■•N
V
\
I
WASHINGTON LILY
( Lilium washingtonianum )
This beautiful Lily grows amid
the chaparral of exposed slopes. The
white, wax-like flowers are borne on tall, erect
stalks, overtopping the humbler shrubs that
form their protecting thickets.
A
YOSEMITE FLORA
A DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT
OF THE FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS,
INCLUDING THE TREES, OF THE YOSEMITE NATIONAL
PARK; WITH SIMPLE KEYS FOR THEIR
IDENTIFICATION; DESIGNED TO
BE USEFUL THROUGHOUT
THE SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAINS
BY
HARVEY MONROE HALL
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AND
CARLOTTA CASE HALL
Illustrated with Eleven Plates
and One Hundred and Seventy Figures
in the Text
■
I
This copy lacks plates
2 to 1 1 but is otherwise complete
PAUL ELDER AND COMPANY
PUBLISHERS, SAN FRANCISCO
19 12
r LIBRARY
• NEW YORK
BOTANICAL
GAP. DEN
tQ K 1 9 Y
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Copyright, 1912
BY
Harvey Monroe Hall
Issued April 8, 1912
mw' yoHr*hdU-!^ERT2 library
newvqrk botanical garden
1
W! i HD R AWN
Printed by
Taylor, Nash & Taylor
San Francisco
CONTENTS
Preface . . v
Introduction
Origin, Distribution, and Characteristics of the Yosemite
Flora . 1
Explanation of Terms . 7
Classification and the Use of Keys . 13
Analytical Key to the Families . 17
Descriptive Flora . 25
t
Glossary . . 273
Index . 277
ILLUSTRATIONS
Washington Lily . Frontispiece
Trees of the Stream Banks . Facing page 4
Big Tree . “ “46
Leopard Lily . . ' . “ (‘56
Mariposa Lily . “ “58
Meadow Borders of the Upper Tuolumne . . “ “96
Thickets of Service Berry . “ “ 124
Evening Primroses in Yosemite Valley . . “ “ 162
Azaleas along the Merced . “ “ 178
POLEMONIUMS AMONG SUMMIT ROCKS ... “ “ 190
Timber-line in the High Sierra Nevada . . “ “ 250
PREFACE
The Yosemite National Park is perhaps the most delightful
region in all the world for the study of plant life. The wide
variety of conditions here found, ranging from the hot and desic¬
cated slopes of the brush-clad foothills to the cold, bleak summits
above timber-line, the abode of glaciers and perpetual snow, gives
to the flora an exceedingly diverse and interesting character.
Innumerable springs, creeks, rivers, ponds, and lakes provide
suitable habitats for moisture-loving plants. Rocky outcrop¬
pings, enormous cliffs, and gravelly ridges accommodate species
adapted to such situations. The irregular topography yields
southward facing slopes which receive the full effect of the sun’s
rays, as well as northward slopes where the sun’s rays are little
felt, where it is therefore cool, moist, and shady. The altitude
ranges from two thousand five hundred feet in the foothill belt
to thirteen thousand and ninety feet along the crest of the Sierra
Nevada. All of these factors conspire to produce a remarkably
varied and interesting vegetation.
The richness of this flora is indicated by the nine hundred and
hfty-five species and varieties here described. The total number
represented in the Yosemite National Park is considerably
greater, since the grasses, sedges, and rushes are here omitted.
Including an estimate for these, it is safe to assume that the
number of species and varieties of flowering plants and ferns to
be found within the one thousand one hundred and twenty-four
square miles of the park is not less than about one thousand
two hundred.
In preparing a pioneer flora for a district like the Yosemite,
many corners of which have not yet been botanically explored,
it is manifestly impossible to avoid the omission of some species.
The authors have made use of every available source of infor¬
mation and have themselves botanized over much of the Park.
It is therefore improbable that the list will be greatly extended
except for the addition of foothill species, which will doubtless
be found creeping up along our lower borders, especially in the
vicinity of Wawona and Hetch Hetchy valleys, and for the
addition of boreal species, the ranges of which will be extended
southward at high altitudes. Information in regard to additions
will be welcomed, particularly when accompanied by well pre-
VI
PREFACE
pared specimens. Random notes and mere fragments of plants
are of but little scientific value. Directions for preparing her¬
barium specimens and the data which should accompany them
will be gladly supplied on request.
While encouragement should be given to the gathering of
dowers in moderation for purposes of study or for the more
convenient enjoyment of their beauty, it is hoped that all plant
lovers will discourage at every opportunity the plucking of large
quantities. The wasteful and thoughtless destruction of our
native vegetation is deplorable. It is nothing short of vandalism
that uproots entire plants or strips bushes of their beautiful
flowers, which are cast aside when the ardor cools or are carried
indoors where their beauty soon fades. Those who know the
plants love them, and like them best in their natural surround¬
ings. Flowers are • most attractive in their native haunts and
visitors to our mountains enjoy them from the trails. If the
depredations continue it will soon be necessary for the authorities
to enact regulations against the plucking of all flowers as they
now prohibit the gathering of snow-plants.
The preparation of this Flora has been greatly facilitated by
the kind assistance of many friends. Professor Willis Linn
Jepson, of the University of California, placed at our disposal
his collections made on excursions through the Park in 1909 and
19 1 1. Professor Le Roy Abrams, of Leland Stanford Junior
University, has likewise permitted the use of a collection made
in the Yosemite in 1911. Am.ong the members of the Sierra Club
who have assisted in a similar manner may be mentioned Miss
Helen D. Geis, Miss Lydia Atterbury, Miss Katherine D. Jones,
and Mr. Fred M. Reed. Miss Harriet Walker and Miss Rlioda R.
Reed have supplied specimens and have assisted in other ways.
A portion of the information concerning Indian uses of plants
zvas gleaned from conversations with Dr. C. Hart Merriam. Pro¬
fessor W. A. Setchell and Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Brandegee, of the
University of California, have contributed many valuable sugges¬
tions and critical notes, and Mr. J. W. Flinn, of the same insti¬
tution, has generously assisted the authors in various ways. To
all of these we wish to extend our most sincere thanks.
Free use has been made of lists of Yosemite plants by Mrs.
Katharine Brandegee and by Mr. J. W. Congdon, both of whom
published in the biological journal, “Zoe.” The writings of John
Muir contain much botanical information. The forests, the
meadows, and the flowers of the Sierra Nevada are described
in a most delightful manner in his “Mountains of California ” and
“ Our National Parks.” The fern lists of Mrs. J. G. Lemmon,
Miss Cosy Hutchings, and Mr. S. H. Burnham have been con-
PREFACE
Vll
sidered. The Herbarium, Library, and Botanic Gardens of the
University of California have been freely consulted in the prep¬
aration of the Flora and all collections made by the authors are
now preserved at this Institution.
The text -figures in this Flora are original and were prepared
by Miss Anna Hamilton, Miss Helen M. Gilkey, and Mrs. Car-
lotta C. Hall. The frontispiece and the illustrations facing pages
56 and 58 are from photographs by Mr. O. V. Lange, the plates
facing pages 96, 178, and 250 are from photographs by Professor
J. N. Le Conte, those facing pages 4 and 124 are from photo¬
graphs by the Pillsbury Picture Company, that facing page 190
is from a photograph by Mr. Frank Adams, while those facing
pages 46 and 162 are from the collection of the Southern Pacific
Company and are used through the courtesy of Mr. James
Horsburgh, Jr.
Note Concerning Names and Accents. — No new botanical
names or combinations are published for the first time in this
Flora. Such as are ascribed to the authors have been previously
published, either in the “Botanical Gazette,” vol. 31, or in the
“University of California Publications in Botany,” vols. 1, 3, and
4. A name appearing in italics at the end of a botanical descrip¬
tion is to be considered a synonym. Botanical names are usually
pronounced according to the pronunciation of Latin after the
English method, although exceptions are necessarily frequent. As
a general guide, the names in this Flora are marked with accents.
Two accents are used, the grave (v) to indicate the long English
sound of the vowel, the acute (') to show the shortened or other¬
wise modified sound.
.
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t .
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INTRODUCTION
ORIGIN, DISTRIBUTION, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE YOSEMITE FLORA.
WERE it permitted us to view the Sierra Nevada as
they appeared in past geologic times, we would see
that at one period they were the workshops of
mighty glaciers which, like powerful giants, were
grinding down the mountains, hewing out Yosemites, polish¬
ing domes, and converting solid rock into fertile soil. As one
prepares a field before the time of sowing, so, in the glacial
period, these titanic forces were preparing the way for the forests,
the meadows, the flowery fields yet to come. For in those early
days our region was devoid of ordinary vegetation, being entirely
under the influence of ice and snow. Finally, as conditions
changed, the glaciers, having completed their work, retired to
the slopes of the highest peaks and their places were taken by
trees and shrubs, grasses and flowers, as we now find them. It
may be of interest to consider briefly the origin of this flora.
The present vegetation of the Yosemite National Park has been
derived from at least three sources. One element had its origin
in the lowlands of California, where it still flourishes, sending
representatives, like the species of Ceanothus, Manzanita, and
Yerba Santa, up through the foothills to the warmer parts of our
district. A second group of species reaches us from the desert
borders on the east. These had their origin in the Mexican
Region from which they gradually spread northward, finally
crossing the Sierran passes to flourish at a few places on the
westerly slope. The Sagebrush is doubtless one of these, and
even the Pinon Pine of the desert ranges has been recently found
on a branch of the Tuolumne. The third, and by far the most
important element in our flora, is the boreal. It is a generally
accepted theory that during the glacial period species belonging
normally to Arctic regions were compelled to migrate southward,
on account of the great reduction in temperature. At the close
of the glacial period conditions were reversed, and these northern
species, now finding the climate gradually growing warmer and
warmer, were forced to recede to colder regions and not only
migrated back to the North but also retreated to the mountains,
where they found conditions somewhat similar to those of their
original northern home. It is not surprising, therefore, to find
many Sierran plants occurring, almost without modification, in
2 7 the yosejhite flora
Washington, Canada, and Alaska, where, however, they grow at
a lower altitude. Some of these species, as the White-bark Pine,
the Cassiope, and the Bitter-root, are found also in the Rocky
Mountains, while not a few of them, such as the Alpine Sorrel,
the Sibbaldia, and the Shrubby Cinquefoil, extend quite around
the world in circumpolar regions.
As implied in the foregoing, the most influential factor in the
geographic distribution of plants is temperature. Now, in a
mountainous district, such as ours, the temperature depends
largely upon altitude, and we therefore find that species adapted
only to warm temperatures are restricted to the foothill belt, that
those adapted to moderate temperatures occupy the middle alti¬
tudes, while species so constituted as to be able to carry on their
life functions with a relatively small amount of heat flourish
on the plateaus and peaks of the highest mountains. Since each
species thus comes to inhabit only those places where conditions
of temperature are suitable, the result is a grouping of plants
into more or less definite belts of vegetation. These have been
worked out for most of North America by Dr. C. Hart Merriam,
of the United States Biological Survey, who has designated them
as Life Zones and developed a system of nomenclature that is
generally adopted by biologists. One must not expect to find
these zones always clearly defined. Often the line between two
belts is as sharp as though cut by a knife ; again the belts over¬
lap and intermingle in so confusing a manner that even the
expert is baffled in an attempt to distinguish them. In the Yo-
semite National Park four such belts are recognized, as follows:
1. Foothill Belt ( Upper Sonoran Life Zone). This belt is
composed chiefly of endemic Californian species. The vegetation
is largely chaparral, that is, thickets of shrubs, mostly with stiff
branches, small, often thick or leathery leaves, and not rarely with
spines. Annuals grow in abundance between the shrubs but only
during the spring and summer months. The root systems of
plants in this belt are well developed and the herbage is often
woolly, or densely hairy, or coated with resin. Such qualities are
characteristic of plants obliged to conserve their moisture, the
Foothill Belt being mostly a dry as well as a warm zone. The
upper lipe of this belt lies normally at about 3000 feet altitude,
but it reaches 5000 feet on warm southerly or westerly exposures,
while on slopes facing the north it may descend to as low as 2000
feet. Characteristic plants are the Digger Pine, Wedge-leaf
Ceanothus, Bladder-siut, California Buckeye, and Poison Oak.
2. Yellow Pine Belt ( Transition Life Zone). In this belt we
find endemic and souther# species intermingling with those of
noffjhern origin. All pf tfie $&ore frequented portions of the Park,
THE YOSEMITE FLORA 3
including the Wawona, Yosemite, and Hetch Hetchy valleys are
within its confines. There is a strong infusion of foothill species,
however, in these lower districts, particularly on warm walls and
gravelly slopes. As indicated by its name, this is primarily a
forest belt, dominated by the Yellow Pine, one of the noblest of
our coniferous trees and the most widely distributed of them all.
Within this zone occur not only the largest trees and the grandest
forests of which any country can boast, but also the greatest
variety of cone-bearing species. Restricted to it are such well-
known representatives as the Big Tree, Sugar Pine, White Fir,
Douglas Fir, and Incense Cedar, each with its own peculiar
attractions and all conspiring with the Yellow Pine and with
each other to form open, airy, balsam-scented forests. Along the
streams grow such trees as the Nuttall Dogwood, with its showy
masses of pure-white bloom, the White Alder, the Black Cotton¬
wood, and many sorts of willows, while among the flowering
shrubs of this belt are the Azalea, the Deer-brush, the Choke-
cherry, the Thimble Berry and many others. Along its lower
borders the Yellow Pine Belt meets that of the foothills at alti¬
tudes averaging 3000 feet, as along El Portal Road, but in other
places it varies from 2000 to 5000 feet, as already indicated. Its
upper limits occur at about 6200 feet, although the belt may be
continued upward to 7000 or 8000 feet on warm slopes, or it may
be depressed to as low as 4000 feet along cold streams or valleys.
The upper edge of this belt is well defined where it crosses the
Yosemite Falls Trail at about 5000 feet altitude. As one ascends
the trail, he notes such species as Douglas Fir, Incense Cedar,
California Laurel, Broad-leaf Maple, Sword-fern, Wild Ginger,
and Soap Plant. All of these are plentiful until the 5200-foot
contour is reached, but not one of them occurs much above this
altitude.
3. Upper Coniferous Belt ( Canadian and Hudsonian Life
Zones). Only species of boreal origin are found in this belt. On
ascending the trails from the lower valleys, it gradually dawns
upon one that he is passing into a new world. One by one the
familiar plants of the Yellow Pine Belt drop out, their places in
the forest being taken by new forms. The Yellow and Sugar
pines are here replaced by the Jeffrey, and that in turn by the
Silver Pine; no longer do we see the Black Oak with its tall
trunk and spreading crown, but in its place are thickets of the
dwarf Huckleberry Oak ; the white-plumed Deer-brush remains
only as a memory, its mantle having descended to another Cean-
othus, the compact, intricately branched Snow-bush, and many
lesser sorts of annual and perennial herbs occur only at these
higher levels. This is the Upper Coniferous Belt, characterized
THE YOSEMITE FLORA
4
by cool summers and much snow and ice in the winter time, for
it extends up to timber-line, where Alpine conditions prevail.
4. Belt Above Timber-line ( Arctic-Alpine Life Zone). As
in the last preceding belt, the plant species here are entirely of
boreal origin. For those who are not particular as to technical
requirements, this is the most easy of all belts to distinguish,
since its lower limits are fixed by the upper line of the forests,
from which it extends to our highest summits. Here grow only
those plants which, through the peculiar constitution of their
protoplasm, are enabled not only to endure the rigors of winter
but to make their growth and form flowers and seed with a rela¬
tively small amount of heat. In these regions spring comes on
with a rush after the melting of the snow, for each plant must
hasten to mature its crop of seed before it is caught by the cold
storms of early autumn. All have deep, perennial roots, while
low and tough stems, often much gnarled, are the fashion. The
leaves are likewise tough in most cases, having a thick epider¬
mis, and they are mostly huddled near the base or along the short
stems. These characteristics are due not only to the short grow¬
ing period but also to the need of conserving moisture, since, as
a result of low temperature, steep slopes, porous soil, strong
winds, and reduced atmospheric pressure, a lack of sufficient
water is one of the plant’s chief contentions. Among the more
interesting of these Alpine plants may be mentioned the Arctic
Willow, which creeps along the ground, rising only to a height of
three or four inches ; the Cassiope, with thick, overlapping leaves
and dainty pendent flowers; and the Alpine Sorrel, which ex¬
tends around the world in Arctic regions, ranging southward to
high peaks in the Rocky Mountains and in the Alps. The Pole-
monium shown in the illustration facing page 190 is a typical
Alpine species, having a strong, perennial root, numerous short
stems with compact leaves, and showy flower-clusters.
As has been intimated in the preceding paragraphs, tempera¬
ture is not the only factor to be considered in a study of dis¬
tribution. Among the other environmental influences we should
note the effect of soil, light, air, animals, and especially water.
Let us now briefly look into a few of these factors, observing both
their influence on distribution and their effect on the appearance
of the vegetation.
The moisture relation often determines the kind of plant that
can grow in a given place. We therefore find, within each of the
great belts as already outlined, markedly different types of vege¬
tation, known technically as plant formations. These formations
often extend from one belt into another. Where the subsoil is
moist and the surface soil only moderately so, as over most of
THE YOSEMITE FLORA
5
our district, the result is a forest, with us a coniferous forest.
When, however, the moisture is near the surface, as in many val¬
leys and around springs, the result is, not a forest, but a meadow.
When a group of trees occurs in a meadow, it indicates that the
moisture at that spot is deeper in the soil ; in fact, such forest
islands are, in most cases, plainly seen to be situated on land
which is slightly more elevated or better drained than the sur¬
rounding areas.
It sometimes happens, especially on warm, well-drained slopes,
that the moisture-content of the soil is too small for either
meadows or forest, in which case a chaparral formation may
result. This consists of low shrubs, usually with deep roots and
with other characters which especially adapt them to dry situ¬
ations, as has been pointed out in considering the Foothill Belt.
The thickets of Chinquapin, Huckleberry Oak, Manzanita, etc., at
considerable altitudes, also belong to the chaparral formation and
are always found where soil moisture is comparatively scarce.
Other formations which may be traced out by the interested
student include that of the stream banks, known as the riparian
formation. Around and especially in the quiet ponds and lakes
another type of vegetation will be encountered ; still another on
the crests and summits; and so a dozen or more distinct forma¬
tions may be recognized, each made up of forms particularly
adapted to that special environment.
That external conditions exert a profound influence on the
structure and appearance of plants is well known. We have
already seen that those growing in dry places have special de¬
vices for acquiring and retaining moisture. As contrasted with
these it will be noted that plants growing in moist situations, as
along streams, around lakes or springs, and in shady places are
devoid of such adaptations; the root system is often shallow, the
leaves are broad and without hairy or resinous coats, the stems
are taller and without spines or thorns.
