76 



stricted to the lower hills of the Coast mountains of middle California, from at 

 least Monterey on the south to Sonoma on the north, growing on moist banks 

 of streams and other damp places. Greene says "In flower from January (or 

 even Dec.) to March." I have found it in bloom only in late March and early 

 April. 



In his Manual, 124. 1S94, Greene describes a variety melanocarpnm of this 

 species, which has "ripe berries black, without any trace of bloom," which oc- 

 curs "at Berkeley, and in Santa Clara Co." 



.9 Uiljes Mialvaceum Smith, Rees Cycl. 30: 1819. 



Mallow-leaved Currant. — Leaves heart shaped, slightly five- 

 lobed, serrated, veiny; hispid on both sides; densely downy be- 

 neath. Clusters hairy, longer than the leaves. Calyx tubular, 

 hairy. Petals rounded, not half so long as the limb. Bracteas 

 ovate, acute, jagged, half the length of the calyx. — Gathered in 

 California, by Mr. Menzies. Bra7ichesldi2S^ purple, downy, like 

 every part of the plant. Leaves an inch, or inch and half, long; 

 dark green above; white, and densely downy, beneath; hispid 

 on both sides with glandular bristles. Stipulas beautifully 

 fringed. Chisters dense, on long, rough, glandular stalks. Calyx 

 red, about half an inch long, hairy, especially its base and the 

 gej'inen. Petals w^edge-shaped, rounded, somewhat cloven, 

 scarcely one-third so long as the segments of the limb, which 

 are elliptical. Staynens the length of the petals. Bracteas ele- 

 gantly jagged and fringed. This fine species seems nearly allied 

 to the last \R. sanguinewni^. We have not at hand the Flora 

 Peruviana^ to ascertain how far it resembles any in that work. 



Known definitely from Marin county, immediately north of San Francisco 

 Bay, to Monterey county on the south, and especially on the outer Coast Range. 

 It was probably first collected at Monterey, as it is not uncommon in the pine 

 woods near that place. Greene says that it grows on "dry open hills." but I 

 have never found it except among other shrubs, in places where there is con- 

 siderable moisture during the winter and early summer months. The species 

 is easily distinguished from R. glutinosmn not only by the thick leaf, rugose 

 above and white beneath, but by the shape of the calyx, the lobes in this species 

 spreading rotately, while in R. glutmosuni they are more erect, presenting a 

 much longer appearance, and are of a deeper red as a rule. This species is 

 the earliest bloomer, having been noted as early as December loth on the hills 

 west of Los Gatos, Santa Clara county, where it is abundant. 



