IMPORTANT WESTERN BROWSE PLANTS 39 
California-laurel (Umbellularia californica, syn. Oreodaphne cali- 
fornica) has a large number of English names, including cajeput- 
tree, California bay (tree), cinnamon bush, Coos Bay laurel, moun- 
tain-laurel, Oregon myrtle, pepperwood, and spice tree. It is the 
only representative of the laurel family in the West. 
California-laurel (pl. 8, B) is an evergreen and varies in habit 
from a matted network of sprawling or prostrate stems on ocean 
bluffs to a giant forest tree 175 feet high. It occurs from Coos and 
Douglas Counties, Oreg., to San Diego, Calif., mostly along streams, 
between about sea level and 2,500 feet elevation in the north and 
up to 4,000 feet in the south. It reaches its best development in 
rich moist bottom lands of southwestern Oregon. In drier, rockier 
sites it is ordinarily shrubby and is said to occur in such places only 
where the nature and dip of the strata permit the roots to elongate 
and reach moist levels. 
This species is reported to be sparingly grazed by goats in south- 
western Oregon. Otherwise grazing animals seldom, if ever, touch 
the plant, except perhaps in winter or other time of food shortage. 
It might possibly be injurious if eaten to-a great extent. All parts 
of California-laurel are aromatic and presumably have active chemi- 
cal properties. The leaves, when bruised, exhale a pungent, cam- 
phorlike aroma which frequently excites sneezing. 
HYDRANGEA FAMILY (HYDRANGEACEAE) 
Cliff fendlerbush (/endlera rupicola) is an erect, intricately 
branched shrub up to 6 feet high, with opposite leaves of an oblong 
type not over 1 inch long, and profuse showy white-and-pink, 
4-petaled blossoms shaped like a Maltese cross. It occurs from 
southwestern Colorado to Arizona and western Texas and south into 
Mexico, growing in full sunlight between about 5,000 and 8,500 feet, 
among rocks or in sandy or gravelly sois,in dry montainous situa- 
tions usually in the woodland type, often in association with juniper, 
pinon, sagebrush, and various gramas and muhlenbergias. Asa rule 
fendlerbush does not appear to be highly relished by other stock, 
but Chapline found it to be of very high palatability for goats in 
New Mexico (/5) and closely grazed by cattle in central Arizona, 
where on an overgrazed range it was taken by them apparently in 
preference to the oaks. When in full bloom this shrub is highly 
ornamental and under cultivation it should become increasingly 
popular for rockeries and like situations. 
Several other species of fendlerbush and of the related genus, 
Fendlerella, occur in the Rocky Mountains, Great Basin region, and 
the Southwest. None of them have much forage value save for 
oats. 
Cliffbush (Ldwinia americana, syn. Jamesia americana) is a 
medium-sized diffuse shrub of the Rocky Mountains and Southwest, 
with rather large opposite ovate leaves. It is sometimes common 
and locally abundant and is occasionally nibbled by sheep but the 
palatability is ordinarily low. If it is taken heavily overgrazing is 
indicated. This bush, with its large white flowers, is very hand- 
some and is now in cultivation as an ornamental. 
