California Trees and Flowers. 149 



P. pubescens Benth. The Screw-bean. A smaller tree than the 

 Mesquit, with curiously twisted pods. 



PRUNUS. 



P. ilicifolia Walp. The Holly-leaf cherry. A beautiful dark 

 evergreen shrub, yielding a pleasant edible fruit. Useful for hedges 

 or ornamental planting. 



PSEUDOTSUGA. 



P. Douglasii Carr. The magnificent Douglas spruce, better 

 known commercially, perhaps, as the Oregon pine. A gigantic tree, 

 200 to over 300 feet in height, and very beautiful. 



Var. macrocarpa Engelm. A small form. 



RHUS. 



R. ovata Watson. A handsome evergreen shrub, noted for its 

 glossy foliage and graceful form. The small dark red berries make 

 a cooling drink, pleasantly flavored, resembling lemonade, and the 

 Indians formerly gathered sugar from this species. Thus it may be 

 appropriately termed a Lemonade and Sugar Tree. 



R. integrifolia Nutt. The dark evergreen foliage of this shrub 

 or small tree, locally known as the Mahogany, is very handsome, 

 while the larger bright red berries, coated with a white waxy sub- 

 stance also make a refreshing and cooling drink. The Californians 

 formerly gathered and dried the berries for this purpose. 



ROMNEYA. 



This large white-flowering perennial poppy, named in honor of 

 Dr. T. Romney Robinson, a noted astronomer, is one of the stateliest 

 of California's contributions to horticulture. It is quite a hardy 

 shrub with us, requiring only a sheltered position to protect its 

 flowers ; in England it is classified as half-hardy. A rich loamy soil 

 is most suitable to its needs. In early spring vigorous shoots start 

 from the dormant roots, growing from six to fifteen feet high, which 

 do not die down but need to be pruned well back in the fall. A 

 single species. 



R. Coultert Harvey. This magnificent wax-like flower has be- 

 come very popular wherever known. The large hairy buds open at 

 daylight, the crimped petals slowly unfolding from over the huge 

 bunch of bright yellow stamens (as large as a walnut), until they 

 spread out from six to nine inches. The flowers last several days 

 and the buds open well in water. The foliage is very effective and 

 makes with the flower an artistic study. Grown from either seed or 

 cuttings with difficulty, but a well established root will well repay 

 the attention bestowed upon it. 



ROSA. 



R. Californica C. & S. The wild rose of California, with its 



