A LAND OF DROUGHT AND DESERT 



449 



the; old mission trail oe the interior, leading through a forest oe desert 



plants near san fernando 



This trail, as were all the main trails in Lower California, was made bv the Jesuits two 

 or three centuries ago. The pole-like trees are the "cirio" (Idria columnaris) : the manv- 

 branched shrub on the left is an "ocotilla" (Fouquiera splendens), which bears a brush-like 

 mass of brilliant red flowers at the tips of the stalks. Small oval leaves grow along the stems. 



