622 Part IV. Chapter 4. 
San Miguel is the most seaward of the northern group and is ofthe na- 
ture of a table-land its shores rising for the most part abruptly to the height 
of from 200 to 300 feet. The two greatest elevations are respectively 861 and 
850 feet. Unprotected by Point Concepecion its condition} is one of perpetually 
wind-swept and wave-beaten exposure '”). 
The only arborescent species are Heteromeles arbutifolia and Rhus integrifolia (now extinct), 
Lavatera assurgentiflora existing in an open grassy v nr The bulk of the se: vegetation 
consists of insular species among which the following are endemic: Ese oltzia maritima, 
Astragalus miguelensis, Oenothera nitida, Galium miguelense, Phacelia ee a Corethrogyne 
filaginifolia var. robusta, Eriogonum rubescens, Malacothrix incana and Abronia villosa. 
ontinental species grow on this island but not on the others, viz: Aplopappus 
ericoides, ER grandiflorum, Sidalcea malvaeflora, Gilia micrantha, Plantago hirtella and 
d and t 
Seirpus riparius. — The grasses which carpet the island are of the perennial kin 
urf is constituted by two or three species of Elymus and Agropyron sparingly found on PR 
mainland. The presence of these perennial grasses which form a rich pasturage for cattle is 
attributable to the ocean fogs. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum covers hundreds of 
acres of higher and somewhat argillaceous land. 
Santa Rosa Island, not so mountainous in its topography as Santa Cruz, 
possess a flora smaller in number of species. The shrubby vegetation and 
trees confined to the sheltered hillsides and canyons are: Pinus radiata (= P.in- 
signis var. binata), Quercus dumosa, Q. lobata, Q. tomentella, O. agrifolia, 
Populus trichocarpa, Salix _laevigata, DE asplenifolius, Heteromeles 
arbutifolia and Prunus ilicifolia. Pinus Torreyana is represented by about 
one hundred trees growing on the bluffs of the eastern shore°). 
The trees of Santa Cruz are Acer macrophyllum, Prunus ilicifolia, Cerco- 
carpus parvifolius, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Salir laevigata, S. lasiolepis, S 
longifolia, Populus trichocarpa, P. Fremonti var. Wislizeni, Ouercus agrifolia, 
O. chrysolepis, O. Wislizeni, O. oblongifolia, O.lobata, O. dumosa, O. tomen- 
tella, Pinus radıata, while as shrubs are found Dendromeon PRIOR, species 
of Rhus, Cercocarpus, Rosa, Lyonothamnus, Ribes, Sambucus, Symphoricarpos 
and Arctostaphylos. 
anta Catalina is formed by two mountain masses, which reach an ele- 
vation between 2,000 and 3,000 feet. Few trees grow on this island, but there 
are many large ahfübe and the flora in general resembles that of San Cruz 
Island. The abundance of Crossosoma californica and Rhus laurina seems to 
be an important difference (Litt. see BRANDEGEE). 
Omitting a consideration of the flora of San Clemente Islands (see ante 
P- 277), it may be said in general that by far the larger part of the island 
flora is composed of maritime and coast range plants that delight in ocean 
breezes, spray and fogs. The great extent of the coast line of the islands 
affords a large habitat for a maritime flora and many mainland shrubs and 
bushes do not develop their lower limbs and branches on the islands and, 
1) GREENE, E. L.: see Bibliography p. 80; see ante pages 275— 278. 
2) BRANDEGEE, T. S.: Santa Rosa Isl, Bibl. p. 79. 