Such plants as we have just described often owe their charac¬
ter not only to an abundance of water, which is the most influen¬
tial factor affecting the shape of plants, but also to the absence of
excessive light. Shady places are usually moist places, and it is
sometimes difficult to determine whether certain characters are
the result of the moisture or of the light relation. Often they re¬
sult from both factors operating at the same time. Leaves ex¬
posed to strong sunlight not infrequently assume a vertical posi¬
tion, thus presenting but a small surface to the sun’s rays, as may
be seen in some manzanitas. On high mountains, where the light
is very intense, leaves are provided with a thick epidermal layer
which doubtless serves for purposes of protection. Plants in the
6
THE YOSEMITE FLORA
full glare of the sun have, almost without exception, narrow or
especially protected leaves, thus guarding against excessive light,
which might destroy contents of their live tissues, and at the
same time protecting themselves from excessive withdrawal of
moisture through their pores.
As contrasted with these light-tolerant species, it is interesting
to examine the shade-loving plants. Here we find an abundance
of foliage, the broad, smooth, and thin leaves being spread out in
such a manner as to receive the full benefit of the diffused light
sifted through the upper layers of the vegetation. Even the
arrangement of the leaves so as to prevent overlapping is as
though planned with the greatest of care. The Enchanter’s
Nightshade is a good example, the leaf-blades being broad and
exceedingly thin. The Monkshood, Columbine, Twayblade,
Meadow-rue, and Thimble Berry are other instances. The leaves
of the Twinberry, a plant of shaded places, are decidedly thinner
than those of the manzanitas of our exposed slopes.
Rock-plants have exceptionally adverse conditions with which to
contend. Aside from the great exposure to light, the soil from
which their nourishment is drawn is very shallow and is moistened
only during rains. Many of these plants, such as the Stonecrops,
have acquired a fleshy habit, the thick, juicy leaves and stems
being filled with water in time of plenty to provide for their needs
in time of drought. The epidermal layers are smooth and tough
and with but few openings.
Such adaptations to environment as we have been considering
result not only in a varied aspect of the vegetation as a whole,
but often produce so great a change in the appearance of plants
belonging to one species that even trained botanists are deceived.
Many a supposedly “good new species” has been named and de¬
scribed which farther observation has shown to be only an
extreme form of a well-known species, the result of an unusual
environment. The common Monkey-flower is one of these plastic
species. Under favorable conditions it grows to heights of two or
three feet, producing many large leaves and flowers, yet it varies
into forms only two or three inches high, with minute leaves and
flowers “scarcely large enough to measure.” This pygmy form is
common around the Yosemite, especially on very shallow soil
underlaid with granite, and all intermediate stages may here be
observed. Other examples might be cited, where variation ex¬
tends not only to shape and size but to color, amount of
pubescence, lobing of leaves, and many other characters, all of
which greatly affect the appearance of a plant. In searching for
an explanation of these variations the investigator must consider,
not one or two, but all of the possible factors.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
7
In a district like ours, where the topography is exceedingly
diverse, the number of combinations in which external factors
may unite to influence the appearance of the vegetation is very
great The number of species represented is therefore large and
the variation within each species is often considerable. The
detailed study of such modifications and their causes is one of the
most promising fields of botanical research and it would be diffi¬
cult to find better opportunities for these studies than are afforded
in the Yosemite National Park.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS.
The descriptions in this Flora are, in the main, couched in
clear and readily intelligible language. For purposes of accuracy,
however, it is often necessary to use terms which are familiar
only to botanists. For the guidance of others, the following brief
outline has been prepared, which, used in connection with the
glossary just preceding the index, should fully equip any intelli¬
gent student for the successful and pleasurable use of this book.
Special terms used entirely or mostly in a single family of plants
will be explained in the family descriptions.
The Root and Root-like Organs.
The root ordinarily grows downward from the base of the stem,
forks and spreads in the earth, absorbing food and water for the
plant. Fibrous roots have slender, thread-like branches. Tap¬
roots are single strong roots that descend perpendicularly, with
few branches. Rootstocks are underground, horizontal, root-like
stems, usually rooting at the joints and sending up leafy stalks.
The rootstocks of ferns produce fronds instead of leaves. Bulbs
are thickened underground bodies made up chiefly of fleshy leaves,
as in the Onion. They may be scaly, as in the Lilies, or with a
fibrous coat, as in the Soap-root.
The Stem.
The stem grows upward from the root and bears buds which
grow out into leafy branches. It finally produces flowers and
fruit.
Stems are of two types. In Endogens the woody portion occurs
in small bundles or fibers, which, in cross-section, are seen to be
distributed throughout the stem. In Exogens the woody system
grows in annual concentric layers between a central pith and an
exterior bark, so that in cross-section we see a series of rings of
wood, or in the first year one ring, surrounding the pith and sur¬
rounded by the separable bark. Endogenous stems produce leaves
with parallel veins, while leaves on exogenous stems are nearly
always net-veined.
8
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
A node is the place of attachment of a leaf or group of leaves.
An internode is the portion of a stem comprised between two
nodes.
Stems and their branches may be erect, or they may be ascend¬
ing, i. e., rising somewhat obliquely or curving upward. Prostrate
stems may emit roots from their joints, when they are said to be
creeping, as in the Strawberry.
The Leaves.
Leaves are lateral expansions and usually bear a bud in the
axil, i. e., the angle formed by the leaf and the stem or branch.
They are essentially digestive organs, their function being to com¬
bine materials brought by the crude sap from the roots with car¬
bon dioxide obtained from the air, thus forming substances which
may be used in building plant tissues. Only green leaves are able
to perform this work.
Leaves and Their Arrangement. — 1. Simple leaf; b, blade; p, petiole;
s, stipule. 2. Stem with alternate leaves. 3. Stem with opposite, sessile
leaves. 4. A whorl of six leaves.
Compound Leaves. — 1. A palmately compound leaf with three leaflets, as
in clovers. 2. A palmately compound leaf with more than three leaflets, as
in the Lupine. 3. A pinnately compound leaf with three leaflets, as in Bur
Clover and some Hosackias (note the stalk of the terminal leaflet). 4. A pin¬
nately compound leaf with more than three leaflets, as in the Loco-weed and
in some Hosackias. 5. A compound leaf ending in a tendril, as in the
Vetches and in the Sweet Pea.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
9
Leaf-outlines. — 1. Awl-shaped. 2. Linear. 3. Lanceolate. 4. Oblong.
5. Elliptic. 6. Oval. 7. Ovate.
Leaf-outlines and Extremities. — 1. Oblanceolate, with acute apex.
2. Spatulate, with obtuse apex. 3. Wedge-shaped, or cuneate. 4. Acuminate.
5. Heart-shaped at base. 6. Clasping.
An ordinary leaf consists of a usually flat portion, the blade,
joined to the stem by a leaf-stalk or petiole. When there is no
petiole, the leaf is said to be sessile on the stem. Stipules are out¬
growths from the base of the petiole. They may be small and
scale-like, or larger and leaf-like. They are often absent.
As to position, leaves are clasping, when the base more or
less surrounds the stem horizontally; sheathing, when the base
of the blade or petiole forms a vertical sheath around the stem;
alternate, when not opposite to each other but arranged singly at
different heights; opposite, when two grow from the same node
at opposite sides of the stem ; whorled, when several are arranged
around the stem like the spokes of a wheel.
Simple leaves have a blade of a single piece. Compound leaves
are divided to the midrib into separate parts, called leaflets.
Pinnately compound leaves have the leaflets arranged along the
10
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
sides of a common stalk, or rachis. In palmately compound leaves
they all spring from the summit of the common petiole, like the
fingers of a hand. In a bi-pinnate leaf the leaflets are again
divided to the base, as in the fronds of many ferns.
The terms used in describing the shapes and margins of leaves
may be best understood by a study of the figures (adapted from
Gray’s Structural Botany ) and of the definitions in the glossary
at the end of the book.
Leaves are sometimes broader at apex than at base, in which
case the prefix ob, meaning inversely or oppositely, is often con¬
venient.
1 2 3 4 5 6 .
Leaf-margins, Lobed Leaves, and Venation. — 1. An entire leaf. 2. A
toothed or dentate leaf. 3. A lobed leaf, the divisions extending not more
than half way to the midrib. 4. A parted leaf, the divisions reaching nearly
to the midrib. 5. A parallel-veined leaf. 6. A net-veined leaf.
The Flower.
The flower comprises all of the plant parts which have to do
with reproduction, that is, with the formation of fertile seeds.
Some plants, however, reproduce without the aid of true flowers
and do not set seed. Such are the so-called “flowerless plants”
( Cryptogams ), of which only the ferns are here described.
Flowering plants, or seed plants, are known as Phaenogams.
The parts of a flower (any one of which may be wanting in
some cases) are as follows :
The perianth comprises both calyx and corolla, or only the
calyx when the corolla is wanting. The showy part of most
Irises, Lilies, Eriogonums, etc., is the perianth.
The calyx forms usually an outer circle of greenish parts,
mostly for purposes of protection. It may be of distinct sepals,
or these may be united into a cup-shaped, bell-shaped, or some
other form of one-piece calyx.
The corolla forms an inner circle of parts usually colored for
purposes of attraction, since flowers depend largely upon insects
for the carrying of their pollen. It may be either choripetalous,
that is, composed of separate parts ( petals ) as in the Buttercup,
Mustard, Rose, etc.; or the corolla may be sympetalous, that is,
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
II
with the petals united into a one-piece corolla, as in the Morning-
glory, Gilia, Pentstemon, etc. For purposes of convenience,
those exogens in which the petals are distinct are spoken of as
members of the Choripetalae, while those with united petals are
the Sympetalae. The former have also been known as “Poly-
petalae,” the latter as “Monopetalae” and “Gamopetalae.” Flowers
without a corolla are said to be apetalous.
A Pattern Flower. — The figure represents a choripetalous flower, with
sepals, petals, and stamens all distinct (not united) and inserted on the
receptacle. The single, simple pistil here figured has a superior ovary.
The stamens supply the pollen used by the plant in fertilizing
the ovules, which then develop into seeds. This pollen is usually
produced in the form of a yellow powder contained in a 2-celled,
terminal pouch, the anther. At maturity the anther opens, scat¬
tering the pollen, or it may be carried by insects or by the wind,
etc. The thread-like stalk of the stamen is the filament.
The pistil always occupies the center of the flower and is con¬
cerned with the bearing of seeds. It may be single, as in the
Poppy and Primrose, or there may be several or many pistils to
a single flower, as in the Buttercup. A complete pistil consists
of three parts: (1), the ovary, or enlarged base, which includes
one or more ovules, each of which is the forerunner of a seed;
(2), a style, which is a usually slender continuation of the ovary
and supports (3), the stigma, which is sometimes a mere point to
the style, sometimes a flattish disk, sometimes a narrow line,
sometimes a broad blade.
The function of the stigma is to catch the pollen-grains and, through the
action of its secretions, cause them to send microscopic tubes through the
tissues of the pistil to the ovules. Certain contents of the pollen-grain then
12
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
pass through this tube and unite with elements in the ovule, after which the
latter develops into a fertile seed. The element derived from the pollen is
the male element, while that in the ovule is the female element and, with
few exceptions, their fusion is essential if fertile seeds are to be formed.
Flowers which contain stamens but not pistils are staminate, or male
flowers; those which bear pistils but not stamens are pistillate, or female
flowers. Most flowers produce both stamens and pistils.
Simple pistils are those composed of a single fundamental unit
{carpel). They always produce a one-celled fruit, and this may
contain a number of seeds, as in the Pea pod, or a single seed, as
in the Plum and Cherry. These simple pistils may occur singly
in each flower, as in the Pea, or they may be numerous and
heaped up in the middle, as in the Buttercup and Raspberry, but
so long as they do not actually fuse into one body they are distinct
pistils. When a simple pistil produces but one seed in a dry and
hard outer covering (ovary wall) which does not open at
maturity, it is called an akene. The seed-like bodies in the Com¬
posite Family and in the Buttercup are akenes. A compound pistil
is formed by the fusion of several parts into one body, as may be
indicated by the several cells to the ovary or by the distinct styles
or stigmas. Most seed-vessels contain several cells and result
from a compound pistil, as in Flax, Azalea, and Grape. One-
celled ovaries with several distinct styles are less common. St.
Johnswort is an example.
Superior ovaries are those which are entirely free from the
calyx, i. e., the calyx is not in any way adherent to the ovary,
which is attached to the receptacle. The Lily, Poppy, Mustard,
Pea, Pentstemon, and in fact most flowers have superior ovaries.
An inferior ovary is one to which the calyx is firmly united, so
that it cannot be pulled away without tearing the ovary, as in the
Orchid, Evening Primrose, and Godetia. The calyx in this case
surrounds the ovary and is also attached to it, while the ovary
itself is attached to the receptacle farther down and in this sense
is “inferior.” As the inferior ovary ripens, the calyx matures
with it, forming an outer coat which often gives additional pro¬
tection to the seeds. In some cases the calyx is attached only
part way up, giving us a half-inferior ovary, as in some members
of the Saxifrage Family.
The Fruit and Seed.
The fruit consists of the ripened ovary and whatever other parts
persist until the seed is ripe. In this sense a fruit need not be
fleshy or pulpy. Pods, burs, capsules, etc., are botanical fruits.
The seed is the mature ovule. It contains an embryo, or young
plant, and often a mealy, oily, or albuminous substance which
supplies nourishment for the growing plantlet after germination.
CLASSIFICATION
13
The Arrangement of the Flowers.
By inflorescence is meant either the arrangement of the flowers
on a plant or the flower-cluster itself. A flower is terminal when
at the summit of a stem or branch; axillary, when in the axil of
a leaf, as in most mints. A peduncle, or flower-stalk, is the stalk
either of a solitary flower or of a flower-cluster. A pedicel is the
ultimate branchlet of a cluster, supporting a single flower.
Bracts are small leaves occurring in a flower-cluster below the
calyx. Sometimes they are very small and scale-like, sometimes
colored. When several bracts encircle a flower or head of flowers,
they are collectively called an involucre , as in Eriogonum and in
the Sunflower. In the Nuttall Dogwood the involucre is so showy
that its bracts are often mistaken for petals. Involucres are
often cup-shaped and resemble calyxes. The more common types
of inflorescence are explained in the figures.
Types of Inflorescence. — 1. A raceme (note the stalked flowers) ;
b, bract; p, pedicel. 2. A spike (flowers sessile). 3. A panicle (flowers
scattered). 4. An umbel. 5. A head.
CLASSIFICATION AND THE USE OF KEYS.
For purposes of convenience, if for no other reason, it is well
to have the multitudinous forms of plant life classified according
to some established system. They are more conveniently dis¬
cussed and comprehended when those individuals which are most
alike are brought together under one name. This elementary
unit, or group of individuals, all of which are of the same kind,
is the species of the systematic botanist. Thus, all of the in¬
dividuals of Yellow Pine are of one species, the Yellow or
ponderosa species of Pine, while all of the individuals of the
Sugar Pine belong to the Sugar or lambertiana species.
Again, it is convenient to have brought together those species
which are most alike. This larger group, comprising several or
often many similar but distinct species, is the genus (plural
genera ). All species of Pine, be they Yellow or Sugar or any
other kind of Pine, belong to the Pine genus, written Pinus in
the Latin form; the species of Fir belong to another genus,
CLASSIFICATION
14
Abies; both of the Redwoods to the genus Sequoia, etc. The
botanical name consists of the generic name followed by that of
the species. We therefore write as the botanical name of the
Yellow Pine, Pinus ponderosa; of the Sugar Pine, Pinus lam-
bertiana; of the One-leaf Pinon Pine, Pinus monophylla , etc. The
generic name is frequently indicated by its initial letter only, and
the species name is commonly followed by that of the botanist
who first properly applied it. The name of the author is often
abbreviated.* Varieties, when they occur, are indicated by an
additional name following that of the species, a variety being con¬
sidered a mere form of a species, often brought about by differ¬
ences in the soil, exposure, or other elements of the environment.
The next step in our system of grouping is to bring similar
genera together into a larger and more comprehensive group, the
family. The pines, the firs, the redwoods, the cedars, and many
other similar genera are thus classed together as the Pine Family,
or Pinaceae, since they possess certain characters in common,
such as the cone-bearing habit. There are in all, 280 families of
flowering plants, but only 82 of these are represented in the
Yosemite National Park. Just as individuals are grouped into
species, species into genera, and genera into families, so these last
are collected into larger groups, some of which are used in our
Analytical Key to the Species.
But the aim of botanical classification is not merely to arrive
at a convenient grouping of plants. Its object is far-reaching
and its methods are based upon the fundamental principles of
evolution, heredity, and descent. The ultimate aim of systematic
botany is to discover a natural system of classification in which
all forms of plant life will be grouped according to their
relationships. For there is a natural relationship — a blood-con¬
nection — existing between all plants, just as there is between all
people, and the tracing of these connections is at once the most
fascinating and the most important of all botanical problems.
The student of organic relationships is following the steps through
which the innumerable forms of life have been evolved. In his
mind’s eye he sees the development and modification of plant
forms, the survival of the fit, the suppression of the unfit; he
traces the development of an organic world.
Botanical classification, if complete and correct, would express
all there is to know concerning the relationships of plants. But
our knowledge is sadly deficient. The investigator is often mis¬
led into assuming that superficial resemblance indicates blood-
relationship, or he is falling into other of the numerous pits of
deception, and therefore the discovery of the natural system in all
its details is a slow and laborious process. Until this task can be
USE OF KEYS ’ 15
completed, we are obliged to resort to a more or less artificial
grouping of many plants, purely as a matter of convenience.
The Use of Keys. — In using keys as an aid in the determin¬
ation of plants, there are certain precautions which should be
observed. Perhaps the most important of these is that the key
will unlock nothing unless the characters of the plant in hand
are first understood. A preliminary examination of the flower
and its parts is especially desirable, and care should be taken in
gathering material to see that all stages from the young plant
to the mature fruit are represented as far as possible. If the
beginner will select plants with large flowers for his first trials,
and especially if he will take the trouble to write out their
characters, with the aid of our introductory lessons and glossary,
he will avoid much of that confusion which results from an im¬
perfect understanding of plant descriptions. Due allowance must
always be made for a certain amount of variation in plants,
especially as to size. When a number of specimens of one species
are available, it is well to select an average one for study rather
than either of the extremes, for descriptions are seldom drawn in
such a way as to include the unusual or abnormal forms of a
species.
The first step in determining the name of a plant is to decide
upon the family to which it belongs. In our Analytical Key to
the Families the first division separates off the Fern Group, which
is the only family of the so-called flowerless plants here described.
