Sierra Club Bulletin 



decoration, but it would seem that the flowers are often more beauti- 

 ful in the native habitat of the species. 



The known distribution covers a very restricted area in the Sierra 

 foothills of Fresno County between the San Joaquin River and 

 Kings River, the range of elevation being from 2000 to 3000 feet. 

 More specifically, it extends from the Grapevine Spring southerly to 

 Backbone Creek between Aubury and Oren and thence to the south 

 side of the San Joaquin River on the Italian Bar Trail. It recurs 

 again on Sycamore Creek, a tributary of the Kings River, which ap- 

 pears to be its most southerly station. Within this very limited area 

 it is abundant in spots, blooms finely in June, and thus locally 

 whitens the slopes on the lower borders of the Yellow Pine belt. Mr. 

 Ralph Hopping has remarked to me that Carpenteria bears a super- 

 ficial resemblance to a clump of California Laurel, and that at a 

 distance one might be pardoned for mistaking it for that species. 

 Growing in so narrow a habitat, it would seem in some danger of 

 extermination, especially with the advent of the white man and his 

 impinging accessories, such as herds and flocks. It may therefore be 

 regarded as fortunate that its foliage is too bitter for sheep and that 

 these animals will not touch it. What is too bitter for sheep is 

 obviously safe from cattle. 



But what of the long-lost station where Fremont originally col- 

 lected this shrub ? On his five exploring expeditions he crossed the 

 Sierra Nevada at only five different points: at or near the modern 

 Carson Pass ; at Tehachapi ; at or near Donner Pass ; on the upper 

 Sacramento ; and at Walker Pass. Nowhere near any of these passes 

 has Carpenteria been discovered, and it is too conspicuous a shrub 

 to be missed in these days of closer botanical surveys. On the second 

 expedition Fremont entered California from the Great Basin over 

 Carson Pass, making a very terrible passage in the midst of winter. 

 He left the Great Valley at the head of the San Joaquin through 

 Tehachapi Pass. The track of the third expedition is, however, for 

 us much more significant. Leaving Bent's Fort on the Arkansas 

 River with his command in August, 1845, he moved in a general 

 westerly direction through the Great Basin until confronted by the 

 great Sierran wall. Here, at Walker's Lake, he found himself short 

 of provisions. It was therefore determined to send the main com- 

 mand under Joe Walker southward with instructions to proceed 

 through Walker Pass to the southern Sierras and winter in the valley 



