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IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vor. XXIX, 1922 
wegii) of the Aristolochiaceae is common in deep shady woods of 
the Yosemite. The dogwood family (Cornaceae) is represented 
by the flowering dogwood ( Cornus Nuttallii) with flowers in 
sessile heads surrounded by several large white petal-like bracts 
and a scarlet drupe, much like our eastern flowering dogwood but 
a larger tree. The common dogwood of river banks is the Cor- 
nus pubescens var Calif ornica with purplish branches. The bear 
brush ( Garry a Fremontii) of the Garryaceae occurs as a small 
shrub or tree with simple opposite leaves and dioecious flowers 
borne in a long pendant-like catkin. 
Of the carrot family one of the most characteristic plants in 
marshy places is the cow parsnip ( Heracleum lanatum), while the 
sweet cicely ( Osmorrhiza occidentalis) is common in woods. The 
turkey mullein ( Eremocarpus setigerus) is a rather common weed 
in the foothills at El Portal and forms close mats on the ground. 
The thyme-leaved spurge ( Euphorbia serpyllifolia) , with forked 
branches, also forms prostrate mats on the ground. Of the Le- 
guminosae the Spanish clover ( Lotus americanus) is common in 
open places in the foothills. There are also several beautiful 
species of lupines ( Lupinus sp.) in open parks. There are sev- 
eral cherries in the Sierras of which the most widely distributed 
is the western choke cherry ( Prunus demissa) which also occurs 
throughout the Rocky Mountains. The drupes are bright red and 
astringent. The species is more or less gregarious. The service 
berry ( Amelanchier alnifolia ), common in the Rockies, is another 
Sierra species. Two species of Rubus are rather common, the 
thimble berry ( Rubus Nutkanus) and the common blackberry 
( Rubus vitifolius) . The mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus par - 
vifolius) with its grayish branches and tailed fruit is a common 
shrub or small tree in dry exposed situations near Wawona and 
in the Merced canyon. The California wood rose ( Rosa gymno- 
carpd) with pear shaped red fruit, is common in woods. The 
nine bark ( Physocarpus capitatus ) is a gregarious shrub on north 
slopes of mountains, on the south bank of Tuolumne river near a 
grove of big trees. The meadow sweet ( Holodiscus discolor var 
ariaefolius) is one of the common shrubs in granitic rock in the 
vicinity of Bridal Veil Falls. There are several interesting plants 
of the gooseberry family (Saxifragaceae), such as the California 
mock orange ( Philadelphus Lewisii .var Calif or nicus) , frequent 
along streams in the Yosemite valley. There are also several 
species of Ribes. 
Common pepper grass (Lepidium apetalum) of the family Cru- 
ciferae is a common naturalized weed of the Yosemite Valley, as 