Division II (Flowering Plants) includes all plants which bear
true seeds. Formerly they were called Phaenogamia and were
characterized as producing true flowers. Of this great division
there are two sub-divisions, as will be seen by reference to the
key, (1) the Gymnosperms, which are represented with us only
by our cone-bearing trees and the so-called California Nutmeg,
and (2) the Angiosperms, which latter class includes the bulk
of our species. The beginning student of the Yosemite Flora will
probably be but little interested in that part of our key preceding
the line, “Subdivision 2, Angiosperms.”
The next segregation, into the class of Monocotyledons and
the class of Dicotyledons, is based upon so many characters that
the student seldom goes astray here. The fact that so many sets
of characters run parallel in the two groups of families strength¬
ens our belief that this segregation is a natural one. In fact,
all of the divisions so far have been based on natural relation¬
ships. Leaving, now, the first class, let us take up the second,
which is by far the larger and therefore the more difficult. We
here find the Dicotyledons segregated into an apetalous, a chori-
petalous, and a sympetalous section, a classification which is
i6
USE OF KEYS
largely artificial and is used only for convenience. At this point,
as in some other places, one must note that in running a plant to
its family he has a choice, not of two, but of three sets of
characters (in this case indicated by the Roman numerals I, II,
III). Having determined the section to which a plant belongs,
one follows through the successively subordinated divisions of
that section, as indicated by the indentation of the lines upon the
page, until he arrives at the name of the family. A key to the
genera of each family will be found at its proper, place in the
book, and likewise keys to the species when there are more than
three in a genus.
It will be noted that the arrangement of the families in the
text does not follow the order of the key. This is because the
key is partly artificial, being arranged with a view to ease of use,
while in the body of the book families which have a natural
relationship are brought next to each other as far as possible.
This is also true of the arrangement of the genera within each
family, and even the species are arranged according to natural
relationships wherever these have been carefully worked out.
The nomenclature here adopted for plant names follows the rules
laid down by the International Botanical Congress, except in a
few unimportant details.
ANALYTICAL KEY TO THE FAMILIES
(Carried out in some cases to genera)
Division I. FERN GROUP (Pteridophyta)
Plants without true flowers ; reproduction by spores ;
only the Fern Family, with several or numerous
fronds from a rootstock with fibrous roots is here
described . Polypodiaceae, 25
Division II. FLOWERING PLANTS
( Sperm atophyta )
Plants with true flowers containing stamens or pistils
or both; reproduction normally by seeds.
Subdivision 1. GYMNOSPERMS (Seeds naked)
Evergreen trees and shrubs, cone-bearing except in
Taxaceae; leaves needle-like, awl-like, scale-like, or
narrowly linear ; stamens and pistils never borne in the
same flower; ovules not in a closed ovary, maturing
into naked seeds.
Fruit a woody cone bearing several to many seeds .. Pinaceae, 40
Fruit berry-like or plum-like, 1-seeded . Taxaceae, 46
Subdivision 2. ANGIOSPERMS (Seeds enclosed)
Evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and herbs,
not cone-bearing; leaves various; ovules in a closed ,
sac, or ovary, which at maturity becomes the fruit and
encloses the seed.
Class 1. MONOCOTYLEDONS
Leaves with principal veins parallel (net-veined in
Erythronium, Disporum, and Trillium) ; flower-parts
usually in 3’s or 6’s, never in 4’s or 5’s; embryo with
1 cotyledon; stems with neither pith nor ring-like
layers, but with the fibers distributed through them
(showing as dots in a transverse slice) ; ours all herbs.
(Class 2 on p. 18.)
1 8 KEY TO THE FAMILIES
Ovary or ovaries simple ; flowers with only scale-like
calyx, if any, and no corolla.
Flowers not in axils of dry chaffy bracts.
a. Immersed branching aquatics with thread-like
leaves, or the floating leaves broad and flat.
Naiadaceae,
b. Immersed ellipsoidal or roundish free-swimming
aquatics without true leaves . Lemnaceae,
c. Marsh or aquatic plants with ribbon-like leaves ;
stamens and pistils in separate rounded clus¬
ters . Sparganiaceae,
d. Marsh plants with grass-like leaves and perfect
flowers in racemes . Juncaginaceae,
Flowers in the axils of dry chaffy bracts.
Stems mostly cylindric and hollow; leaf-sheaths
split opposite the blade; anthers attached at
the middle . Gramineae,
Stems mostly 3-sided, solid; sheaths entire; an¬
thers attached at the base . Cyperaceae,
Ovary compound; flowers with calyx or corolla or both.
Calyx and ovary wholly free from each other; sta¬
mens mostly 6. (Ovary superior.)
Plant rush-like; flowers small, greenish or brown.
Juncaceae,
Plant not rush-like.
Pistils numerous, in a circle . Alismaceae,
Pistil one, compound . Liliaceae,
Calyx adherent to the ovary. (Ovary inferior.)
Flowers regular, stamens 3 ; capsule 3-celled . . Iridaceae,
Flowers irregular, stamen 1 (rarely 2) ; capsule
1-celled . Orchidaceae,
Class 2. DICOTYLEDONS
Leaves net-veined ; flower-parts usually in 4’s or
5’s, never in 3’s (exceptions occur in some members of
Poppy, Buckwheat, and Spurge families) ; embryo with
2 cotyledons ; stem with annual layers when perennial.
I. APETALOUS SECTION. Corolla none; calyx
present, herbaceous or sometimes petal-like (some¬
times none). (II. on p. 20.)
A. Trees, shrubs, and woody climbers. (B. on p. 19.)
Flowers in catkins, i. e., sessile in narrow scaly spikes,
at least the staminate; pistillate flowers on same or
different plant.
Leaves opposite; flowers in cup-like bracts
47
48
47
47
48
48
49
48
49
60
61
Garry a, 173
KEY TO THE FAMILIES
19
Leaves alternate.
Pistillate and staminate flowers both in catkins (or
cones).
Flowers 1 to each scale or bract.
Seeds hairy, many in a capsule . Salicaceae, 65
Seed not hairy, solitary, in waxy-coated clus¬
ters . Myricaceae, 69
Flowers 2 or 3 to each scale or bract; seeds in a
woody cone . Betulaceae, 70
Pistillate flowers not in catkins.
Fruit a nut in a leafy tube . Corylus, 70
Fruit a nut in a scaly cup or bur (acorn or chest¬
nut) . Fag ace ae, 71
Flowers not in catkins.
Leaves opposite.
Ovary adherent to calyx; leaves simple; parasitic
on trees . Loranthaceae, 73
Ovary free from calyx and corolla; leaves com¬
pound.
Climber; fruit of many tailed akenes . Clematis , 94
Tree; fruit long-winged . Fraxinus, 185
Leaves alternate, simple; erect trees and shrubs.
Stamens 4 or 5; fruit berry-like . Rhamnus, 154
Stamens 9; fruit olive-like . Lauraceae, 101
Stamens numerous; fruit tailed, dry, 1-seeded _
Cercocarpus, 133
B. Herbs.
Calyx free from the ovary. (Ovary superior.)
a. Pistils more than 1, distinct, becoming 1-seeded
fruits; stamens many . Ranunculaceae, 94
b. Pistil 1, 3-celled; calyx and corolla both wanting;
flower-clusters surrounded by a petal-like in¬
volucre; juice milky . Euphorbiaceae, 150
c. Pistil 1, 4-celled; aquatic with hair-like leaves.
Callitrichaceae, 151
d. Pistil 1, 1-celled ; calyx present.
Stipules sheathing the stem at the nodes. . Polygon aceae, 76
Stipules present but not sheathing . Urticaceae, 73
Stipules none.
Fruit a several-seeded capsule; styles 3 to 5 .
Caryophyllaceae, 88
Fruit 1-celled, 1-seeded.
Flowers in clusters surrounded by an invo¬
lucre ; leaves entire, in whorls or all basal,
rarely alternate. . Polygonaceae, 76
20
KEY TO THE FAMILIES
Flowers not involucrate ; leaves alternate.
Bracts none; flowers greenish. . .Chenopodiaceae, 83
Bracts and flowers thin and dry, not green. .
Amaranthaceae, 83
Bracts leaf-like, densely hairy . Eremocarpus , 150
Calyx adherent to the ovary. (Ovary inferior.)
Leaves entire; flowers perfect.
Aquatic; leaves densely whorled . Haloragidaceae, 169
Land plants; leaves alternate or basal.
Seeds many; leaves broad-heart-shaped .
Aristolochiaceae, 75
Seed solitary; leaves elliptic . Santalaceae, 74
Leaves deeply toothed or lobed; flowers lacking sta¬
mens or pistils.
Erect herb; seeds numerous, small . Datiscaceae, 162
Climbing herb; seeds several, large . Cucurbitaceae, 237
II. CHORIPETALOUS SECTION. Calyx and
corolla both present, the latter of distinct petals.
(III. on p. 22.)
A. Stamens more than double the number of petals
(always more than 10). (B. on p. 21.)
Stamens free from the calyx ( hypogynous ).
Pistils few to many, distinct . Ranunculaceae, 94
Pistil 1, compound.
Sepals falling as the corolla opens . Papaveraceae, 101
Sepals persistent; aquatics with broad floating
leaves . Nymphaeaceae, 93
Sepals persistent; land plants.
Petals more numerous than the sepals (5 to 16) ;
succulent plants . Portulacaceae, 84
Petals of the same number as the sepals (5).
Leaves alternate ; flowers not yellow ; stamens
all united . Malvaceae, 157
Leaves opposite, entire; flowers yellow; sta¬
mens united into bundles . Guttiferae, 159
Stamens borne on the calyx ( perigynous ).
Leaves opposite, simple.
Petals 4, white . Philadelphus, 121
Petals many, red . Calycanthaceae, 101
Leaves alternate, with stipules; flowers white yellow
or pinkish . Rosaceae, 123
Leaves alternate, without stipules, rough ; flowers
yellow . Loasaceae, 161
KEY TO THE FAMILIES
21
B. Stamens not more than double the number of petals.
1. Calyx free from the ovary or ovaries. (Ovary
superior.) (For “2. Calyx adherent,” see p. 22.)
Pistils more than one and distinct from each other.
Petals and sepals of just the same number as pistils.
Leaves simple, fleshy . Crassulaceae, 113
Leaves pinnately compound . Floerkia, 149
Petals and sepals not of same number as pistils.
Stipules persistent; leaves alternate . Rosaceae, 123
Stipules none or indistinct.
Petals and stamens 5 or 10 each. . . . Saxifragaceae, 115
Petals (red) and stamens numerous .
Calycanthaceae, 101
Pistil only one.
Pistil simple, as shown by the single style, stigma,
and ovary-cell.
Flowers irregular; stamens united; fruit a sev¬
eral-seeded pod . Leguminosae, 135
Flowers regular; stamens not united.
Calyx 5-lobed; fruit 1-seeded . Rosaceae, 123
Calyx of 2 sepals; fruit several-seeded; leaves
fleshy . Portulacaceae, 84
Pistil compound.
Ovary 1-celled.
Corolla irregular, the petals unlike.
Sepals 5 ; petals 5, the lower one spurred.
Violaceae, 159
Sepals 2; petals 4, none spurred; corolla
heart-shaped at base . Fumariaceae, 102
Corolla regular, the petals all alike.
Shrubs with 1-seeded fruits . Anacardiaceae, 151
Herbs; capsule several to many-seeded.
Sepals 2; herbage fleshy . Portulacaceae, 84
Sepals 4 or 5 ; leaves scale-like, not green.
Pleuricospora, 177
Sepals or calyx-lobes 4 or 5 ; leaves green.
Leaves all opposite . Caryophyllaceae, 88
Leaves all at base, roundish . Droseraceae, 112
Ovary and usually the fruit 2 -celled.
Fruit a capsule, rarely winged; herbs. .Cruciferae, 103
Fruit winged; trees.
Leaves simple, palmately lobed . Aceraceae, 153
Leaves pinnately compound . Oleaceae, 184
Ovary more than 2 -celled.
Anthers opening by pores at the top . Ericaceae, 174
22
KEY TO THE FAMILIES
Anthers opening lengthwise.
a. Herbs .
Ovules and seeds numerous . Saxifragaceae, 115
Ovules and seeds 1 to 4 in each cell.
Leaves all entire.
Petals 5 ; stamens 5, on the receptacle.
Linaceae, 149
Petals 4; stamens 4, on the calyx.
Lythraceae, 162
Leaves divided or compound. .. . Geraniaceae, 148
b. Shrubs, trees and woody climbers.
Stamens as many as petals and opposite
them.
Erect or prostrate shrubs . Rhamnaceae, 153
Climbing vines . Vitaceae, 156
Stamens alternate with the petals.
Leaves pinnately compound ; fruit a
bladdery pod . Staphyleaceae, 152
Leaves palmately compound ; fruit a
1-seeded pod . Sapindaceae, 153
2. Calyx adherent to the ovary. (Ovary inferior.)
Flowers in umbels, i. e., all on nearly equal pedicels
from the summit of a common stalk; all herbs.
Umbelliferae, 170
Flowers not in umbels.
Styles 2 to 5, distinct or united below. . . .Saxifragaceae, 115
Style 1, undivided (but sometimes with slender
stigma-lobes).
Flowers scattered, in racemes or spikes ; herbs.
Onagraceae, 162
Flowers in close rounded clusters; shrubs and
trees . Cornaceae, 172
III. SYMPETALOUS SECTION. Calyx and
corolla both present, the latter with petals united at
least at base.
A. Stamens free from the corolla.
Stamens distinct from each other.
Anthers opening by pores at the top, except in one
species without green herbage . Ericaceae, 174
Anthers opening lengthwise . Campanulaceae, 237
Stamens united into a tube around the style . Lobeliaceae, 238
23
KEY TO THE FAMILIES
B. Stamens on the corolla.
1. Stamens more than 5 (and ovary superior).
Petals 4, in pairs; sepals 2; stamens 6 . Dicentra, 102
Petals 5.
Pistils 4 or 5, distinct; stamens 10 . Crassulaceae, 113
Pistil 1.
Flowers very irregular; stamens 10; ovary 1-
celled . Leguminosae, 135
Flowers regular ; stamens many, united into a
tube . .Malvaceae, 157
2. Stamens 5 or less.
Calyx free from the ovary. (Ovary superior.)
(For “Calyx adherent,” see p. 24.)
Corolla regular (i. e., the lobes all alike).
Ovaries 2, becoming a pair of pods when both
mature.
Stamens lightly united or distinct, not attached
to the stigmas . Apocynaceae, 187
Stamens united, and adherent to the stigmas, the
column bearing hood-like appendages .
Asclepiadaceae, 188
Ovary 1, 4-lobed, forming 4 nutlets.
Leaves alternate, not aromatic . Boraginaceae, 203
Leaves opposite, aromatic . Labiatae, 207
Ovary 1, entire.
Style 3-cleft at apex; capsule 3-celled. . Polemoniaceae, 190
Styles or stigmas 2 or 1.
Stamens opposite the divisions of the corolla.
Primulaceae, 182
Stamens alternate with the divisions of the
corolla.
Leaves heart-shaped at base, as broad as
long, or wanting . Convolvulaceae, 190
Leaves not heart-shaped at base.
Stemless plants ; leaves (simple) all at base
of a naked flower-stalk. ... Plantaginaceae, 230
Stems present and bearing leaves.
Herbage perfectly glabrous; leaves all
opposite (or whorled) and entire;
capsule 1-celled . Gentianaceae, 185
Herbage more or less pubescent; leaves
various.
Styles 2, or 1 and 2-cleft; capsule 1
or 2-celled . Hydrophyllaceae, 197
24
KEY TO THE FAMILIES
Style 1, entire; capsule or berry 2-
celled . Solanaceae, 213
Corolla irregular (from strongly 2-lipped to nearly
regular) ; stamens with anthers 4 or 2; style 1.
Ovary 4-parted, forming 4 seed-like nutlets Labiatae, 207
Ovary and capsule 2-celled . Scrophulariaceae, 213
Ovary and capsule 1-celled.
Parasites without green foliage . Orobanchaceae, 229
Aquatics with finely cut green leaves . Lentibulariaceae, 230
Calyx adherent to the ovary. (Ovary inferior.)
Stamens distinct from each other.
Leaves alternate; flowers regular; stamens 5;
herbs . Campanulaceae, 237
Leaves opposite or whorled.
Stamens 1 to 3 ; flowers irregular, small. Valerianaceae, 236
Stamens 4 or 5, rarely 2.
Leaves either opposite and with stipules, or
whorled and without stipules . Rubiaceae, 231
Leaves opposite or perfoliate, but neither
whorled nor with true stipules. . Caprifoliaceae, 233
Stamens united into a tube around the style.
Flowers not in heads; fruit many-seeded. . . Lobeliaceae, 238
Flowers in a head with a calyx-like involucre;
fruit 1-seeded . Compositae, 239
DESCRIPTIVE FLORA
POLYPODIACEAE. Fern Family.
Plants with stems ( rootstocks ) more or less creeping and usu¬
ally underground, sending up leaves ( fronds ) singly or in groups.
The stem on which the frond is borne is known as the stalk.
Its continuation through the frond is called the rachis (plural,
rachises). In ours the frond is cut almost or entirely to the mid¬
vein, never entire. When cut to the midvein the divisions are
called pinnae (singular, pinna ) and the frond is said to be pin¬
nate. Each pinna may be again divided, in which case the frond
is said to be 2 -pinnate, or if cut again it is 3-pinnate, and if still
again, as in some Pellaeas, the frond is 4 -pinnate. In this Flora
the ultimate division is always termed the segment. When the
frond is simply pinnate, as in Pellaea bridgesii, each segment is a
pinna. On the back of the frond are borne the fruit-masses ( sori ,
singular, sorus), usually along the veins or margins. The sorus
is composed of many stalked spore-cases ( sporangia ), each hav-
, ,ing a vertical many-jointed elastic ring which, at maturity, breaks
transversely and somewhat straightens, thus discharging the
spores. The spores correspond to seeds of flowering plants. The
^sporangia often rise from a common stalk ( receptacle ) to which
^ a special covering ( indusium ) is attached when young; some-
•n*. times the indusium is formed of the altered and recurved margin
of the frond. On germination, the spores produce flat, green
leaf-like tissues ( prothallia ) Y$ in. or less wide. These in their
turn produce male and female bodies that unite and grow into
n the fern as we commonly see it. Thus all ferns pass through two
^-generations, — one asexual, the other sexual.
2 6
FERN FAMILY
A. Sori without indusia.
Backs of fronds without powder.
Fronds simply pinnate . 1.
Fronds at least 2-pinnate; high altitudes . 2.
Backs of fronds with whitish or yellowish powder . 3.
B. Sori with indusia.
7.
Sori marginal, covered by the altered reflexed margin of
the frond.
Stalks light or straw-colored (except at base).
