1916.] PHYTOGEOGRAPHIC EXCURSION IN CALIFORNIA 13 



THE INTERNATIONAL PHYTOGEOGRAPHIC EXCURSION 



IN CALIFORNIA. 



The first International Phytogeographic Excursion was conducted 

 through the British Isles by the British Vegetation Committee in 

 August, 1911. It was so successful that arrangements were made by 

 Professor Cowles of Chicago for a similar excursion in the United 

 States, in order to observe the more important vegetation areas 

 in general, and to visit special localities under the leadership of 

 American botanists whose studies have given such localities a clas- 

 sical interest. 



After spending several weeks in the eastern United States, the 

 Rocky Mountains, Washington, and Oregon, the party arrived in 

 California on September 6th. It consisted of the following mem- 

 bers: Dr. H. Brockmann-Jerosch, Zurich; Frau Dr. Brockmann- 

 Jerosch, Zurich; -Dr. Geo. E. Nichols, Yale University; Dr. Ove 

 Paulsen, Copenhagen; Dr. Eduard Rubel, Zurich; Professor Carl 

 Schroter, Zurich; Professor C. von Tubeuf, University of Munich; 

 Dr. T. J. Stomps, Amsterdam; Mr. A. G. Tansley, University of 

 Cambridge, England; Mrs. A. G. Tansley, Cambridge; Professor 

 Adolf Engler, Royal Botanic Garden, Berlin; Professor H. C. 

 Cowles, University of Chicago ; Dr. A. Dachnowski, Columbus ; Mr. 

 Geo. D. Puller, University of Chicago; Professor P. E. Clements, 

 University of Minnesota; Mrs. P. E. Clements, University of Min- 

 nesota. 



The party arrived in Oakland on the morning of September 7th, 

 and immediately left for the Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees, 

 under the leadership of Professor W. L. Jepson and Professor H. 

 M. Hall of the University of California. The characteristic foothill 

 flora of the Sierra Nevada was observed from the train windows. 

 After a three-hour stop in Yosemite, the party went directly on to 

 the Mariposa Big Tree Grove. An entire day was spent in the Upper 

 and Lower groves examining the most magnificent examples of 

 Sequoia gigantea and studying the vegetative carpet and shrubs of 

 the forest floor. Thence the party proceeded to Glacier Point above 

 Yosemite, with several stops on the way to inspect the Red Fir 

 forest and the associated species. The herbaceous species of the 

 granite were studied to advantage on the top of Sentinel Dome, and 

 the chaparral of high altitudes, at 7,000 to 8,500 feet, came in for 

 attention. 



The party made the return trip through the entire length of 

 Yosemite Valley by the way of Vernal and Nevada falls and re- 

 turned to San Francisco. Local excursions were made to Mt.Tamal- 

 pais under the leadership of Miss Alice Eastwood, and to Stanford 

 University under the leadership of Professor D. H. Campbell. At 

 Redwood City the party observed a salt marsh and its vegetation 



