.2 



A few days appear, bringing increase of heat, and life leaps upward, 

 bloom and beauty increase around us, and the purple blossoms of the al- 



filerilla or Spanish pin clover (Erodium) appear. This plant presents the 

 aspect of a flattened tuft of fine cut leaves pressed to the ground [often in- 

 fested with a deep red fungus, resembling clots of blood.] Another species, 

 where the soil is good, produces a heavy crop of leafage, upon which the 

 horses, cattle and sheep of southern California are pastured. 



Intermixed with the alfilarilla appear the slender, succulent stems and 

 narrow spatulate leaves of the Calandrima Menziesii, allied to the spring 

 beauty of the eastern states. This plant often spreads over wide areas, 

 adorned by its small magenta flowers peeping from amid the bright green 

 of its leaves, and, in favorable situations, after heavy rains, it puts on a 

 magnificent aspect, standing a foot or more in height, and, massing its 

 brilliant coloring, rivals the glory of a bed of portulacea, to which it is 

 closely allied. 



As the vegetation of this region is influenced by the elevation and ex- 

 posure it may be described more clearly by marking the changes as we 

 rise from the bay shore to the distant heights. At the lowest levels, over 

 which the highest tides flow, salt grasses and other maritime plants appear, 

 and on the clay soil, elevated but little above the reach of tides, the ice plant 

 abounds. The leaves are brilliant with a rich setting of gem-like vesicles 

 filled to the utmost with saline juices, and cover the surface of the ground 

 with their varied masses of green and purple, and bright with starry flowers, 

 A walk over acres of these singular plants saturates one's boot-soles, and 

 the sportive pedestrian, with but moderate effort, may slide upon the slip- 

 pery surface. 



Another plant, producing leaves of the shape, thickness and length of 

 one's finger, but triangular in section, abounds on the sand dunes of the 

 neighboring isthmus of San Diego, where its long trailing stems, beset at 

 short intervals with its unique leaves and large red-fringed radiant flowers, 

 are interesting to the most casual and least informed observer. On the bay 

 sides of these dunes occurs "Rhus in tegri folia, which, with its heads of white 

 and roseate small daphne-like, inodorous flowers, thick coriaceous leaves 

 and strong growth, forms a highly ornamental shrub. This plant again oc- 

 curs on the high mesa, near the city, and in Paradise valley it becomes a 

 tree of respectable size, as does also, to the surprise of the eastern bota- 

 nists, a species of elder (Sambueus glauca). An ericaceous heath-like* 

 shrub is abundant on the lower levels, and has put on the thick succulent 

 character of saline plants, though generally possessed of a dry and coria- 

 ceous leaf. This plant delights to grow upon the extreme borders of the 

 bluffs, and to hang its stiff branches over the low clay banks that bound the 

 bay shore. 



More remote, but not far distant from the water, the lower levels are 

 delicately tinged with the light rose purple flowers of the Gilia dianthoides, 

 with the magenta-flamed Orthocarpus purpurascens, sprinkled with the del- 

 icate white stars of Krynitzkias, and two varieties of the humble Plantago 

 Patagonica. Over the bright green of these bay-side pastures appear broad 

 spreading growths of purple-fruited pepper grass (Lepidium), which from 

 a position slightly elevated, appear like cloud-shadows flecking the surface 

 of the brighter verdure. 



On hill-sides in Paradise valley we have seen masses of the unique and 

 beautiful Dodecatheon standing a foot high, hanging their pink and white 

 banners with a singular abandon, so diverse in character and coloring from 

 the eastern species. 



Clumps of Rhus laurina now appear, so unlike in aspect from the east- 

 <~-n sumac, their feet tangled by masses of Phaeelia tanacetifolia and Mira- 

 biiis Californica, or adorned by the trailing stems and broad palmate 