Fronds of 2 sorts, fertile and sterile, differing in
appearance . 8.
Fronds all alike . 5.
Stalks dark-colored.
Fronds and stalks either scaly or woolly or both;
indusia separate, or if continuous the segments
bead-like . 6.
Fronds and stalks neither scaly nor woolly.
Indusium not continuous, bearing sporangia on its
under surface; segments thin; midvein not
medial, sometimes wanting; damp places . 4.
Indusium continuous, the sporangia on the surface
of the frond; segments thick (except P. brew
eri ); midvein medial; dry exposed places...
Sori not marginal, each covered with a special indusium.
Sori round.
Indusium scale-like, attached to the vein below the
sporangia . 13.
Indusium saucer-like or fringe-like, inferior, i. e.,
attached centrally to the stalk beneath the spo¬
rangia . 14.
Indusium shield-shaped, superior, i. e., attached cen¬
trally to the stalk above the sporangia.
Indusium orbicular, without a sinus . H.
. Indusium kidney-shaped, or if orbicular then with
a narrow sinus . 12.
Sori oblong; tall ferns.
Segments of frond cut-toothed; sori oblique to the
midribs . 10.
Segments of frond not cut-toothed; sori parallel to
the midribs . 9.
Polypodium.
Phegopteris.
Gymnogramma.
Cryptogramma.
Pteris.
Cheilanthes.
Adiantum.
Pellaea.
Cystopteris.
WOODSXA.
POLYSTICHUM.
Aspidium.
Asplenium.
WOODWARDXA.
1. POLYPODIUM.
1. P. vulgare L. Common Polypody. Stalks 2 to 8 in. long,
slender, firm, erect, naked. Fronds smooth, 4 to 12 in. long,
1 to 4 in. broad at base, ovate-oblong or oblong-linear, cut to
or nearly to the rachis into entire or toothed oblong-linear
acute or obtuse segments. Sori large, round, usually in one
row midway between the margin and midrib, without indusia.
Veins free, with 3 or 4 veinlets having thickened ends, the
lowest veinlet on the upper side of the vein bearing a sorus
at its end.
FERN FAMILY
27
From its name, one might expect
to find the Common Polypody of fre¬
quent occurrence but we saw it only
once. It grows, together with the
Brittle-fern and Golden-back, in a
rocky crevice which the spray of Yo-
semite Falls keeps constantly damp.
2. PHEGOPTERIS. Beech -FERN.
1. P. alpestris Mett. Alpine Beech-
fern. Stalks clustered, 4 to 12 in.
long, straw-color, grooved, with large
scattered scales when young. Fronds
12 to 24 in. long, oblong-lanceolate,
acute, smooth, tapering toward the
base, 2-pinnate; segments deeply cut
fruiting profusely except those of the
lower pinnae. Sori small, round, on
the backs of veins, without indusia.
Although this fern has not yet
been detected in our district, there
is little doubt of its occurrence at
high altitudes, since it has been
found in the High Sierra Nevada of Tulare Co., to the south
of us, and also on Pyramid and other high peaks to the
north. The fronds, which are surprisingly large for an Alpine
plant, are delicate and finely cut, closely resembling those of
the Lady-fern.
3. GYMNOGRAMMA.
1. G. triangularis Kaulf. Golden-back,
fern. Stalks densely clustered, slen¬
der, brown, shiny, 1J4 to 12 in. long.
Fronds 1 to 6 in. long and nearly as
broad at base, triangular, pinnate;
pinnae sessile, generally opposite, 3
or 4 pairs, upper ones confluent into a
pinnatifid apex, lowest pair much the
largest and broader on the lower
side and often again pinnate; seg¬
ments obtuse, more or less scolloped,
under surface covered with yellow or
white powder. Sori oblong or linear,
following the veins, often covering
the whole under surface at maturity,
California Gold-
28
FERN FAMILY
thus obliterating any pattern and hiding the powder; in-
dusium wanting. ( Gymnopteris triangularis Underw. Ceropteris
triangularis Underw.)
The Golden-back, immediately recognized by its yellow
powder (white when young), has been found growing in
damp rock crevices at the foot of the lower Yosemite Fall,
near the Snow Creek Trail, and in other damp or semi-damp
rocky places along the walls. In dry periods the fronds of
this fern roll up, thus protecting themselves until the drought
is over. A variety viscosa Eat., is recognized. Its pinnae are
more distant, less divided, the upper surface viscid, and the
powder creamy white.
Adiantum pe datum
FERN FAMILY
29
4. ADIANTUM. Maidenhair.
Sori borne on the inner surface of reflexed portions of the
margin of the frond, the indusium thus formed being divided
into varying lengths. Midrib of the ultimate segments lateral
or the forking and usually free veinlets rising directly from
the stalk of the segment. Stalks mostly dark reddish-brown
and usually highly polished.
1. A. pedatum L. Five-finger Fern. American Maidenhair.
Stalks 2 to 15 in. long, dark-brown and polished, forked at
summit and bearing 6 to 14 finger-like pinnae. Fronds semi¬
circular in outline, central finger longest (sometimes 1 ft.
long and 2 in. wide); segments short-stalked, triangular-
oblong, lower margin entire, upper margin lobed and finely
cut and bearing a few oblong-lunate sori. Principal vein of
each segment parallel and close to the lower margin, the vein-
lets rising to the upper margin.
Five-finger, sometimes called American Maidenhair, grows
only where there is plenty of moisture. It likes best cool,
damp, protected rock-crevices. A beautiful grotto of this kind
may be seen from the trail as one climbs out of Tenaya Canon
above Mirror Lake. To the left of the trail about half way up
is an overhanging arch of rock from which water drips and
under the arch is a beautiful waving fringe of this fern. It is
fervently hoped that its inaccessibility will long save it for the
appreciation of true fern lovers. Those who had the privilege
of visiting the Yosemite Valley twenty and thirty years ago
say that the Five-finger then grew abundantly about the vari¬
ous falls. Today it is almost exterminated. Very careful
search revealed it in only a few unfrequented places or ledges
not easily reached.
2. A. jordanii Muell. Stalks a few inches to a foot long,
continued through the frond, blackish and polished. Frond
about as long as the stalk, broadly ovate or triangular, 2 to
3-pinnate below; segments long-stalked, 54 to 1 in. wide,
rounded, fan-shaped, or even kidney-shaped, lower margins
entire, upper edges lobed twice or several times; the lobes
in sterile fronds sharply toothed; lobes in the fertile fronds
recurved, forming long indusia. Veins all radiating from the
stalk of the segment. (A. emarginatum Hook.)
This Maidenhair, although common in the Coast Ranges,
seems to be scarce in the Sierra Nevada. It grows only in
moist places at low altitudes, as on Mt. Buckingham and
elsewhere near El Portal. A. capillis-veneris L., the Venus-
hair, has been reported from Yosemite Valley, but its occur-
FERN FAMILY
30
rence is doubtful. It is known by the narrower, lanceolate
frond and somewhat wedge-shaped segments.
5. PTERIS. Brake. Bracken.
1. P. aquilina L. Common Brake. Rootstocks widely
creeping. Stalks
scattered, erect,
rigid, straw-color
or reddish brown,
a foot or more
high. Fronds 2 to
5 ft. long and as
wide at the base
(frequently attain¬
ing a greater size),
triangular-ovate in
outline, hairy on
under surface, 2 to
4-pinnate, lowest
pinnae very large,
rapidly becoming
smaller and less
divided above,
edges of the segments entire. Sori on a continuous marginal
receptacle and covered by the continuous double indusium.
( Pteridium aquilinum Kuhn.)
The Common Brake is found in many parts of the world.
It is well known in the Sierra Nevada, where the creeping
habit of its rootstock often causes whole hillsides and valley
bottoms to be densely covered by the broad fronds, but it is
absent from high altitudes. Our West American form (var.
lanuginosa Bong.) differs from the eastern form in its greater
size and in having silky hairs on the under surface of the frond.
The spores do not usually develop until late July or August.
Much use is made of this fern by the Indians who use the
rootstocks for food and also in basketry.
6. CHEILANTHES. Lip -FERN. j
Small ferns with the fronds divided 2 to 4 times into small
segments and the under surface covered with scales, wool,
or powder, except in C. calif ornica. Sori borne toward or at
the ends of free veins, small and roundish at first, afterward
forming a nearly continuous marginal line, covered by a more
or less continuous indusium formed of the reflexed margin of
the lobes or whole segments. Stalks dark-brown and shiny.
FERN FAMILY 3 1
1. C. gracillima Eat. Lace-fern. Stalks densely clustered,
1 to 6 in. long, dark brown, white-chaffy when
young, rachises with persistent delicate scales.
Fronds 1 to 4 in. long, 1 in. or less wide, linear-
oblong, 2-pinnate or occasionally 3-pinnate espe¬
cially near the base; pinnae crowded, ^ to in.
long; segments crowded, in. long, oblong,
smooth above (white-hairy when young), heavily
covered beneath with light reddish-brown wool
but not scaly. Indusium brown, formed of the
continuously recurved margin of the segment.
The Lace-fern is common in our region and northward on
rocky walls and summits. It was locally noted at many
places around the Yosemite Valley and up Tenaya Canon.
2. C. myriophylla Desv. Elegant Lip-fern. Stalks clus¬
tered, V/2 to 6 in. long, reddish brown, cov¬
ered when young with scales and hairs inter¬
mixed. Fronds 2 to 8 in. long, V/2 in. or
less wide at base, oblong-lanceolate, 3 to 4-
pinnate; segments crowded, bead-like, i*s in.
or less wide, smooth above, with brown cil-
ated scales and matted wool beneath, mar¬
gin unchanged but much incurved.
This Lip-fern is abundant in rocky places,
especially along the walls of our lower val¬
leys, ranging up to 5000 ft. or more in alti¬
tude. In times of drought the fronds of this
and many other ferns of arid places roll up
and become dry. When the roots are again supplied with
moisture, these dry and apparently dead fronds unroll and
become active. Some botanists class our plant as C. fendleri
Hook., a species distinguished by its almost entire scales,
absence of wool, and slender, cord-like rootstocks. All of
our specimens, however, seem to be C. myriophylla, or at the
most only forms of it.
Three other species of Cheilanthes have been reported from the Yosemite
Valley and below, but we have seen no authentic specimens from our district.
They are the following: C. calif ornica Mett., of the Coast Ranges, may be
distinguished by the smooth delicate fronds, green on both sides and without
hairs. The indusia are separate, lunate, and occur one at the end of each
fertile veinlet. C. cooperae Eat., grows in the clefts of rocks at Hites Cove,
on the South Fork of the Merced. Its fronds are densely white-hairy, the
segments not bead-like, as in the two species described above. The indusia
are more or less confluent, usually extending over the ends of several vein-
lets but not continuous all around the segments. C. clevelandii Eat., is very
doubtfully accredited to our district. In technical characters and general
FERN FAMILY
32
appearance it is much like our C. myriophylla but the fronds, although scaly
beneath, are not woolly, and the rootstocks are elongated and cord-like.
7. PELLAEA. Cliff-brake.
Usually small ferns with fronds divided 1 to 4 times, en¬
tirely without scales or wool except for a small tuft of scales
at the base of the stalk. Sori near the ends of the free veins,
eventually forming a marginal line which is covered by a con¬
tinuous indusium formed of the altered reflexed margin of the
segment. Stalks dark-brown, smooth and polished. ( Cheilan -
thes calif ornica might be sought here, but the separate lunate
indusia turned back over the ends of fertile veinlets between
the teeth readily distinguish it.)
Fronds simply pinnate.
Texture thick, veins not plainly visible; pinnae
mostly not parted . 1. P.bridgesii.
Texture thin, veins clearly visible; pinnae mostly
2-parted . 2. P. breweri.
Fronds 2-pinnate; texture thick, veins not visible.
Fronds narrowly linear in outline . 4. P. brachyptera.
Fronds broader, lanceolate to ovate in outline.
Segments sharply pointed . 5. P. wrightiana.
Segments obtuse or notched at tip . 6. P. andromedaefolia.
Fronds 3-pinnate when fully developed, at least toward
base of the frond.
Segments obtuse or notched at tip . 6. P. andromedaefolia.
Segments sharply tipped.
Fronds oblong-lanceolate, 4 to 12 in. long . 3. P. ornithopus.
Fronds triangular, 1 to 3 in. long . 7. P. densa.
1. P. bridgesii Hook. Stalk 2 to 6 in. long, brown and
glossy. Fronds blue-green, as long or longer than the stalks,
Yz to V/z in. wide, linear-oblong, simply pinnate; segments
Pellaea bridgesii
Pellaea breweri
FERN FAMILY
33
5 to 18 pairs (usually 10 to 12), ovate, y to 1 in. long (usually
y2 in. long), y to J/2 in. wide when flat (folded lengthwise
until maturity), mostly opposite. Indusium whitish, narrow,
continuous.
This Cliff-brake grows in the clefts of rocks, usually above
5000 ft. alt. Quantities of it may be seen on the open, ex¬
posed summit passed over by the long trail to Nevada Falls.
Specimens found here and along other trails at high points
show a tendency to lobing and even parting of the segments,
as in the following species.
2. P. breweri Eat. Stalks 2 to 3 in. long, very fragile, red¬
dish brown and shiny. Fronds 2 to 6 in. long, y to 2 in. wide,
oblong in outline, simply pinnate; segments 6 to 12 pairs,
to ly in. long, thin, usually parted into two lanceolate obtuse
lobes of which the upper is the larger (lobes sometimes 3 or
4). Indusium broad, continuous and pale.
Professor W. H. Brewer first collected this fern, finding it,
in 1863, near Sonora Pass at 7000 to 8000 ft. alt. It has been
collected at Mono Pass and on Mt. Dana at high altitudes,
and it also occurs in the Rocky Mts. The fronds are much
thinner than in other Pellaeas, and the stalks are exceedingly
fragile.
3. P. ornfthopus Hook. Bird-foot Cliff-brake. Stalks 2 to
10 in. long, clustered, dark-brown, shiny, stout and rigid.
Fronds equalling or longer than the stalks, 1 to 5 in. wide at
base, rigid, broadly ovate-lanceolate or triangular in outline,
2 to 3-pinnate at least at the bases of the lower pinnae; pinnae
spreading, often rising obliquely, each with 5 to 16 pairs of
3-foliate (sometimes 5 to 7-foliate) secondary pinnae; seg¬
ments J/i to & in. long, sharp-tipped, margins rolled back to
the midrib (in the rare sterile fronds the segments are
roundish).
The resemblance of the segments to a bird’s foot has given
rise to the common name. Bird-foot Cliff-brake. This is the
FERN FAMILY
34
most common Pellaea in our district, the rigid stalks growing
in dense clumps on all of the cliffs around the Yosemite and
similar valleys. The plants possess a remarkable ability to
resist drought, since they grow in exceedingly dry places
where often exposed to the full force of the glaring sun. It
seems probable that the next two species will be eventually
united with this, since intermediate forms are being con¬
stantly collected. Our text figures seem to indicate a marked
difference but they represent extreme forms of these three
species.
4. P. brachyptera Baker. Stalks 2 to 8 in. long, clustered,
dark-brown, erect and wiry. Fronds about equalling the
stalks, yh to 1/4 'm- wide, narrowly oblong-linear in outline,
2-pinnate; pinnae sessile, ascending, short, often broader than
long; segments % to in. long, crowded, oblong-linear, with
sharp tip, the margins rolled back to the midrib, making the
segment almost cylindric. — Doubtfully distinct from no. 3, dif¬
fering chiefly in the narrower fronds, their pinnae closely ap-
pressed. Yosemite and Little Yosemite valleys and north¬
ward in the Sierra Nevada.
5. P. wrightiana Hook. A species very closely resembling
no. 4 and perhaps better accepted as a form of it, being dis¬
tinguished only by the shape of the frond, which is broader
in outline (broadly lanceolate or ovate) due to the widely
spreading pinnae. From no. 3 it differs mainly in having
2-pinnate fronds. — Specimens referrable to this form have
been gathered above the Yosemite Valley.
6. P. andromedaefolia Fee. Coffee-fern. Stalks 2 to 12
in. long, light-brown and scattered.
Fronds as long as the stalks or some¬
times longer, 3 to 8 in. wide, ovate or
ovate-oblong, 2 to 4-pinnate (usually
3-pinnate); pinnae distant and spread¬
ing; segments l/A to y2 in. long, oval,
obtuse, fertile ones with margins
rolled back.
The Coffee-fern is a common spe¬
cies in the Coast Ranges, where it grows on rocky hillsides.
We did not find it in the Yosemite National Park, but Mr.
S. H. Burnham has reported it from near the foot of Nevada
Falls and it has also been reported from Mt. Buckingham.
It is a widely distributed species, ranging to South America
and South Africa. The segments have edges strongly rolled
backward, thus resembling coffee berries.
FERN FAMILY
35
7. P. densa Hook. Oregon Cliff-brake. Stalks densely-
tufted, 2 to 9 in. long, chestnut-brown,
slender and wiry. Fronds bright green,
1 to 3 in. long, 1 to 1$4 in. wide at base,
triangular or ovate, 3-pinnate below; seg¬
ments to H in* long> linear-lanceolate,
sharp-tipped, margins narrowly recurved
in fertile fronds and edged with distinct
indusia, the rare sterile fronds sharply
toothed. ( Cryptogramma densa Diels.)
The Oregon Cliff-brake is commonly
found in the clefts of rocks along the Yosemite walls and
northward through the Sierra Nevada into Oregon. In
altitude it extends from the foothills to at least 8000 ft. It
was noted near Bridal Veil Falls, Ledge Trail, Nevada Falls,
etc. It is at once recognized by its dense clusters of small,
fertile, triangular fronds, the segments
of which are very narrow and crowded.
8. CRYPTOGRAMMA. Rock-brake.
1. C. acrostichoides R. Br. Ameri¬
can Rock-brake. Stalks densely clus¬
tered, straw-like, 2 to 4 in. long, those
bearing fertile fronds much longer.
Fronds 2 to 4 in. long, 2 to 3-pinnate;
sterile fronds with narrowly winged
rachises, their ovate or obovate seg¬
ments decurrent and toothed; seg¬
ments of the fertile fronds stalked,
oblong-linear, pod-like through the
recurving of the margins, which thus
form continuous indusia. Sori on the
backs of free veins, oblong, at length
running together and covering the
back of the segment.
Under the edges of rocks on open
summits and along cliffs this Rock-
brake may be found. Its intense
green and differentiated fertile fronds
separate it from other ferns of this
region. Magnificent specimens were
collected on Sentinel Dome. It is also
found on Clouds Rest and other high
points.
