310 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [Ho.7. 



Pluchea sericea. 



This slender, willow-like plant, sometimes called ' arrow-wood,' forms 

 low thickets in the neighborhood of water in some parts of the desert 

 region, but was not found west of Death Valley. It is common at Fur- 

 nace Creek on the east side of Death Valley, the oidy locality in Cali- 

 fornia where it was seen by the expedition. In Nevada it is common 

 about some of the warm springs in Ash Meadows, and very abundant 

 in Vegas Wash and about the Great Bend of the Colorado Eiver, and 

 also in parts of the Muddy and Virgin valleys. In the Lower Santa 

 Clara Valley, Utah, near the junetion of the Santa Clara with the 

 Virgin, it forms dense thickets along the river. 



Hymenoclea salsola. 



This small shrub, 'which suggests a Bigelovia in general appearance, 

 but is profusely beset with small glomerate heads, is common in many 

 parts of the desert region, particularly along the courses of washes on 

 the mountain sides, in which it frequently attains a considerable alti- 

 tude. The following notes on its distribution were recorded : 



CALIFORNIA. 



Mohave Desert. — Common in places and found as far west as' Ante- 

 lope Valley, between the town of Mohave and Willow Spring; also 

 extends up the open caiion leading from Mohave to Tehachapi Basin, 

 where it reaches an altitude of 1,050 meters (3,450 feet). 



Walker Pass. — On the east side of the pass it ranges up to 1,430 

 meters (4,700 feet) in the tree yuccas. On the west side of the pass 

 it runs down into Kern Valley as low as 820 meters (2,700 feet), per- 

 haps lower. 



Owens Valley. — Abundant in the southern part of the valley and one 

 of the commonest shrubs on the west side between Lone Pine and 

 Haway Meadows. It ranges up along the foot of the Sierra slope to 

 1,525 or 1,550 meters (5,000 or 5,100 feet). 



Deep Spring Valley. — Found in the wash leading up to the pass 

 across the White Mountains. 



Grapevine Canon. — Common in the bottom of the canon. 



Oasis Valley. — Common along the bottom of the valley. 



Indian Spring Valley. — Common in the wash at the extreme west end 

 of Indiau Spring Valley. 



Emigrant Valley. — Common and reaching thence up on the west side 

 of the Desert Mountains to about 1,680 meters (5,500 feet) near Mud or 

 Summit Spring. 



Timpahute Valley. — One of the principal plants in the bottom. 



Pahranagat Valley. — Common throughout the dryer parts of the 

 valley up to about 1,340 meters (4,400 feet). On the west side (Pahra- 

 nagat Mountain slope) it runs up a gravel wash to nearly 1,525 meters 



