494 A Botanist in Southern California. [July, 
monest of the plants of the plains. It grows from one to two 
feet high, and has the large purple flowers interruptedly ranged 
on the stem, with the round cordate and crenate leaves at the 
base. LVatystemon californicus Benth., known as cream cups, is 
very common. The flowers are white or cream colored, and are 
raised on naked hairy peduncles four to six inches long, looking 
something like an Anemone. Dodecatheon meadia L. (var ?), the 
shooting star, common in the East, is occasionally seen, and with 
its pretty and curiously shaped flowers reminds one of the rocky 
banks and shady ravines where it finds its Eastern home. Sev- 
eral species of Orthocarpus, with small curious purple flowers, are 
common; one species (O. purpurascens Benth.) is small and in- 
conspicuous in itself, but it grows in dense masses, covering the 
ground for miles, and giving it a purplish hue. The Beria gra- 
cilis Gray, a small composite plant with bright yellow flowers, is 
so common as to cover acres of ground and add its quota to the 
general glory. Sayia platyglossa Gray, is also common; its yel- 
low flowers tipped with cream color. Occasionally a patch of 
Paonia brownii Dougl., greets the eye with its large dark purple 
or reddish flowers, and heavy thick bright-green leaves. The 
poor man’s weather glass, or pimpernell (Anagallis arvensis L.), 
with its bright pinkish flowers, is common in cultivated grounds. 
Collinsia bicolor Benth. with bright purple flowers, hides itself 
modestly under greasewood bushes and sage brush. Castilleia 
passiflora Bong., with its flaming scarlet flowers, looks, in the dis- 
tance, like the Lobelia cardinalis, that beauty of the swamps and 
meadows of the East. Penstemon cordifolius Benth., and P. cen- 
tranthifolius Benth., adorn the banks of streams with their scarlet 
flowers. In shady places the tall green Scrophularia californica 
Cham., similar to S. zodesa L., towers far above the low but pretty 
Claytonia perfoliata Donn., with its raceme of white flowers. 
This last delights in damp shady places, and in such localities it 
is very common. Salvia carduacea Benth., is common in dry sandy 
soil, as is also S. columbarie Benth., with its cluster of blue 
flowers. The Amsinckia spectabilis Fisch and Meyer, a small 
inconspicuous plant with yellow flowers, is so common as to 
cover acres of ground. Two species of Phacelia (P. ramossisima 
Dougl. and P. tanacetifolia Benth.), with white and blue flowers, 
are common, while their near relative, Nemophila aurita Lindl., 
with pretty blue flowers, and weak in the stem, helps to raise 