36
FERN FAMILY
9. WOODWARDIA. Chain -FERN.
1. W. radicans Sm. Great Chain-fern. Stalks stout, 8 to
12 in. long. Fronds 3 to 6 ft. or more long, oblong-ovate,
simply pinnate; pinnae 4 to 15 in. long, broadly lanceolate in
outline and cut pinnately almost to the midrib; segments
slightly scolloped and minutely toothed. Sori oblong-linear,
in cavities, in a chain each side of the midvein of the seg¬
ments; indusium fixed by its outer margin to the fertile vein-
let and covering the cavity as a lid.
The Great Chain-fern is one of the largest and perhaps the
most magnificent of our ferns. As one travels from El Portal
into the Yosemite Valley he may see it at the roadside near
the Cascades growing in stately groups of from 5 to 20 fronds.
It may be expected along living streams at low altitudes
though it is more abundant in the Coast Ranges than in the
Sierra Nevada. A dwarfed form, 18 in. or less high, grows
at the upper end of Yosemite Valley, about 300 ft. above the
floor. Mr. S. H. Burnham reports having seen such a form
on the trail to Yosemite Point. Specimens of this form col¬
lected by us are in fine fruit, nearly every pinna being rich
in sori along its midvein as well as on its segments.
10. ASPLENIUM. Spleenwort.
1. A. filix-femina Bern. Lady-fern. Stalks a few to 18 in.
long, stout, sometimes reddish, dark and chaffy at base.
Fronds 1 to 5 ft. long, 3 to 18 in. broad, thin and soft, oblong-
lanceolate, sharply tipped, narrowed at the base, 2 to 3-pin-
nate; segments obtuse or sharply pointed, toothed and lobed,
sometimes cut almost to the midrib. Sori oblong or linear,
oblique to the midrib; indusium straight or curved, attached
by one side to the fertile free veinlet. ( Athyrium filix-femina
Roth.)
The Lady-fern grows in beautiful, green, vase-like groups,
FERN FAMILY
37
usually in shady places where a brook or spring keeps the
rich, black soil continuously damp. It is luxuriant at the Iron
Spring in Tenaya Canon, also in Bridal Veil Meadows, and
where Grouse Creek crosses the Wawona Road. Sometimes
the indusia are so strongly curved in the spleenworts that
12 3 4
1. Asplenium filix-femina. 2. Var. latifolium. 3. Var. cyclosorum.
4. Var. angustum. 5. Enlarged segment.
they are mistaken for the wood-ferns, especially when the sori
are mature. The great variation in size, shape of frond and
cutting of pinnae and segments has given rise to a number
of named varieties, some of which are found in our region.
Var. latifolium Hook., has fronds 2 to 3 ft. high, oblong-lanceolate, 2-pin-
nate or nearly so; pinnae 1 to 4 in. long, oblong-linear, with narrow-winged
secondary rachises; segments ovate, broad, obtuse, once or twice serrate;
sori nearer the midvein than the margin. Var. cyclosorum Rupr., has fronds
very large (sometimes 5 ft. high and 18 to 20 in. broad); segments often
1J4 in. long, pinnately incised or nearly again pinnate; indusium usually
strongly curved. Var. angustum Eat., has narrow rigid fronds, 2 to 3 ft.
high, nearly 2-pinnate; pinnae curved upward or oblique; sori abundant.
11. POLYSTICHUM.
1. P. munitum Presl. Sword-fern. Stalks an inch or two
to a foot long,’ chaffy with large scales at least toward the
base. Fronds 1 to 4 ft. long, evergreen, lanceolate in outline,
simply pinnate; segments many, 1 to 4 in. long, linear and
tapering, enlarged on the upper (and sometimes lower) side
of the nearly sessile base, toothed, the teeth bristle-tipped.
Sori round, borne on the veinlets, abundant, forming dense
rows at maturity; indusium orbicular, without a sinus, fixed
by the depressed center to the middle of the sorus above the
sporangia. Veins free. ( Aspidium munitum Kaulf.)
FERN FAMILY
In general habit this species closely resembles the Rigid
Wood-fern, but the indusium is so characteristic that they are
placed in different genera. It forms ornamental clusters on
many of our talus slopes. In addition to the species, we
have two of its varieties, as follows : Var. imbricans Maxon,
Var. imbricans
which has been collected at Staircase Falls, etc., is smaller
than the species; fronds broader at base; pinnae more
crowded, ascending-imbricate and more oblique to the rachis;
stalks scaly at base but otherwise mostly naked; sori near
the margin and confined to the upper pinnae. The other
variety ( Aspidium munitum nudatum Eat., apparently not
transferred to Polystichum) was first described from a speci¬
men collected near Nevada Falls, and has since been found
also on the Ledge Trail and along the Wawona Road. Its
fronds are smaller than in the species, the stalks less chaffy;
the pinnae fewer, short and broad, and farther apart; the sori
confined to a few upper pinnae.
P. aculeatum Roth., has been reported from our district.
If found, it may be known from P. munitum by the fronds,
which are 2-pinnate, or if simply pinnate then with deeply
cut pinnae. ( Aspidium aculeatum Swartz.)
12. ASPIDIUM. Wood-fern. Shield-fern.
1. A. rfgidum var. argutum Eat. Rigid Wood-fern. Stalks
3 to 12 in. long, chaffy. Fronds
dark-green and smooth above,
paler and somewhat glandu¬
lar beneath, 8 to 24 in. long,
3 to 10 in. broad, ovate-lance¬
olate in outline, 2-pinnate;
lowest pinnae broadest; seg¬
ments oblong, incised or
doubly toothed with spine-like
teeth. Sorus large, round; indusium kidney-shaped or round
FERN FAMILY
39
with a narrow sinus, attached centrally to the receptacle above
the sporangia (see enlarged sorus in figure). Veins free.
( Dryopteris rigida arguta Underw.)
The Rigid Wood-fern, together with our Sword-fern, grows
in semi-moist places throughout the State. They are espe¬
cially abundant and attain their greatest size in the foggy
coast mountains. Along the trails at lower and middle alti¬
tudes of the Sierra Nevada one frequently sees their fronds
gracefully spread out in the lee of a protecting rock. These
beautiful fronds remain green throughout the year. On this
account, and also because of their hardiness, these ferns are
much prized for ornamental planting.
13. CYSTOPTERIS.
1. C. fragilis Bern. Brittle-fern. Stalks clustered, fragile,
1 in. to 1 ft. long. Fronds 2 to 12
in. long, broadly lanceolate, smooth,
2-pinnate; pinnae oblong-ovate or tri¬
angular; segments ovate or ovate-
oblong, obtuse, decurrent along the
more or less winged rachis, toothed
or lobed. Sori small, roundish, on the
backs of the veins; indusium delicate,
hood-like, attached by a broad base
to the veinlet below the sporangia
(not under them) and usually turned
back by them as they ripen, or wither¬
ing away. (Indusia are best studied
when the sori are young.) ( Filix fra¬
gilis Underw.)
This dainty, fragile fern is common
among damp rocks by streams and in
other moist, shaded places. In shape
and cut of the frond it resembles our
Woodsias, but it is lighter green in
color, much more delicate in texture, and somewhat larger
in size.
14. WOODSIA.
Small, dark-green ferns, fruiting freely the length of the
frond. Sori round, on the backs of free veins; indusium deli¬
cate, attached to the receptacle beneath the sporangia which
it partly or wholly encloses at first, often early dividing into
irregular lobes, thus forming a fringe. (Indusia are best
studied in young sori.)
40
PINE FAMILY
1. W. scopulina Eat. Rocky-mountain Wood-
sia. Stalks densely clustered, 1 to 5 in. long,
straw-like, dark below, short-hairy. Fronds 1J4
to 8 in. long, 1 to 1*4 in. broad, oblong-lanceolate,
short-hairy and glandular, pinnate or 2-pinnate,
when simply pinnate the segments deeply cut
and toothed, the lower pinnae shorter than the
middle ones. Sori submarginal; indusium deli¬
cate, cleft into narrow divisions terminating in
hairs. — On exposed rocks at Mono Pass, Ledge
Trail, etc. Not common.
2. W. oregana Eat. Like the preceding but
the fronds and stalks quite smooth, fertile fronds
taller than the sterile ones, indusium very minute and divided
almost to the center into a few beaded hairs. — Reported from
the Yosemite Valley.
PINACEAE. (Coniferae.) Pine Family.
Evergreen trees with resinous sap and needle-shaped,
linear, or scale-like leaves. Stamen-bearing and pistil-bear¬
ing flowers in separate scaly catkins on the same tree, the
pistillate catkins becoming cones. Seeds either small and
bony or large, nut-like, and winged.
A. Leaves needle-like.
Needles 2 or more in a cluster enwrapped at base by a thin
sheath (leaf solitary in P. monophylla ) . 1. Pinus.
B. Leaves narrowly linear or awl-like, 2 or 4-ranked.
Cones erect, the scales falling separately . 4. Abies.
Cones pendent, falling whole.
Seeds winged; cone-scales overlapping.
Bracts longer than the scales; leaf-scars smooth.. . 2. Pseudotsuga.
Bracts shorter than the scales; branchlets roughened by
the persistent leaf-bases . 3. Tsuga.
Seeds not winged; cone-scales not overlapping . 5. Sequoia.
C. Leaves minute, scale-like, thickly clothing1 the branchlets.
Fruit a dry cone.
Cone nearly globose, 2 in. or more thick . 5. Sequoia.
Cone oval, 1 in. or less long, 2 of the scales spreading. . . 6. Libocedrus.
Fruit a globose berry; branchlets cord-like . 7. Juniperus.
1. PINUS. Pine.
Trees with needle-like leaves in clusters of 2 to 5, each clus¬
ter sheathed at base by papery scales (sheath 1-leaved in
P. monophylla) . Cones maturing in the second autumn,
reflexed or pendulous, their scales woody and ,each bearing
2 winged seeds.
PINE FAMILY
41
a. Leaves in fives.
Cones nearly sessile, subglobose, 1 to 3 in. long . 1. P. albicaulis.
Cones long-stalked, long and slender.
Leaves 1 to 3 in. long; cones 6 to 8 in. long . 2. P. monticola.
Leaves 2 to 4 in. long; cones 13 to 18 in. long . 3. P. lambertiana.
b. Leaves in threes, 5 to 12 in. long.
Cones 3 to 10 in. long, the scales prickle-tipped . 4. P. ponderosa.
Cones 6 to 10 in. long, the scales with stout spur-like tips. 5. P. sabiniana.
c. Leaves in twos, 1 to 3 in. long; cones 1 to 154 in- long. 6. P. murrayana.
d. Leaves solitary; cones 2 to 3}4 in. long . 7. P . monophylla.
1. P. albicaulis Engelm. White-bark Pine. Bark thin,
whitish, smooth or somewhat grooved. Needles in 5’s, 1 to
2x/z in. long. Cones nearly sessile, ovoid or nearly globose,
of a beautiful deep purple, becoming yellowish brown, 1 to
3 in. long.
The White-bark Pine is a small tree, sometimes erect but
usually dwarfed or prostrate and broader than high, the
branchlets naked save for the bush-like tuft of leaves toward
the ends. It is found only near timber-line, where it forms
a narrow belt on all the high mountains. On the easterly
slopes of the Sierra Nevada it is replaced by the Limber
Pine (P. flexilis James), a very similar tree but with longer,
yellowish brown cones narrowly ovate in shape.
2. P. monticola Don. Silver Pine. Bark reddish or whit¬
ish, thin, very smooth or checked into small plates. Needles
in 5’s, 1 to 3 in. long. Cones pendent on long stalks, in clus¬
ters near the ends of high branches, 6 to 8 in. long, 3 to 3J^
in. thick, very slender when young, the scales somewhat
spreading and flexuous.
This is a graceful tree, 50 to 120 ft. high, with mainly hori¬
zontal slender branches and blue-green foliage. It inhabits
high altitudes, being common from 7000 ft. nearly to timber-
line, and is sometimes found as far down as 5000 ft. alt. On
Clouds Rest the Silver Pine is the dominant tree along the
trail from the pinnacles to the summit, and it also grows,
but in small numbers, around Sentinel Dome.
3. P. lambertiana Dough Sugar Pine. Bark brown or
reddish, 2 to 4 in. thick, with rough ridges. Needles in 5’s,
2 to 4 in. long. Cones long-stalked, pendent from the ends
of the branches, 13 to 18 in. long, 4 to 6 in. thick (when open),
the scales rigid and spreading at right-angles when mature
and dry.
The Sugar Pine is our most handsome tree. John Muir
calls it the Queen of the Sierras. It is commonly 100 to 180
ft. high, with a clear trunk, a flat-topped crown, and hori¬
zontal, arm-like branches from the ends of which depend
42
PINE FAMILY
Pinus monticola
the long, slender cones. One may
see exceptionally fine forests of
Sugar Pine near Crockers, and
near the Merced and Mariposa
groves. In the Yosemite it is com¬
mon only along the Wawona Road
leading out of the valley, but there
are several splendid individuals near
Camp Curry. Its normal altitudi¬
nal range is from 4000 to 7000 ft.
Pinus lambertiana
4. P. ponderosa Dougl. Western Yellow Pine. Bark in
typical trees 2 to 4 fn. thick,
yellowish brown, divided into
large scaly-surfaced plates;
in some forms (and always
when young) the bark is red¬
dish brown and irregularly
grooved and ridged, not in
plates. Needles in 3’s, 5 to
10 in. long. Cones breaking
through near the base and
falling, leaving the basal por¬
tion on the limb, usually 3 to
5 in. long, ovate or oval, each
scale bearing a stout point or
prickle at the thickened apex.
This pine is the most abun¬
dant tree of the Sierra Ne¬
vada, forming the “Great Yel¬
low Pine Belt” of middle
PINE FAMILY
43
altitudes. It is a forest tree, 60 to 225 ft. high, with mas¬
sive trunk and a long, open crown, the lower branches often
horizontal or drooping. The Jeffrey Pine ( P . ponderosa var.
jeffreyi Vasey) is a variety in which the bark is rough, even
in old trees, and the cones are larger (5 to 8 or even 11Y\ in.
long) ; the foliage is very dense, dark blue-green, and fra¬
grant. It grows mostly at higher levels than the true Yellow
Pine, mixing with that form where the ranges overlap, as in
Little Yosemite Valley, but extending, in some cases, to
altitudes of 9000 ft.
5. P. sabiniana Dough Digger Pine. Gray Pine. Bark
rough, ashen. Leaves in 3’s, 6 to 12 in. long, sparse and
grayish. Cones massive, breaking through near the base and
falling, short-oval, 6 to 10 in. long, 4 to 6 in. thick, each scale
tapering to a stout incurved beak 1 in. long.
The Digger Pine is a broad, round-topped tree, 40 to 60 ft.
high, with usually several trunks from the ground. It is a
foothill species ranging up to Hetch Hetchy and a few
stragglers reach the Wawona Road near Alder Creek.
6. P. murrayana Ore. Com. Lodgepole Pine. Murray
Pine. Bark very thin, covered with
small scales. Leaves in 2’s, 1 to 3 in.
long. Cones nearly globose when open,
1 to 1 Y the scales thin, prickle-
tipped. ( P . contorta var. murrayana
Engelm.)
The Lodgepole Pine is a slender, sym¬
metrical tree, usually 50 to 100 ft. high
(dwarfed or prostrate near timber-line),
with pyramidal crown, the trunk often with branches nearly
to the ground. It is confined to moist soil and therefore
grows along streams or meadows or on fairly level land,
occurring on hillsides only at the higher altitudes. It belongs
to a higher belt than the Yellow Pine, but often grows with
it, as along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. In Cali¬
fornia it is often called “Tamarack,” but the true Tamarack
( Larix ) is a deciduous tree which does not occur native in
this state.
7. P. monophylla Torr. One-leaf Pinon. Bark thick,
rough. Leaves one in a place, cylindric, curved, l1/? to 2 in.
long. Cones subglobose, 2 14 to 3j£ in. long; scales thick,
each bearing a minute deciduous prickle.
This small, flat-crowned nut pine was found at about 5500
ft. alt. in the Piute Creek gorge above the Tuolumne River,
PINE FAMILY
44
by Mr. H. W. Gleason, of the Sierra Club party of 1909. Its
home is along the desert ranges, and it had not been pre¬
viously known on the westerly slope of the Sierra Nevada
except from the Kings River southward.
2. PSEUDOTSUGA. False Hemlock.
1. P. taxifolia Britt. Douglas Fir. Bark on old trees 1
to 6 in. thick, soft, dark-brown, alter¬
nately red and white inside, fissured (thin
and smooth on young trees). Leaves
spreading, usually on drooping branch-
lets, linear, *4 to \y2 in. long. Cones
maturing the first autumn, pendent, oval,
1 24 to 3 in. long, iy to 1^4 in- thick, the
scales thin, rounded, shorter than the
2-lobed bracts which bear a spear-like
point in the notch of each. (P. mucronata
Sudw. Tsuga douglasii Carr.)
Next to the Sequoias, this is the most
massive tree of the Pacific forests, attain¬
ing its best development in Oregon and
Washington, whence the lumber is mar¬
keted under the name of Oregon Pine. In the Sierra Nevada
it is restricted to middle and lower altitudes, ranging east in
our district to Hetch Hetchy, head of Nevada Falls, Glacier
Point, Bridal Veil Creek, and Chinquapin. Beautiful speci¬
mens may be seen scattered along the southerly side of
Yosemite Valley, especially near Bridal Veil Falls.
3. TSUGA. Hemlock.
1. T. mertensiana Sarg. Alpine Hemlock. Bark brown,
red inside, nearly smooth or fissured. Leaves standing out
all around the branchlet, linear, J4 to 1 in. long. Cones
maturing the first autumn, solitary on ends of branchlets,
pendent, nearly cylindric when open but tapering, \y2 to 3 in.
long, 1 to in. wide, the scales thin and spreading.
The Alpine Hemlock, the most graceful and slender of all
our trees, becomes 25 to 100 ft. high, bearing branches nearly
to the ground. Above, it narrows to a slender top, with
drooping branchlets, the slender whip-like leader pendent.
It is restricted to high altitudes near timber-line.
4. ABIES. Fir.
Symmetrical trees, the regularly whorled branches forming
flat sprays. Leaves linear, ridged and whitened beneath, not
PINE FAMILY
45
Bark smooth and
fascicled. Cones maturing the first autumn, erect, the thin
scales deciduous and falling to the ground leaving the taper¬
like persistent axis.
1. A. concolor L. & G. White Fir.
whitish, becoming gray and very rough
on old trunks, pale inside. Leaves spread¬
ing in 2 opposite directions or all curving
upward, leaving smooth round scars
when they fall, mostly 24 to 1^4 in- long.
Cones nearly cylindric, 2 to 5 in. long,
1 to 1^4 in- thick; the rounded scales
incurved at apex, twice as long as their
bracts.
