10 CHAPARRAL. 
but is also used to describe the brush cover, which includes Ceanothus 
and Prunus. In Utah the term is applied to Quercus, Arctostaphylos, 
and Ceanothus. In Idaho it: is applied to Quercus, Cercocarpus, 
Ceanothus, and Prunus. 
Some of the species forming either the chaparral or the mock 
chaparral are also found in the adjacent forested regions, and, indeed, 
being trees, may be considered as part of the forest cover. The 
species which elsewhere comprise chaparral and mock chaparral are 
here termed underbrush. If the small trees are of the same species 
as the larger ones in the forest they are an “understory” or a 
thickets. 
Since the principal species comprising both chaparral and mock 
chaparral are trees, that is, woody plants supported by a single stem, 
they should not be confused with shrubs, which have a number of 
stems from the same root, each contributing to the crown. It is 
evident also that areas of chaparral and mock chaparral are forests, 
the one a permanent cover, the other temporary. 
HISTORICAL RECORDS OF PAST FOREST CONDITIONS IN THE 
CHAPARRAL REGION. 
The fact that chaparral often forms an almost perfect miniature 
of typical woodlands of the temperate zones naturally suggests that 
the dwarf trees are the stunted survivors of full-sized forests which 
once covered the same area. In substantiation of this view citations 
have been made from the accounts of early explorers, as establishing 
the fact that when the white men first reached the coast of southern 
California they found a full-grown forest in possession where the 
chaparral now flourishes. No such change, however, could have 
occurred unless a radical change of climate had taken place. It is 
certain that the climate of southern California has not changed radi- 
eally within historically recent times. Moreover, when the historical 
records which have come down from the-period of exploration are 
examined closely, they give evidence of a condition similar to that 
which now exists. 
The first Pacific explorer to put foot on what is now American 
soul was Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, a Portuguese navigator in the 
service of Spain, who entered what is now San Diego Harbor Sep- 
tember 28, 1542, and landed at Point Loma. The narrative of his 
voyage was written by Ferrelo, who describes “ groves resembling 
silk-cotton trees except it is hardwood.” They also found “ thick 
and tall trees which the sea brought ashore.” Cabrillo remained only 
six days in the harbor, and makes no further mention of trees. On 
November 10, 1602, Don Sebastian Viscaino arrived in the harbor, 
and on the following day organized a party to land on Point Loma 
and “survey a forest of tall and straight oaks and other trees.” 
