WATERLEAF FAMILY. Hydrophyliaceae. 
There are several kinds of Eriodictyon, shrubs, with 
alternate, toothed, leathery, evergreen leaves, which are 
netted-veined, generally green and smooth on the upper 
side and whitish and downy on the under, with leaf-stalks; 
the flowers in coiled clusters; the corolla more or less 
funnel-form or salver-form, without appendages in the 
tube; the stamens and the two distinct styles not pro- 
truding; the capsule small, with few seeds. The name is 
from the Greek for ‘“‘wool” and “net,” in allusion to the 
netted wool on the under surface of the leaves. 
A branching shrub, from two to six 
Yerba Santa, — feet high, with thickish leaves, with toothed 
Mountain Balm 
Esiodictvon or wavy margins, from two to six inches 
" Califérnicum long, dark and shiny on the upper side, 
White, lilac pale with close down and netted-veined on 
Summer 
the underside. The flowers are not 
especially pretty, about half an inch long, 
with white, lilac, or purple corollas, and are slightly sweet 
scented. The leaves are strongly and pleasantly aromatic 
when they are crushed and were used medicinally by the 
Indians, hence the Spanish name, meaning ‘‘holy herb.” 
Cough-syrup is made from them and also substitutes for 
tobacco and hops. This grows on dry hills and is very 
variable, being sometimes a handsome shrub. There are 
intermediate forms between this and the next, E. tomen- 
tosum, which are difficult to distinguish. 
A large leafy shrub, about five feet 
high and much handsomer than the last, 
Cal., Oreg., Wash. 
Woolly Yerba 
cae on with velvety, light green branches and 
tomentdsum —s/Veery ‘velvety, purplish twigs. The beauti- 
Lilac ful leaves are veined like chestnut leaves 
Spring ' and made of the thickest, softest, sea- 
Californi i i 
alifornia green or gray velvet, like a mullein leaf in 
texture, but much: smoother and softer. The flowers are 
three-quarters of an inch long, with a pale pinkish-lilac 
corolla, shading to purple and white, downy on the outside, 
and form quite handsome clusters, mixed with pretty gray 
velvet buds, the lilac of the flowers harmonizing well with 
the gray foliage. This grows in quantities on Point Loma, 
and other places along the coast, from San Diego to Santa 
Barbara. There are several similar varieties. 
420 
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