has in- 

 conspicuous white flowers and usually bears many woody, black, 

 long beaked seedpods from previous seasons. ... A graceful 

 plant with black annulated branches crowded with a wealth of 

 shining bright green leaves, a riot of golden yellow blossoms, and 

 silver velvety seed vessels is the CREOSOTE BUSH (Larrea 