The White Fir is a beautifully sym¬
metrical tree, 60 to 200 ft. high, with
regularly tapering crown through which
the silvery shaft is visible in growing
specimens. It is common at middle alti¬
tudes but requires better soil and more
moisture than Yellow Pine. The text
figure illustrates a cone from which all
but the lower scales have fallen, exposing the persistent
central axis.
2. A. magmfica Murr. Red Fir. General appearance and
characters of White Fir but bark on old trunks reddish, in
section reddish brown and purple. Cones much larger, 4 to
8 in. long, 2}4 to 3 in. thick, their bracts either shorter than
the scales or (in var. shastensis Lemmon) much exceeding
them and the tips reflexed. — Of higher
altitudes; forming forests at 7000 to
10,000 ft.
5. SEQUOIA. Redwood.
1. S. gigantea Dec. Big Tree. A
massive tree, 100 to 325 ft. high, with
rounded crown and red furrowed bark.
Leaves awl-like, in. or less long,
only the tips free from the branchlets.
Cones maturing the second autumn,
ovoid, 2 to 324 in. long.
The Big Tree occurs in isolated
groves from Placer County south to
Kern County, forming large forests
toward the south, but limited in our
district to the Mariposa, the Merced,
YEW FAMILY
46
and the Tuolumne groves. It is exceeded in height only by
the Coast Redwood (5. sempervirens, the only other living
species) although some Australian species of Eucalyptus are
of about the same height. It is the most massive of all trees,
and perhaps the oldest. Actual ring counts place its maxi¬
mum age at 2300 years, but a few individuals have doubtless
reached a greater age. John Muir, after careful study of
portions of a burned cavity, estimated one to be 4000
years old.
6. LIBOCEDRUS. Incense Cedar.
1. L. decurrens Torr. Incense Cedar. Bark 2 or 3 in.
thick, reddish brown, fibrous, break¬
ing in age into thick ridges. Leaves
% in. or less long, adherent to the
stem, only the tips free. Cones
brown, ^4 to 1 in. long, urn-shaped
when closed, two of the scales re¬
curving in age and only these bear
seeds.
This is a beautiful, pyramidal tree,
50 to 150 ft. high, with trunk rapidly
tapering from the thick base, usually bearing branches
nearly to the ground. It occurs singly or in very small
groves throughout the middle portions of the Yellow Pine
Belt.
7. JUNIPERUS. Juniper.
1. J. occidentals Hook. Western Juniper. Sierra Juni¬
per. Bark brown or gray, becoming shreddy. Leaves scale¬
like, closely compacted about the stem in whorls of 3, in.
or less long, each with a pit on the back. Berries globose,
blue-black, with a whitish bloom, less than Yz in. thick, the
flesh resinous.
The Juniper is a sturdy, sub-alpine tree, 10 to 60 ft. high,
often much gnarled, irregular, and stubby. It is especially
common on rocky slopes and ridges from Nevada Falls and
Eagle Peak to Mt. Conness and Mt. Ritter.
TAXACEAE. Yew Family.
Trees with linear leaves 2-ranked by a twist in the petiole.
Stamens and ovules borne on different trees. Fruit in our
single genus solitary, plum-like, 1-seeded.
BUR-REED FAMILY
4 7
1. TORREYA.
1. T. californica Torr. Californian Nutmeg. Leaves
rigid, linear or tapering, bristle-tipped, 1 to 2 in. long, dark
green above, yellowish green beneath. Fruit elliptic, green,
becoming streaked with purple, 1% to 1^4 in. long, the pulp
thin and resinous.
The California Nutmeg is a handsome tree 20 to 90 ft.
high, with compact dark-green foliage. Along the road
from El Portal one sees small, bushy specimens and a few
good-sized trees, always growing well apart from each
other, but a short distance up Cascade Creek there is a
splendid group of six or seven shapely trees. It does not
reach Yosemite Valley, but is found at Hetch Hetchy and
at the Mariposa Grove.
Taxus brevifolia Nutt., the Western Yew, has been re¬
ported from the Merced Canon. It is a small tree with
linear leaves in flat sprays and scarlet, berry-like fruits.
SPARGANIACEAE. Bur-reed Family.
Marsh and aquatic herbs with cylindric stems from root¬
stocks. Flowers in heads near the summit, the uppermost
heads containing only stamens, the lower only pistils.
1. SPARGANIUM. Bur-reed.
1. S. simplex Hudson. Stem 1 to 2 ft. high. Leaves rib¬
bon-like, exceeding the stem, % in. or less wide. Heads 2
to 4 of each kind. — Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite, Johnson Lake,
Tuolumne Meadows, etc.
NAIADACEAE. Pondweed Family.
Our only representatives of this family are certain un¬
determined species of Potamogeton (Pondweeds). They are
aquatics with jointed, mostly rooting stems, only the float¬
ing leaves flat and firm; flowers small, with sepals stamens
and ovaries 4 each. Complete specimens with mature seeds
are much desired.
JUNCAGINACEAE. Arrow Grass Family.
Marsh herbs with leaves all basal and flowers inconspicu¬
ous. Our single species has a calyx of 6 greenish sepals, no
corolla, 6 stamens, and 3 to 6 simple pistils united around
a central axis.
1. TRIGLOCHIN. Arrow Grass.
1. T. maritima L. Leaves densely clustered on the root-
stock, very narrow, 2 to 6 in. long, fleshy, with papery
WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY
48
sheaths at base. Flowering stalks naked, 6 to 18 in. high,
bearing a long narrow raceme of very small flowers. — Of
wide distribution, especially along sea shores; occurs in
saline soil at Tuolumne Meadows.
Two other members of this family may be expected in
quiet ponds, such as we have in Eagle Peak Meadows and
in Little Yosemite Valley: Scheuchzeria palustris L., with
long, grass-like leaves sheathing the stem by a papery base;
stem zigzag, terminated by a loose raceme of few flowers
with sheathing bracts. Lilaea subulata H.B.K., has very thin,
ribbon-like leaves, also sheathing at base, but the flowers
are sessile in close, bractless spikes resembling catkins.
ALISMACEAE. Water Plantain Family.
Marsh herbs with broad sheathing leaves from the bases
of naked stems. Perianth of 3 greenish sepals and 3 white
petals. Stamens 6 or more. Ovaries numerous, each be¬
coming a 1-seeded dry fruit.
1. ALISMA. Water Plantain.
1. A. plantago-aquatica L. Leaves long-petioled; blade
ovate or oblong, 2 to 8 in. long, \l/2 to 4 in. broad. Flowers
white, small, on pedicels ^ to 1 in. long. Ovaries becom¬
ing flattened, 17 to 25 in the circle.
As the ponds dry up in late spring or summer, the Water
Plantain sends up its hollow, smooth stem, which branches
above to form a loose panicle of small, white flowers, much
overtopping the broad, erect leaves. The plants, which are
plentiful in the meadows of the Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy,
etc., commonly grow to a height of 2 or 3 ft.
GRAMINEAE. Grass Family.
Since the grasses are seldom collected by the amateur,
and since the species are difficult of determination, the
family is not further considered in this book.
CYPERACEAE. Sedge Family.
The members of this family are mostly known as sedges.
They resemble grasses but are easily distinguished by the
characters stated in the key to the families. Because of
the difficulty of their determination, especially for the ama¬
teur, they are here omitted.
LEMNACEAE. Duckweed Family.
The plants of the Duckweed Family consist of minute,
stemless fronds which produce a few flowers from the edge
RUSH FAMILY
49
or upper surface and commonly hanging roots from be¬
neath. The genus Lemna is doubtless represented in our
district, but what species occur is not known,
JUNCACEAE. Rush Family.
This family is represented by the true rushes (/ uncus),
which have 3-celled, many-seeded capsules, and by the wood
rushes ( Luzula ), which have 1-celled, 3-seeded capsules.
They are grass-like plants with inconspicuous flowers and
are not further described here.
LILIACEAE. Lily Family.
Perennial herbs with perfect regular flowers. Stems from
bulbs, corms, or rootstocks. Perianth of 6 segments, the
outer 3 often called sepals, the 3 inner called petals. Stamens
6, opposite the perianth-segments, 3 sometimes without an¬
thers. Ovary superior, developing into a few to many-seeded
3-celled capsule or berry; styles or stigmas 3.
A. Stems nearly naked, the leaves being1 entirely or
Styles 3, distinct down to the ovary.
Stem glandular-pubescent, from a rootstock . 2.
Stem glabrous, from an ovate bulb . 3.
Style 1, sometimes 3-lobed, but not down to the ovary.
Flowers few to many, in umbels, i. e., all on pedicels
arising from the summit of the stem.
Perianth-segments distinct to base; herbage onion-
scented . 6.
Perianth-segments united below into a tube . 7.
Flower solitary, white; leaves broad . 13.
Flowers in racemes or panicles.
Basal leaves 4 to numerous, conspicuous.
Flowers blue; leaves erect . 12.
Flowers yellow; leaves erect . 1.
Flowers whitish, narrow; leaves spreading . 5.
Basal leaves 1 or 2.
Perianth-segments similar, not hairy . 10.
Inner segments much broader than the outer, each
with a hairy gland . 11.
B. Stems leafy.
Fruit a berry.
Flowers white, 54 in. long, in dense clusters . 14.
Flowers greenish, 54 in. long, nodding . 15.
Fruit a dry capsule.
Leaves 2 in. or less wide.
Flowers yellow or white, 1 in. or more long . 8.
Flowers purplish, mottled, }4 to 54 in. long . 9.
Leaves 2 to 6 in. wide.
Flowers greenish, J/2 in. long . 4.
Flowers purplish, 2 in. long . 16.
chiefly hasal.
Tofieldia.
Zygadenus.
Allium.
Brodiaea.
Clinxonia.
Camassia.
Narthecium.
Chlorogalum.
Erythronium.
Calochortus.
Smilacina.
Disporum.
Lilium.
Fritillaria.
Veratrum.
Trillium.
50
LILY FAMILY
1. NARTHECIUM. Bog Asphodel.
1. N. californicum Baker. Stem 1 or 2 ft. high, nearly
naked. Leaves densely tufted on a creeping rootstock, 4 to
8 in. long, not % in. wide, acute. Flowers yellow, in. long,
short-pediceled in a narrow simple raceme. Perianth-seg¬
ments not united, oblong-linear, acute. Stamens 6, with
densely woolly filaments. Seeds with a long bristle at
each end.
Although rather common in northwestern California, the
Bog Asphodel is one of the rarest plants in the Sierra
Nevada, having been found south of Nevada Co. only at Le
Conte Falls, Tuolumne Canon, where it was gathered by Mr.
Fred M. Reed, of the Sierra Club party of 1911. It grows in
marshy or moist places. The showy yellow racemes far over¬
top the stiffly erect clumps of grass-like leaves. A character
by which it may always be known is the yellow woolliness of
the apparently thickened filaments.
2. TOFIELDIA. False Asphodel.
1. T. intermedia Rydb. Stems 6 to 12 in. high. Leaves
linear, 3 to 6 in. long. Flowers in a compact terminal head
about J/2 in. thick, the individual flowers less than m- long-
Perianth-segments not united, shorter than the 6 stamens.
Styles 3. Capsule obovate, acute, 3-beaked, with numerous
linear 2-tailed seeds.
The leaves of False Asphodel might easily be mistaken for
grass leaves, but the compact head of greenish white flowers
is unmistakable. It grows in moist places at considerable
altitudes, as along the new Snow Creek Trail at 6000 ft.
3. ZYGADENUS.
1. Z. venendsus Wats. Death Camas. Stem simple, 1 to
2 ft. high. Leaves linear, usually folded, shorter than the
stem. Flowers erect, greenish white, scarcely in. long, in
a simple loose terminal raceme. Stamens 6, free from the
perianth and about equalling it. Capsule 3-lobed.
The leaves of the Death Camas are often mistaken for grass
when the plants are young, and thousands of sheep are killed
every year on the stock ranges as a result of eating them.
But hogs eat the bulbs, which are often called “hog potatoes,”
with impunity. It grows in meadowy places, as at the Hog
Ranch, Yosemite and Little Yosemite valleys, and Benson
Lake, but it is nowhere very abundant.
LILY FAMILY
51
4. VERATRUM.
1. V. californicum Dur. False Hellebore. Stems stout
and leafy, 3 to 6 ft. high, bearing a large panicle of greenish
flowers. Leaves ovate or elliptic, acute, sheathing at base,
6 to 12 in. long, 2 to 6 in. wide, the upper ones smaller.
Flowers 54 in. long, nearly sessile on the branches of the pani¬
cle; stamens shorter than the segments.
The leafy clumps of False Hellebore are characteristic of
wet, sub-alpine meadows and stream banks. Its large leaves
have given it the name of “Skunk Cabbage,” but that is a very
different plant and does not grow in California. The shoots
of the False Hellebore are poisonous to stock but they are
seldom eaten. Veratrum is closely related to Tofieldia and
Zygadenus, as is indicated by the 3 distinct styles.
5. CHLOROGALUM.
1. C. pomeridianum Kunth. Soap Plant. Stem 2 to 5 ft.
high. Leaves mainly in a basal tuft, numerous, ^ to 2 ft.
long, 54 to 154 in. broad, with wavy margins. Flowers narrow,
24 in. long, borne along the few long branches of a spreading
panicle. Perianth-segments distinct, linear, white, purple-
veined. Stamens 6. Capsule top-shaped, 3-lobed.
The Soap Plant is so named because of its large, sapon¬
aceous, fibrous-coated bulb, which forms a lather with water
and may be used in washing. Only the tuft of coarse, grass¬
like leaves are seen during the spring, but in late summer the
tall, flowering stalks shoot up and unfold their delicate
flowers, which, however, open only in the afternoon. It is
abundant at altitudes under 5000 ft.
6. ALLIUM. Onion.
Odorous plants with simple stems (scapes), each stalk
ending in a bracted umbel of pediceled flowers. Leaves few,
grass-like, nearly basal. Perianth of 6 nearly equal distinct
segments, each with a stamen attached to its base. Ovary
superior, globose, developing into a 3-lobed 6-seeded capsule.
Stamens exserted from the perianth.
Stems flattened . 1. A.validum.
Stems round; flowers light rose-color . 2. A. sanbornii.
Stamens not exserted from the perianth.
Flowering stems 2 to 16 in. high . 3. A. campanulatum.
Flowering stems very short; high mountains.
Bracts 3; segments very acute . 4. A. tribracteatum.
Bracts mostly 2; segments obtuse . 5. A. parvum.
LILY FAMILY
52
1. A. validum Wats. Swamp Onion. Tall comparatively
stout plant, 1 to 3 ft. high, the 2-edged stem and the leaves
from an oblong bulb or a creeping rootstock. Leaves 4 to 6,
often in. wide. Flowers many, pink, in a dense terminal
head-like cluster subtended by 2 to 4 thin bracts united at
base and longer than the pedicels.
This onion is common in moist places of considerable alti¬
tude, the plants often growing in small beds. Although its
bulbs are somewhat fibrous they are very acceptable as a
flavoring ingredient for soups and stews in a region where
vegetables are difficult to procure.
2. A. sanbornii Wood. Stem terete, a foot or two high,
from a white ovate bulb. Leaves 2 or more, not exceeding
the stem. Bracts 4; pedicels y to y in. long. Flowers light
rose-color; the ovate-lanceolate segments about y in. long,
shorter than the stamens and style. — A rare species, reported
from the Yosemite.
3. A. campanulatum Wats. Stem terete, 2 to 16 in. high,
from an ovate bulb. Leaves 2 or 4, usually longer than the
stem. Bracts 2, acuminate, shorter than the pedicels, these
to a full inch long. Flowers light rose-color, the lanceo¬
late segments about in. long, exceeding the stamens and
style. — In open, coniferous forests. A low form with short
pedicels and small flowers has been segregated as A. bid-
welliae Wats.
4. A. tribracteatum Torr. Bulb-coats with transverse re¬
ticulation. Leaves usually 2, much longer than the stem,
which is only y to 2 in. long. Bracts 3, acuminate. Flowers
in a loose head, pale pink, with dark midveins, the narrow
acute segments y in. long. Capsule not crested. — Tuolumne
Meadows and above.
5. A. parvum Kell. Bulb-coats without reticulation. Leaves
1 or 2, exceeding the very short stem. Bracts mostly 2.
Flowers in a compact head, pink, with broad dark midveins,
the segments rather obtuse. Capsule not crested. — Near tim¬
ber-line on Mt. Lyell. A. obtusum Lemmon, is a related form
with solitary leaf, 3 bracts, and crested capsules. A. ambiguum
Jones, perhaps even closer to A. parvum, is distinguished by
its bulb-coats, which are marked oflf into 6-sided or diamond¬
shaped figures. Neither of these is definitely known from our
district.
7. BRODIAEA. Brodiaea.
Flowering stem erect or twining, with few grass-like leaves
LILY FAMILY
53
all from the roundish corm (called a bulb), bearing a bracted
terminal umbel of flowers each on a jointed pedicel. Perianth
withering-persistent, funnelform or tubular. Stamens 6, 3
of them sometimes merely dilated filaments without anthers.
a. Flowers yellow, with brown nerves; stamens 6, all
with anthers.
Stamens with broad winged filaments . . . 1. B.ixioides.
Stamens with thread-like filaments . 2. B. gracilis.
b. Flowers white; stamens 6, all with anthers . 3. B. hyacinthina.
c. Flowers either blue, purple, or pinkish; only the 3 in¬
ner stamens anther-bearing, except in no. 6.
Flowers blue or purple; stems usually erect.
Pedicels 1 to 3 in. long; flowers 1 V\ in. or more long. 4. B. grandiflora.
Pedicels 1 in. or less long; flowers under 24 in.
Three outer filaments broad, without anthers . 5. B. multi-flora.
Filaments all anther-bearing, the inner 2-winged. . .6. B. capitata.
Flowers rose-color, J4 in. long; stems twining . 7. B. calif ornica.
1. B. ixioides Wats. Golden Brodiaea. Pedicels ^ to 2
in. long. Flowers ^4 to 24 long; segments longer than the
tube. Stamens 6, alternately long and short, inserted in 1
row; filaments dilated, notched or rounded at the broad sum¬
mit, the anther raised on a minute stalk.
The stems of the Golden Brodiaea vary in height from a
few inches to over a foot and are surmounted by loose um¬
bels of showy yellow flowers, whose segments are veined
with brown. The altitudinal range extends from the foot¬
hills to at least 8500 ft., but on the higher levels it is largely
replaced by the next species.
2. B. gracilis Wats. General habit and appearance of B.
ixioides. Stem 9 in. or less high. Pedicels ^ to 1 in. long.
Flowers about in. long, segments about equalling the tube
or slightly longer. Filaments very slender, inserted in 1 row.
