California Trees and Flowers. g5 



A. decurrens Wildenow. The Black Wattle is one of the 

 most prized, and is largely planted for forest culture, because of 

 its rapid growth, the value of its timber, its beauty and the bark 

 which is rich in tannin. 



A. dealbata Link. Silver Wattle. Very ornamental. 



A. Farnesiana Wildenow. Oppopanax is prized for its deli- 

 cate, delicious and wonderfully persistent perfume, for which it 

 is often grown. It is valued for other reasons, and is of especial 

 historic interest, since it is credited with having iurnished the 

 crown of thorns with which the Savior was crowned. 



A. melonoxylon. Make one of the finest of sidewalk trees, 

 sturdy and symmetrical in form. 



A. pycnantha Bentham. The Golden Wattle is second only 

 to A. decurrens in importance for its yield of tanner's bark. 



ACANTHOMINTHA. 



A. ILICIFolia Gray. A showy mint-like annual, abundant 

 on the mesas near San Diego, and well worth attention. A span 

 high, with white flowers marked with purple. 



ACTINOLEPIS. 



A. coronaria Gray. A low annual bearing numerous yel- 

 low flowers. 



adenostoma. 



Evergreen shrubs, belonging to the rose family, two to ten 

 feet high, which produce an effect upon the landscape similar to 

 that of the heaths of the Old World. By studying the natural 

 blending and contrasts of our wild shrubs and trees in their na- 

 tive haunts, the landscape artist could gather some useful hints, 

 and the species of this genus would prove useful in his work. 



A. fasciculatum Hooktr & Ar?i. This Chamisal often 

 covers large areas of country so densely as to be almost inpene- 

 trable. The foliage is very dark green. 



A. sparsifolium Torrey. Foliage light pea green; flowers 

 in large terminal panicles, white and fragrant. 



AGAVE. 



The so-called Century Plants are among the best known of the 

 succulent ornamental plants that are in cultivation. California 

 lurnishes several beautiful species. 



A. desert i En^elmann. A glaucous-leaved species, peculiar 

 to the Colorado Desert. Flower stalk seven to ten feet high, sur- 

 mounted with a large panicle of flowers of a chrome yellow.* 

 These plants, also known as Mescal or Maguey, from which the 

 alcoholic liquor mescal is made, are useful for their strong fibre. 



A. Pringlei Engelmann. A mountain form of A. deserti, 

 rare and beautiful. 



