PREFATORY NOTK. 



3 



suggestion of the .species, controlling his final decision by h rigid 

 comparison with all the terms of the diagnosis. 



The beginner should never forget that the same species may bo of 

 quite different appearance in different localities. Soil, exposure, alti- 

 tude, humidity, distance from the ocean, influence very greatly the 

 habit and aspect of the plant. Vegetative characters (that is charac- 

 ters of the root, stem, foliage, size of the plant or of its various parts, 

 amount of pubescence) vary endlessly in many plants. Hence it is 

 well to rely chiefly upon the reproductive characters, that is charac- 

 ters of the reproductive organs, namely the flower and the fruit, 

 rather than upon merely vegetative characters. 



The variation of the plant from its normal appearance may often be 

 correlated with its situation, at least as to the vegetative features. 

 The following classes of localities may be noted under this head: — 



1. Near the ocean a species is often more depressed or condensed 

 than in the interior, and more fleshy. 



2. In swamps or wet soils the plant tends to become succulent and 

 of ranker growth, and also glabrous. 



3. In valley soils the growth is commonly much more rank than 

 elsewhere. 



4. On hilltops plants tend to become dwarf and acaulescent; often 

 far more pubescent also. 



5. In saline or subsaline soil the stems and foliage in many species 

 are far more vigorous and the flowers larger than on stiff clays or 

 adobes. 



fi. In shady woods leaves become thinner and larger, often con- 

 spicuously so. 



7. At high altitudes the flowers are larger in proportion to stature 

 and brighter in color. 



In the matter of terminology the number of terms here employed 

 has been considerably reduced. The term bract (as an example) has 

 been applied to all bracteal organs and special designations have not 

 been applied to modifications of bracts peculiar to certain families. 



Local common names have been sedulously noted in all parts of the 

 state and such as were appropriate will be found appended to the 

 proper species. The coining of so-called common names from the 

 Latin binomial has been avoided and we have also seen fit to reject 

 common names of Old World and Eastern species which have been 

 applied to different plants in California. 



By Western Middle California is meant that portion of California 

 lying west of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, south of the 

 counties of Mendocino, Lake and' Colusa and north of the Pajaro 

 River and Pacheco Pass. Very many extra-limital species are 

 described or noticed, however, so that the volume will be almost if 

 not quite as useful as far north as Red Bluff and as far south as 

 Bakersfield. 



The author now has opportunity to make acknowledgments for 

 services rendered by his colleagues and correspondents. Prof. W. A. 

 Setchell has, by his unfailing encouragement and constant advice, 



