BOTANY. 
9 
shaped, parsnip-like root, hut much softer, sweeter, and more tender than that wholesome 
esculent. It is much sought after by the Mexicans, who name it gamote, a name that is also 
applied hy them to the sweet potato. Mr. Leroux informed us that Indian females in this 
region, especially the Utahs and Pai-utes, spend much time in the early months of the year, 
when the root is soft and tender, in collecting it in large quantities. It is prepared hy slicing, 
drying, and grinding on matats, and, after which, stored away for future use. They make a 
soup of the meal. The root becomes hard and cortical as it advances in age, and unfit to 
he eaten. 
Besides the grama grass, which has been mentioned while describing the Yal de China as so 
fine and abundant, we had a grass, peculiar to this region, called by our woodsmen “hunch 
grass.” It was quite green, and our animals were immoderately fond of it. We were unable 
to secure specimens of it in flower or fruit, and therefore could not determine its name. Mr. 
Leroux says it is well known and prized in the great Salt Lake valley, fattening animals faster 
than the grama, hut it does not afford them the same amount of strength and muscle. 
A narrow filamentose-leaved Yucca was found near Picacho, and specimens of the young 
plants were brought home. It was not in fruit. It is quite different from the two species found 
east of the Rio Grande ; but whether different from the one of a similar habit in Texas, can 
only be determined by an examination and comparison of the flower and fruit. In the waters 
of Partridge creek we found Polygonum amphibium, which, although it grows on land as well 
as in water, is nevertheless a sure index of the permanency of the water in its neighborhood. 
In this valley we saw and collected, growing upon the pinon, a mistletoe, ( Arceutliobium ,) 
never before seen, and quite distinct from the one found on the other pine, (P. brachyptera.) 
At the foot of Bill Williams’ mountain, we first met the celebrated Indian Maguey, (Agave 
sp. undetermined.) This to the wild Indian tribes is probably one of the most important 
plants of the whole interior of the continent south of the 35th parallel of north latitude. It 
is a matter of curious interest to know how much further north it grows. We presume, how¬ 
ever, that it will be found very little further north than our line. It flourishes on the roughest, 
most rocky, and apparently most inhospitable spots that can be found; and, generally, it occurs 
only in such places. An allied species ( Agave Americana) is common in Mexico, and in our 
gardens under the title of century plant, so named from the popular notion that it blooms every 
hundred years. Our plant is a long time (not nearly a hundred years, however) in coming to 
maturity. It then blooms, bears fruit and dies, leaving many offsets which come to maturity 
yearly. These likewise perform their great function of fructification, and die, to give place in 
turn to their successors. The great value of the plant to the Indian is, that it forms a never- 
failing source of subsistence at all seasons of the year. At the proper season, which is about 
the 1st July, the stalk that bears the flower shoots up and grows with amazing rapidity. It 
is then very juicy, tender, and sweet, much resembling the pith of the sugar-cane; and the 
Indians now devote their time to preparing their mezcal, which will keep preserved for 
several months. When the time for preparing food from the flower-stock is passed, they resort 
to the heart or central part of the older plants that have not yet come to maturity ; the most 
tender portions being at the base of the inner leaves. The heart can be found in different stages 
of development at all seasons of the year. They roast it in temporary ovens, made of earth 
and stones, about two days being required to cook it sufficiently. We used the juice of the 
plant successfully as an anti-scorbutic while on the Mexican boundary commission, my attention 
being first called to it by a circular from General Lawson, Surgeon General of the United States 
army, recommending it on the authority of Dr. Perrin, of the United States army. 
Besides the trees already mentioned, we have here two or three species of cedars; one with 
a large, sweet, edible berry. In times of great scarcity of food, I believe this fruit is resorted 
to by nearly every animal in this region. Pinus edulis (pinon) grows in great abundance nearly 
the whole length of this district. The highlands which form spurs to the San Francisco, Bill 
Williams’, and Sitgreaves mountains are covered wfith these trees ; their deep green foliage 
2 r 
