10 
BOTANY. 
giving the forests a peculiarly dark and sombre aspect, forming a strong contrast with the 
surrounding grassy plains. Two very distinct species of oak occur here, one of whicli I have 
marked on the profile as Quercus Gambellii, of Nuttall; the other is probably new. In the deep 
ravines or canons of this district Ave found an ash, (Fraxinus velutinus,) common also to the 
copper mine region, and associated with it also a cherry, whicli may be a neiv species. Willow¬ 
leaved poplar is occasionally found along the arroyos, Avhere water has lately been standing. 
Among the shrubs abounding in this region are found the blue-berried barberry, a species of 
currant, (Ribes,) and a species of very thorny Solanaceas, of unknown genus. A new shrub, 
interesting on account of its botanical affinities, was found here, belonging to the small order 
of Garryaceas, natives only of western North America and the West Indies. A second species 
of the genus Garrya is very common about the copper mines of New Mexico, which was also 
detected here, but not in fruit. Which of the two, if either, is the plant of Douglas, upon 
Avhich the genus was founded, we are unable at present to determine. We find great difficulty 
in procuring publications of American plants, in the arrangement of orders subsequent to com¬ 
posite, up to which point we have been supplied, by the indefatigable zeal and learning of 
those excellent co-laborers in the field of botany, Drs. Torrey and Gray, in their Flora of North 
America. Since the acquisition of Texas, New Mexico, and California, with their consequent 
explorations and discoveries, the new genera and species, in orders previously passed over, are 
so many and important, that a new edition is now imperatively called for, before their great 
work is finished. 
A walnut was found in this region, collected heretofore in the region of the copper mines of 
New Mexico, very nearly related to the black walnut of the Eastern States. From Devil’s 
river, in Texas, while on the boundary commission, were sent specimens and a figure of what 
Avas thought to be a new species, to Dr. Torrey, a description of which was read by him before 
the meeting of the American Association of the Sciences, in August, 1851, under the title of 
Juglans Wh ippleana ; which was not published. Dr. Engelmann had previously obtained, and 
named it J. ruprestris. Dr. Torrey has published figures of both of them, in Captain SiG 
greaves’ report; our present plant, provisionally, a variety of that species. The differences 
between them, however, are greater, in my opinion, than those between the present A r arietyand 
Juglans nigra ; so that they may all ultimately come to be forms of one species, Avhen still 
other and more closely connecting varieties are found. 
A Ptelea, closely allied if not identical Avith the shrubby treefoil of the States, is found here. 
A Condalia also, which is a Rhamnaceous shrub, bearing small dark-colored berries, several 
species of which are eaten by Mexicans and Indians. A beautiful shrubby spiraea, or a species 
of some nearly allied genus, was found here. 
Along the banks of Turkey creek, Pueblo creek, and the streams which we first passed after 
crossing Aztec Pass, Ave observed large quantities of willows, which is rather an unusual oc¬ 
currence in this country. On the hills surrounding the Aztec mountains, for tl;e first time, Ave 
met Avith the beautiful shrubby arbutus, (Arctostapliylos ,) called by the Mexicans manzanita; 
the bark of the plant is handsomely polished, of a dark mahogany color. From this place to 
the Pacific, and in California, there are several species of this genus, most of them bearing an 
edible berry, similar to the whortleberry. In California, a most valuable timber-tree of this 
genus groAvs all along the Coast range of mountains. It bears a larger edible berry, which is 
much sought after by Mexicans and Indians, who know it by the name of Madrona. It is a 
beautiful tree. The wood is very hard, taking a polish equal to, and much resembling lignum- 
vitce. 
Near Bill Williams’ mountain w r e found in considerable quantities the aggregated Cereus, 
noticed before ; but the species cannot well be determined, on account of the Avant of blossom 
and fruit. It is very nearly allied to Dr. Engelmann’s Cereus polyacantlius , Avhich yields an 
edible fruit, called by Mexicans pitaliaya. It is sometimes in large oval masses, densely set 
Avith formidable spines. The arborescent Opuntia, first found near Zuni, which, to distinguish 
