106 EIPEEACEa. (PEPPEE FAMILT.) 



Oofc, TTormtad, etc. Salicomia (GlaBBWort) grows In salt marshes, and may be known by Ite SeBhy iMf- 

 lesB Jointed stems, with opposite branches. The garden Beet belongs to this order. 



Order 51. PIPERACEiE. 



Herbs with jointed stems, alternate entire leaves and perfect flowers in spikes, en- 

 tirely destitute of floral envelopes. 



1. ANBMOPSIS, Hook. 



Flowers in a simple conical spadix, which is surrounded by a 5-8-leaved persistent 

 colored involucre, each flower subtended by a free colored bract. Stamens 6 to 8, free, 

 growing upon the immersed ovary. 



1. A. Califomioa, Hook. Stem simple, erect, 3 to 15 inches high, with a single 

 broad clasping leaf in the middle, and an axillary branchlet reduced to 1 or more petioled 

 leaves; radical leaves oblong-oval, cordate at base, 2 to 6 inches long; involucre 1 to IJ 

 inches broad, white, becoming brown. Used medicinally by the Mexicans, who call it 



Yerba Mansa, 



APETALOUS TREES. 



The Order Betulacese (Bikch Family) is represented in CaUfomia by two Birches, 

 which scarcely attain to the dignity of trees, and are confined to the high Sierras, and 

 four Alders, two of which grow in the central part of the State, viz. : 



Alnus rubra, Bong. (Red Alder), and the more common 



Alnus rhombifolia, Nutt (White Alder), which may be distinguished by its thinner 

 leaves, not rusty beneath, and more slender branches not so distinctly dotted with white. 



M3rrioa Californica, Cham. (Bayberry), representing the Order Myricacese grows in 

 moist places, and may be known by its thick oblanceolate serrate evergreen leaves and 

 dense clusters of small fruit, whitened by a coat of wax. 



UmbeUularia Califomioa, Nutt (Order Lauraoese), is the well-known Laurel. 



Platanus racemosa, Nutt, is the California Sycamore. 



The Order Salicace^ is represented by 4 or 5 Willows; large enough to be called 

 trees, and 3 Poplars, viz. : 



Populus tremuloides, Michx. (Quaking Asp), a small tree, with whitish bark 

 and round ovate leaves. In the high Sierra. The only Califomian tree, except one or 

 two willows, found east of the Rocky Mountains. 



P. triohacarpa, Torr. & Gr. (Cottonwood.) Petioles round; young bark brownish. 



P. Fremonti, Wat. (Fremont's Cottonwood. ) Petioles flattened; young bark yellowish. 



The WA1.NUT Family is represented by Juglans Californica, the California Black 

 Walnut. 



Ten kinds of Oak Trees, and several shrubs of the same genus, with the chestnut-lik« 

 Chijtquapin, represent the Order Cupuliferae. 