— Common from Crane Flat and Indian Creek to Lake Ten-
aya, Glacier Point, Conness Creek, and other places of high
altitudes.
3. B. hyacinthina var. lactea Baker. White Brodiaea. Stem
1 to 2 ft. high, terminated by the compact umbel of white
flowers, the segments with green midveins. Pedicels 14 to Va
in. long. Flowers about in. long, cleft to below the middle.
Stamens 6, in one row; filaments triangular at base, tapering
above. — Moist soil in low places: Yosemite Valley, Hog
Ranch, Wawona, etc.
4. B. grandiflora Smith. Harvest Brodiaea. Stem stout,
6 to 18 in. high, the blue or violet flowers in a large and open
terminal umbel. Pedicels 1 to 3 in. long (rarely only 24 in.),
much exceeding the membranous whitish bracts. Flowers 1^4
LILY FAMILY
54
to 1 Y\ in. long, tapering to the slender base, cleft to below
the middle. Outer (sterile) filaments oblong-lanceolate,
about equalled by the erect anthers of the inner stamens.
( Hookera coronaria Salisb.)
The large flowers of the Harvest Brodiaea are conspicuous
sights in the half-brown grass of dry meadows in late spring
and summer, but it does not reach the higher mountains. It
has been found at Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy, Wawona, and
similar places of moderate altitude.
5. B. multiflora Benth. Pedicels Ya in. or less long, ex¬
ceeded by the ovate purple bracts. Flowers % in. long, con¬
tracted above the swollen base, the throat again enlarged,
cleft one-third the way down into spreading segments. Three
outer filaments broad, obtuse, entire, without anthers, about
equalling the erect 2-toothed anthers of the inner stamens. —
A species with the habit and blue flowers of B. capitata , but
much less plentiful. It grows at Hog Ranch.
6. B. capitata Benth. Common Brodiaea. Plant 6 to 18 in.
high, with a head-like cluster of flowers subtended by several
purple or metallic bracts. Pedicels Y to 1 in. long. Flowers
Yt. in. long, cylindric, cleft one-third to one-half the way down
into slightly spreading lobes. Inner filaments with thin wings
which extend beyond the anthers; outer filaments dilated
only toward the base, their anthers smaller than the inner
ones.
This, the commonest species of the coast districts and the
Sierra Nevada foothills, extends well up into the pine belt and
is not rare in the Yosemite. The small bulbs, known as grass-
nuts, are often eaten by children, who, like the Indians, pre¬
fer them uncooked. The plant is variously known as Wild
Hyacinth, Cluster Lily, and Blue Dicks.
7. B. calif ornica Jepson. Twining Brodiaea. Pedicels y 2
to 1 in. long, either shorter or somewhat longer than the large
pink bracts. Perianth pinkish or rose-color, Y* in. or less
long, with inflated angled tube and narrow throat, cleft to
about the middle. Outer (sterile) filaments strap-shaped,
notched; inner filaments flat, continued above as two wings
behind the anther. ( Stropholirion calif ornicum Torr. Brodiaea
volubilis Baker.)
The weak stems of this species commonly climb on other
plants around which they are disposed to twine, and in this
manner carry their rose-pink flower-heads to heights of 1 to
8 ft. It belongs to the lower mountains, reaching our borders
in the vicinity of Wawona, Hetch Hetchy, etc.
LILY FAMILY
55
8. LILIUM. Lily.
Leafy simple stems from scaly bulbs, with showy yellow or
white flowers in terminal clusters. Upper and lower leaves
alternate, the middle usually in whorls, all sessile. Perianth
of 6 equal lanceolate spreading or recurved segments. Sta¬
mens 6, inserted on the receptacle, shorter than the perianth.
Style long, the stigma 3-lobed; capsule 3-celled, many-seeded.
Flowers white, about 3 in. long . 1. L. washingtonianum.
Flowers yellow.
Perianth-segments straight or recurved only from
near the tip, 1 to 1 J4 in. long . 2. L. parvum.
Perianth-segments recurving from below the mid¬
dle.
Flowers 2 or 3 in. long; bulbs large, matted,
with jointed scales; in wet places . 3. L. pardalinum.
Flowers 3 or 4 in. long; bulbs ovoid, 2 to 6 in.
thick, not matted; coarse plant of dry soil. 4. L. humboldtii.
Flowers 1 54 to 2 in. long; bulbs 1J4 to 2 in.
thick, not matted; smooth slender plant.. 5. L. columbianum.
1. L. washingtonianum Kell. Washington Lily. Stems 2
to 5 ft. high, from a large bulb of thin unjointed scales 1 to 3
in. long. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, 3 to 5 in. long, y2 to
V/2 in. wide. Flowers fragrant, pure white, becoming pur¬
plish, sometimes finely dotted, on erect pedicels 1 to 4 in.
long. Perianth-segments 2 to 2>l/2 in. long, the upper third
spreading.
The Washington Lily is an inhabitant of the chaparral,
always growing where protected by coarser plants, proudly
carrying its beautiful white flowers with their soft fragrance
above the more humble shrubs which compose its protective
thickets. It is nowhere abundant but is well distributed up
to altitudes of about 7500 ft. and ranges along the whole
length of the Sierra Nevada and north to the Columbia River.
In northern California it is sometimes known as Shasta Lily.
2. L. parvum Kell. Stems V/2 to 6 ft. high, from a small
bulb of short thick jointed scales. Leaves lanceolate, 3 or 4
in. long, 1 in. or less broad. Flowers 2 to very many, on erect
or ascending pedicels. Perianth-segments 1 to \l/2 in. long,
usually recurved from near the tip, orange-yellow spotted
with purple.
Although the flowers of this lily are not so large as in other
species, it is nevertheless a very striking plant when well de¬
veloped, as it commonly is in moist situations. Twenty-eight
flowers were counted on a single plant which grew by a
rivulet in Bridal Veil Meadows, and many more have been
LILY FAMILY
56
reported by other observers. It grows in nearly all springy
places up to at least 7000 ft. alt.
3. L. pardalinum Kell. Leopard Lily. Stem 3 to 7 ft. high,
from a mat-like mass of bulbs with jointed scales. Leaves
lanceolate, 3 to 7 in. long, often 1 to 2 in. broad. Flowers
numerous, at maturity sharply recurved on their pedicels.
Perianth-segments 2 or 3 in. long, strongly recurved from
near the base, bright orange-yellow with purple spots on the
lower half.
The Leopard Lily is ever associated in one’s memory with
pleasant places. It is especially partial to shady stream
banks and to half-boggy meadows around springs, where its
gorgeous yellow panicles far overtop the grasses, ferns, and
other herbaceous vegetation. The species is of wide distri¬
bution in California, but in the Sierra Nevada it is restricted
to canons mostly below 3500 ft. alt. It is often known as
“Tiger Lily,” but that name rightfully belongs to an Asiatic
species, well known as a garden plant.
4. L. humboldtii R. & L. Stems stout, 4 to 8 ft. high, from
a large bulb of fleshy scales 2 to 3 in. long. Leaves lanceo¬
late, wavy, 3 to 5 in. long, % to 1 in. broad. Flowers on stout
spreading pedicels, recurved at maturity. Perianth-segments
3 or 4 in. long, recurved above the short narrowed base, red¬
dish orange with purple spots. — In dry, open places, perhaps
not in the Yosemite district.
5. L. columbianum Hanson. Stems slender, 2 to 4 ft. or
more high, from a small bulb of short fleshy scales. Leaves
lanceolate, not wavy, 2 to 5 in. long, *4 to 1*4 in- broad.
Flowers on slender curving pedicels. Perianth-segments V/2.
to 2 in. long, strongly recurved, bright reddish orange, thickly
spotted with purple. — A species of more northerly distribu¬
tion, but to be looked for.
9. FRITILLARIA.
Stem simple, erect, from a bulb of thick scales. Leaves
narrow, sessile, alternate or the lower usually in whorls.
Flowers on recurved pedicels in a simple raceme, purplish
brown with yellow markings, the 6 segments distinct and
longer than the 6 stamens. Styles 3, united at base.
1. F. parvifldra Torr. Small-flowered Fritillaria. Plant
1*4 to 3 ft. high, light green and very smooth. Leaves 3 to 5
in. long. Flowers 3 to 20, the concave segments about J4 in.
long. Capsule 6-winged. — Occasional in pine woods below
6000 ft. alt.
LILY FAMILY
57
2. F. atropurpurea Nutt. Smaller, mostly y2 to \l/2 ft.
high. Flowers rarely more than 5, y2 to Y in. long. Capsule
acutely angled. — Higher altitudes, as at north base of Mt.
Lyell.
10. ERYTHRONIUM. Dog-tooth Violet.
1. E. purpurascens Wats. Bulbs narrow, coated with a
membranous sheath. Leaves 4 to 6 in. long, y2 to 2 in. wide,
wavy-margined. Flowers light-yellow or tinged with purple,
deep-orange at base, slender-pediceled, nodding, about Y in.
long, the segments not united. Stamens 6. Style 3-lobed.
Capsule more than 1 in. long.
The stem of this beautiful lily is about a foot long and
bears, near the base, a single pair of large leaves, while above
it ends in a loose raceme of 4 to 8 showy flowers. The spe¬
cies is very rare in our mountains, being reported only from
Illilouette Canon and from the Keltz Mine, near Sonora. It
is an inhabitant of moist places.
11. CALOCHORTUS. Mariposa Lily.
Stems from corms often miscalled “bulbs,” with few leaves
and showy cup-shaped or globose flowers in open clusters.
Perianth falling from the capsule at maturity; outer seg¬
ments (sepals) lanceolate or oblong, greenish or colored;
inner segments (petals) broad, narrowed to a claw above
which is a conspicuous gland or pit. Stamens 6, on the base
of the segments. Ovary 3-angled, capped by 3 sessile stig¬
mas, maturing into a many-seeded capsule.
1. C. nudus Wats. Star Tulip. Stem 10 in. or less high,
much exceeded by the single flat ribbon-like leaf, bearing a
terminal cluster of flowers on weak pedicels which usually
become recurved (flowers rarely solitary). Petals broadly
fan-shaped, l/\ to Y in. long, white or pale lilac, almost with¬
out hairs; gland divided transversely by a toothed scale.
The Star Tulip is a dainty inhabitant of meadowy places
from the Hetch Hetchy to the Mariposa Grove and may
rarely be found as high as 7500 ft. alt. Its blossoms appear in
June.
C. benthamii Baker, the Yellow Star Tulip, has been found
near Groveland. It has clear-yellow flowers about y2 in. long,
the petals densely covered with yellow hairs.
C. maweanus Leichtl., known as Pussy’s Ears, has been
reported from the Yosemite. Its petals are white or pur¬
plish blue and are covered with long hairs.
LILY FAMILY
58
2. C. nuttallii T. & G. Stems a few inches to V/2. ft. high,
longer than the very narrow leaves, with a bulbous swelling
at base and bearing usually several large flowers on erect pedi¬
cels. Petals obovate or wedge-shaped, 1 to 1J4 in. long, white,
tinged with greenish yellow or lilac, a brown or purplish spot
or band above the yellow base, this brown eye sometimes
entirely surrounded by yellow; gland broadly A-shaped,
densely hairy, surrounded by long scattered hairs.
In the Yosemite meadows, where this Mariposa Lily is
rather common, the plants are tall and the flowers beautifully
colored, while at higher altitudes they are much dwarfed and
the flowers are very pale. This high-mountain form, also
known by the anthers, which are deeply notched at base, is
sometimes described under the name of C. leichtlinii Hook.
3. C. venustus Benth. Mariposa Lily. Similar to no. 1
but with usually larger and more open flowers, which are
mostly very highly colored, the petal-gland oblong and with
densely matted hairs.
This is one of the handsomest of all the Mariposa lilies and
is remarkable for the range of its color forms. Along the
Wawona Road, near Alder Creek, one form has deep-wine-red
petals which are darker toward the middle and are crossed
below by a broad yellow band, while on near-by plants the
petals are nearly white, with a dark-brown eye surrounded by
yellowish. C. venustus grows also below Crockers, but it does
not invade the higher altitudes, where it is replaced by
C. nuttallii.
12. CAMASSIA.
1. C. quamash Greene. Camas. Flowering stem 1 to 2j4
ft. high, from a coated bulb, longer than the grass-like leaves.
Flowers blue, in a loose simple terminal raceme, the pedicels
14 to 54 *n- long and jointed at the summit. Perianth $4 to
1 in. long; segments not united, 3-nerved. Stamens 6, on the
base of the perianth. Capsule 3-lobed.
The Camas, or Quamash, inhabits boggy meadows, where
its blue flowers are very conspicuous above the other plants.
The bulbs of a related species were formerly much eaten by the
Indians of the Northwest, who prepared them either by boil¬
ing or by roasting in pits. Much care was exercised to pre¬
vent the similar but poisonous bulbs of Death Camas from
becoming mixed with the mess. In our district the true Camas
has been found from Little Yosemite Valley and Eagle Peak
to Crockers and Lake Eleanor.
LILY FAMILY
59
13. CLINTONIA. Clintonia.
1. C. uniflora Kunth. Leaves 2 to 5, thin, 3 to 9 in.
1 or 2 in. broad, shortly
acute, tapering to the
sheathing base, sparsely
hairy. Flower white, erect,
y to 1 in. long, pubescent,
the segments distinct and
exceeding the 6 stamens.
Style one.
The most conspicuous
part of this plant is the
cluster of large leaves,
which much exceeds the
single-flowered, naked pe¬
duncle. It grows from a
creeping rootstock and is
found only in shady places
along our lower borders,
as in the Merced and Tu¬
olumne groves and near
Chinquapin. It is closely related to Smilacina and Disporum,
as is indicated by the berry-like fruit.
14. SMILACINA. False Solomon’s Seal.
Stems simple and leafy, from rootstocks, bearing small
white flowers in close clusters. Leaves sessile and clasping,
many-nerved. Perianth-segments not united, spreading. Style
single, 3-lobed at summit. Fruit a globose 1 to 3-seeded
berry. ( Vagnera .)
1. S. sessilifolia Nutt. Stem 1 to 2 ft. high. Leaves ovate
or oblong-lanceolate, 2 to 6 in. long, acute, obscurely pu¬
bescent. Flowers in a simple raceme, the pedicels spreading.
Stamens shorter than the lanceolate perianth-segments, their
filaments very slender. — Rarely met with; more common in
the Coast Ranges.
2. S. amplexicaulis Nutt. Similar to no. 1 but often larger
and coarser, the flowers in branched clusters (panicles). Sta¬
mens much longer than the perianth, their filaments broad. —
Occurs only sparingly, as in Yosemite Valley and along the
Wawona Road. The herbage is usually rough with short
hairs, especially among the flowers, but a perfectly smooth
and glabrous form (or species ?) occurs at 8500 ft. in Mat¬
terhorn Canon and elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada.
6o
IRIS FAMILY
15. DISPORUM. Fairy Bells.
1. D. trachyandrum Britt. Leaves ovate, somewhat heart-
shaped at the sessile base, abruptly acute, 1 to 2x/2 in. long.
Flowers greenish, not y2 in. long, on short drooping pedicels,
solitary or in small clusters. Stamens shorter than the peri¬
anth; anthers with very short stiff hairs. Ovary and obo-
vate scarlet berry glabrous.
The flowers of this plant are seldom seen, for they are
neatly tucked away on short, pendent stalks beneath the
broad and thin leaves of the spreading upper branches. The
lower part of the stem, which may be a foot or two high, is
nearly devoid of foliage. It is one of the rarest of Dis-
porums, being restricted to the westerly slope of the Sierra
Nevada. It grows around Bridal Veil Meadows and along the
road to Chinquapin.
16. TRILLIUM. Wake Robin.
1. T. sessile L. Common Trillium. Stem simple, ^ to 2
ft. high, naked below. Leaves 3, all borne in a whorl at the
summit, round-ovate, net-veined, 3 to 5 in. long and about as
broad. Flower solitary, sessile in the whorl of leaves, about
2 in. long, dull purple (rarely white). Segments and stamens
6 each. Ovary 3-celled, becoming a fleshy reddish capsule. —
Rare in the Sierra Nevada; probably occurs in the Big Tree
groves, in the var. angustipetalum Torr., with leaves narrowed
at base and petals narrowly oblanceolate to linear. T. ovatum
Pursh, with distinctly peduncled flowers, grows in the Coast
Ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada.
IRIDACEAE. Iris Family.
Perennial herbs with sheathing grass-like leaves and perfect
regular flowers, the 6 petal-like divisions of the perianth in 2
series. Stamens on the base of the sepals. Ovary inferior,
becoming a 3-celled capsule; style 3-cleft.
Flowers 1 in. or more long, with dissimilar segments. .. 1. Iris.
Flowers under J4 in. long, with similar segments . 2. Sisyrinchium.
1. IRIS. Wild Flag.
Stems from stout creeping rootstocks. Perianth with a
distinct tube above the ovary; outer segments spreading, the
inner narrower and erect. Stamens distinct, with narrow
anthers beneath the arching petal-like style-branches. Seeds
numerous, black, flat.
1. I. hartwegii Baker. Stems 6 to 12 in. high, many, very
ORCHID FAMILY
6l
leafy up to the pair of showy terminal flowers. Leaves about
in. wide, the larger ones overtopping the flowers, glabrous.
Pedicels ^ to 3 in. long, partly enfolded in the long lanceo¬
late-acuminate bracts, which are separate from each other.
Petals either yellow and with lavender veins or pale laven¬
der, with deeper-colored veins and a yellow medial portion;
tube about % in. long; sepals and petals \x/2 to 2 in. long.
The home of this beautiful Iris is the half-dry, open, coni¬
ferous forest of middle altitudes, it being quite common from
Crockers to the Mariposa Grove. The two color forms often
grow together and are much admired by tourists.
2. I. missouriensis Nutt. Western Blue Flag. Stems
stout, x/2 to 2 ft. high, nearly naked except at base. Leaves
about 14 in* wide, mostly shorter than the stem, glabrous.
Bracts usually opposite, thin and somewhat papery. Petals
pale blue, 2 to 2x/2 in. long, the tube about in. long.
This large-flowered Iris grows in moist places on Snow
Creek, in Hetch Hetchy Valley, etc., and is common east of
the Sierra Nevada. A white-flowered form is reported from
Mono County.
2. SISYRINCHIUM.
Low perennials from fibrous roots. Perianth-segments all
alike. Style-branches slender. Seeds globular.
1. S. bellum Wats. Blue-eyed Grass. Stems l/2 to 2 ft.
high, from a cluster of fibrous roots. Leaves very narrow,
shorter than the stem, glabrous. Pedicels 1 in. or less long,
projecting from the pair of green sheathing bracts. Flowers
blue, yellow at base, about Y% in. long, the six segments equal
and similar. Style short, with slender stigmas. Seeds sev¬
eral, rounded.
The grass-like leaves and delicate, blue flowers of this plant
are well known in California, where it is common on grassy
hillsides and in meadows. It is plentiful in Yosemite Valley,
blossoming in late spring.
2. S. elmeri Greene. Characters essentially those of no. 1,
but flowers yellow, with purple lines, the segments acute. —
Lake Eleanor (type locality), Wawona Road, etc.
ORCHIDACEAE. Orchid Family.
Perennial herbs with alternate leaves (except Listera) some¬
times reduced to scales, the lower sheathing. Flowers in ra¬
cemes or spikes or solitary, perfect, irregular. Sepals 3,
alike. Petals 3, 2 alike, the third, or “lip,” usually differing
62
ORCHID FAMILY
in size and shape. Filaments united with the style to form a
column which is capped by the single anther (anthers 2 in
Cypripedium). Ovary inferior, developing into a 3-celled cap¬
sule with numerous minute seeds.
A. Plants without green herbage; the leaves reduced and
scale-lihe.
Herbage pink or reddish . 7. Corallorhiza.
Herbage pure white . 3. Cephalanthera.
B. Plants with green herbage.
Lower petal with a slender spur at base . 2. Habenaria.
None of the petals spurred.
Leaves a single rounded pair midway of the low stem;
flowers green . 6. Listera.
Leaves several, basal; flowers white to flesh-color.
Sepals y3 in. or less long.
Raceme spirally twisted . 5. Spiranthes.
Raceme straight . 4. Epipactis.
Sepals iy to 2l/2 in. long; lip an inflated sac . 1. Cypripedium.
1. CYPRIPEDIUM. Lady’s Slipper.
1. C. montanum Dougl. Mountain Lady’s Slipper. Leaves
sessile, acute, broadly ovate, clasping, 4 to 6 in. long, 2 or 3
in. broad, pubescent (like the stems) with short glandular
hairs. Flowers 1 to 3, short-pediceled. Sepals and wavy-
twisted petals linear-lanceolate, \l/2 to 2 in. long, purplish;
lip an inflated sac, 1 in. long, dull white, veined with purple.
Capsule nearly erect, oblong, ^ to 1 in. long.
The Mountain Lady’s Slipper is a stout, leafy plant, ,1 to
2 ft. high, from a tuft of fibrous roots. It grows in moist
places around Yosemite Valley, the Mariposa Grove, etc.,
and is often gathered because of its peculiar, showy flowers.
2. HABENARIA. Rein-orchis.
Erect plants with simple stems from a cluster of fleshy
roots, passing above into slender spikes of white or greenish
flowers. Leaves closely sessile, the lower clasping or sheath¬
ing the stem. Lower petal, or lip, flat and spreading, with a
slender spur at base.
1. H. unalaschensis Wats. Slender plant, a foot or so high.
Leaves all near the base, 3 to 5 in. long, *4 to in. wide.
Flowers small, greenish, widely separated in the open spike,
much exceeding the bracts. Petals, sepals, and lip each about
Via in. long, the narrow spur slightly longer; upper petals
straight. Capsule oblong, sessile or nearly so, when mature
l/2 in. long. — In good soil of pine and fir forests, but not in
wet places.
ORCHID FAMILY
63
2. H. leucostachys Wats. Sierra Rein-orchis. Stem ro¬
bust, 1 to 4 ft. high, leafy throughout. Leaves lanceolate, 4
to 9 in. long, y2 to 1 in. wide, the upper ones smaller and
narrower. Flowers larger, white, in a rather dense spike,
mostly shorter than the slender bracts; lip rhombic-lanceo¬
late; spur Yz t6 y2 in. long; upper petals inarched and over¬
lapping at tip; capsule sessile, y2 to Y\ in. long. — In wet or
boggy places of middle altitudes; the most common and
showy species.
3. H. sparsiflbra Wats. Less robust, 1 to 3 ft. high, leafy
throughout. Leaves lanceolate, the larger 3 to 9 in. long, y2
to 1 in. wide. Flowers greenish, somewhat scattered in the
open spike, usually shorter than the bracts; lip narrow,
linear or lanceolate; spur y, in. or less long; upper petals
inarched, their tips overlapping; capsule sessile, y2 in. long. —
Not rare along streams at 4,000 to 8,000 ft. alt.; the only
green-flowered orchis of wet places.
H. hyperborea R. Br., a species with greenish flowers in a
dense, thick spike, the short spur scarcely exceeding the
sepals, has been reported from our district, but the plants
were apparently H. sparsiHora.
3. CEPHALANTHERA.
I. C. austmae Heller. Leaves reduced to white sheaths
an inch or two long. Flowers numerous, sessile, pure white.
Sepals and petals similar, oblong-lanceolate, about y2 in. long;
lip shorter, its base concave and the limb rounded. (C. ore¬
gano, Reich.)
In this species the whole plant is pure white, its nourish¬
ment being derived entirely from decaying vegetation. The
clean stems grow from slender rootstocks to a height of
1 to 2 ft. and are very conspicuous in the dense forests, but
they are by no means abundant. The species has been found
near Big Meadows, near Crane Flat, in Little Yosemite Val¬
ley, and at Eight-mile Station. Its range extends northward
along the Sierra Nevada and North Coast Ranges and through
Oregon to Washington.
4. EPIPACTIS.
Erect plants from creeping rootstocks. Flowers in bracted
terminal racemes which are more or less glandular. Upper
sepal and petals united into a hood over the lip; lip concave
at base, without callosities.
1. E. gigantea Dougl. Stream Orchis. Leaves sessile,
ORCHID FAMILY
prominently veined, acute, the lower
ovate, clasping, 4 to 8 in. long, an inch
or two wide; upper leaves lanceolate,
smaller. Flowers 3 to 12, short-pedi-
celed, greenish or rose-pink, strongly
veined with purple. Sepals ovate-lance¬
olate, 24 in. long, the upper one con¬
cave. Petals slightly smaller; lip
pouched at base, with narrow wing-like
margins, the summit broader and entire
but wavy-crested. Capsule becoming
24 to 1 in. long, recurved or spreading.
The stout, leafy stems of the Stream
Orchis are 1 to 4 ft. high, ending
in a raceme of peculiar, leafy-bracted
flowers. It grows only in wet places,
often associated with ferns, Thimble
Berry, the Sierra Rein Orchis, and other moisture loving
plants. Although nowhere abundant, it has been found in the
Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy valleys, etc., and is of wide dis¬
tribution. Some botanists consider our species identical with
E. royleana Lindl., an inhabitant of the Himalaya Mts.
2. E. decipiens Ames. Rattlesnake Plantain. Leaves all
basal, thick, spreading, broadly lanceolate, 2 to 4 in. long
including the petiole. Flowers numerous, longer than their
bracts. Sepals less than % in. long. Lip narrowed to sum¬
mit, the margins incurved. Capsules erect, 24 in. long. ( Good -
yera menziesii.)
This plant does not bloom until midsummer, but it may be
known long before that time by its thick leaves which are
marked, especially up the middle, by conspicuous white veins.
The stems are 1 to V/z ft. high and are very glandular, espe¬
cially above. It is common in the Yosemite.
5. SPIRANTHES. Ladies’ Tresses.
1. S. romanzoffiana Cham. Stem from a fascicle of thick
oblong roots, 6 in. to 2 ft. high, leafy below, terminating in a
twisted spike of white flowers. Leaves oblong to linear,
acute, narrowed at base but sessile. Flowering spike 1 to 4
in. long; bracts large, taper-pointed. Sepals and petals all
united, about J4 in. long; lower petal recurved, narrowed
below the rounded wavy summit.
The Ladies’ Tresses makes its appearance in July in
meadowy places of moderate altitude and is especially com¬
mon in meadows of the upper end of Yosemite Valley.
64
WILLOW FAMILY
65
6. LISTERA. Twayblade.
1. L. convallarioides Torr. Simple solitary stem 3 in. to
a foot high, from fibrous and creeping
roots, with a pair of broad sessile opposite
leaves just below the raceme. Leaves or¬
bicular, often pointed at apex, 1 to 2]/2
in. across. Flowers 6 to 12, greenish.
Sepals and petals linear, less than y^ in.
long; lip flat, 2-lobed, less than y2 in. long.
This peculiar plant, known at once by
its single pair of rounded leaves, grows in
the edges of bogs by the Mineral Spring
of Yosemite Valley and may be expected
elsewhere, especially at somewhat higher
altitudes.
7. CORALLORHIZA. Coral-root.
Pinkish or straw-colored plants, with coral-like rootstocks,
the erect stems terminating in naked racemes of dull-colored
flowers on short pedicels which become reflexed in fruit.
Leaves reduced to papery sheaths. Sepals and petals about
equal, the upper incurved. Pollen-masses in 2 pairs, distinct,
sessile upon a short oblong gland.
1. C. multifldra Nutt. Plant 1 to 2 ft. high. Sepals oblique
at base and continued as a short spur, which is adnate to the
ovary; sepals and petals *4 to nearly y2 in. long; “lower”
petal, or lip, concave, 3-lobed, nearly white and conspicuously
spotted with purple. — Growing among pine needles or other
decaying vegetation; widely distributed but nowhere common.
2. C. bigelovii Wats. Much like the preceding but with
the base of the sepals merely swollen over the ovary, not
spurred; sepals and petals larger, about T/2 in. long, strongly
veined but none of them spotted; “lower” petal very con¬
cave, entire or barely toothed. — Found only in coniferous
forests or elsewhere in decaying vegetation; only occasion¬
ally seen in the Yosemite district.
SALICACEAE. Willow Family.
Deciduous trees and shrubs with alternate simple leaves
the stipules sometimes falling early. Flowers in narrow
spikes (catkins), the staminate and pistillate on different
plants. Calyx and corolla none. Stamens 1 to many. Fruit
a capsule with many seeds each with a tuft of hairs at base.
66
WILLOW FAMILY
Trees and shrubs; scales of the catkin entire or merely toothed. 1. Salix.
Trees; scales deeply cut; leaves ovate or roundish . 2. Populus.
1. SALIX. Willow.
Winter buds covered by a single scale. Catkins appearing
with or before the leaves, their scales not deeply toothed.
Stamens 1 to 10.
A. Stamens 3 to 9; filaments hairy; leaves mostly 3 to 7 in. lonff;
slender trees.
Petioles glandular at summit; leaves in. or more wide. 1. S. lasiandra.
Petioles not glandular; leaves narrower, mostly curved... 2. .S. nigra.
B. Stamens 2 or 1; shrubs, rarely tree-lilce.
a. Creeping shrub, rooting at the joints . 11. 5. arctica.
b. Narrow-leaved shrub of low altitudes; leaves T/i to Vi
in. wide, 1^ to 5 in. long; peduncles short, leafy;
filaments hairy . 3. S. longifolia.
c. Narrow-leaved shrub; leaves silvery-silky beneath,
mostly green above; stamen 1 . 4. S. sitchensis.
d. Erect shrubs and trees; leaves wider in proportion
(except no. 8) ; stamens 2. )
Peduncles short, not leafy-bracted.
Catkins nearly globose; leaves glabrous . 12. S.monica.
Catkins cylindric; leaves pubescent when young.
Capsules silky; leaves obovate . 5. S. scouleriana.
Capsules glabrous . 6. lasiolepis.
Catkins cylindric; leaves glabrous. (See no. 7.)
Peduncles evident, leafy-bracted; mostly of over 6,000
ft. alt.
Capsules and mature leaves glabrous; stigmas notched. . 7. S. cor data.
Capsules pubescent.
Twigs white; leaves small, narrow, silvery-pu¬
bescent . 8. S. macrocarpa.
Twigs green, brown, or yellowish.
Leaves entire . 9. S. glauca.
Leaves glandular-toothed . 10. 5". calif or nica.
1. S. lasiandra Benth. Yellow Willow. Sword-leaf Wil¬
low. Leaves lanceolate, taper-pointed, 2 to 7 in. long, y2 to
1 in. wide, glabrous, paler beneath; stipules conspicuous on
vigorous shoots. Catkins 1% to 2^4 in. long, their peduncles
leafy-bracted. Capsules slender-pediceled, glabrous.
The Yellow Willow is a slender tree, common along
streams and around lakes at the lower altitudes. It is readily
known by the small, wart-like glands on the petioles and the
leaf-margins are also often minutely glandular.
2. S. nigra Marsh. Black Willow. Leaves narrowly
lanceolate, long-pointed, often curved, glabrous, 2 to 7 in.
long, % to y2 in. wide, on very short petioles; stipules falling
early. Catkins 24 to 2 y2 in. long. Capsules glabrous. — A tall
WILLOW FAMILY
67
tree with rough, dark bark, normally belonging to river banks
at low altitudes and probably not reaching the Park boundary.
3. S. longifolia Muhl. Long-leaf Willow. Leaves linear-
lanceolate, very acute, remotely toothed, 1 to 5 in. long, */&
to *4 in. wide. Stipules very early deciduous. Catkins J4 to
V/2 in. long, on short leafy peduncles. Capsules glabrous.
The many erect branches of this willow form rounded
clumps 5 to 15 ft. high. The leaves are mostly glabrous, but
there is a var. argyrophylla And., known as Coyote Willow,
with a permanently silvery-pubescent foliage. Both forms
grow in rocky stream beds along our lower borders. Still
another form, with leaves up to 3j4 in. long and y2 in. wide,
and catkins 1 or 2 in. long, has been described from the
Yosemite under the name of S. bolanderiana Rowlee.
4. S. sitchensis Sans. Sitka Willow. Leaves narrowly
oblong, acute at both ends, very prominently veined, white
and velvety beneath, soon green above, 1 to 3 in. long, y to
x/2 in. wide; stipules minute and lanceolate, or wanting. Cat¬
kins narrow, becoming 1*4 to 2 in. long, on short leafy
peduncles. Capsules pubescent.
The Sitka Willow, also known as Velvet Willow and as
Silky Willow, belongs typically to the north coast but occurs
in a narrow-leaved form at a few places in the Sierra Nevada:
Yosemite Valley (near Stoneman Bridge and Happy Isles);
Nevada Falls; Merced Lake; Stubblefield Canon; Kaweah
River; Gilmore Lake, near Tahoe; etc. There are several
varieties named by Jepson. The silkiness of the foliage is
approached only in S. macrocarpa, but that has much shorter
catkins and white-powdery twigs.
5. S. scouleriana Barr. Nuttall Willow. Leaves obo-
vate, rounded above or very shortly acute, entire, 1 to 2 in.
long, y2 to 1*4 in. wide, glabrous above, becoming so be¬
neath; stipules semicordate, toothed. Catkins nearly sessile,
Vi to 1 in. long, scaly-bracted but not leafy at base. Capsules
white-silky. (S. flavescens Nutt. S. nuttallii brachystachys Sarg.)
— A shrub or small tree, best known by its broad leaves;
occasional in meadows and along streams at moderate alti¬
tudes.
6. S. lasiolepis Benth. Arroyo Willow. Leaves oblong or
broadly lanceolate, acute, obscurely toothed, 1 y2 to 5 in. long,
to 1*4 i*1- wide, green and glabrous above, white-pubescent
or pale beneath; stipules mostly wanting. Catkins nearly
sessile, 34 t0 V/n in. long. Capsules glabrous or a little
pubescent.
68
WILLOW FAMILY
The meadows of Yosemite and other low valleys are bor¬
dered by thickets of the Arroyo Willow, which forms rounded
clumps 10 to 20 ft. high. It is sometimes called White
Willow.
7. S. cordata var. mackenziana Hook. Leaves narrowly
oblong, rounded to a broad base, slenderly acute, glabrous,
pale beneath, 1 to 3 or 4 in. long, Y* to 1 in. wide; stipules
conspicuous and rounded or early deciduous. Catkins 1 to
1H in. long, the leaves of the peduncles falling early. Style
long, with short bifid stigmas. Capsules glabrous, slender-
pediceled. — A rare shrub, found near Sentinel Hotel in the
Yosemite and at Johnson Lake.
8. S. macrocarpa var. argentea Bebb. Silver Willow.
Leaves lanceolate, entire, acute at both ends, appressed-silky
beneath, becoming green above, 1 to 1Y in. long, Y in. or
less wide; stipules none. Catkins Y in. or less long. Style
very short. Capsules densely short-pubescent.
The smooth, silvery-pubescent foliage and short, thick
catkins best mark this beautiful willow (see also Y. sitchensis) .
It is a slender, white-twigged shrub, 6 to 18 ft. high, and
grows only in the higher valleys, as along the Lyell Fork of
the Tuolumne, and Walker Lake, Mono Co.
9. S. glauca var. villosa Anders. Leaves lanceolate to
oblanceolate, acute, narrowed at base, entire, 1 to 3 in. long,
% to Yz in. wide, soft-pubescent when young; stipules lance¬
olate or none. Catkins on short leafy peduncles, the pistil¬
late 1 to 3 in. long, their scales brownish and hairy. Stigmas
either entire or lobed.
This shrub (2 to 12 ft. high) forms thickets along the
shores of lakes and on moist banks. It is the most common
willow of upper altitudes, ranging from 7000 ft. to timber-
line.
10. S. californica Bebb. Doubtfully distinct from no. 9,
differing chiefly in its very finely toothed leaves. It grows
at Snow Flat and probably elsewhere in the range of Y. glauca
villosa.
S. lemmonii Bebb, is a doubtful species close to Y. glauca
and reported from our higher mountains. It is described as
a tall, slender shrub with nearly glabrous leaves, the scales
of the catkins pitch-black.
11. S. arctica var. petraea Anders. Alpine Willow. Leaves
lanceolate, tapering to each end, entire, about 1 in. long, Y\ t°
Y% in. wide, glabrous. Catkins erect, 1 or 2 in. long. Capsules
silky.
SWEET-GALE FAMILY
69
The short, tortuous stems of this willow form a depressed
body only 1 to 4 in. high and the flowering shoots rarely ex¬
ceed 6 in. It is a common inhabitant of moist slopes near
timber-line, often growing entangled with other alpine dwarfs
and sedges.
12. S. monica Bebb. Mono Willow. Leaves oblong or
oblanceolate, acute at each end (or the lower obtuse), entire
or nearly so, to 1/4 in- long* glabrous or lightly pubescent
around apex; stipules none. Catkins small, roundish, sessile
or on a very short 2-bracted peduncle. Capsules sessile,
sparsely silky. — Mono Pass, Mt. Dana, Tuolumne Meadows,
Rancheria Mt., etc., occurring as a low, profusely branched
shrub, the lower branches reclining but not creeping. The
Common Cottonwood (P. fremontii ) replaces this species in
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
2. POPULUS. Poplar.
Trees, similar to willows but with mostly broader leaves.
Buds covered by several scales. Scales of the catkins as
though torn. Stamens numerous. Stigmas long.
1. P. trichocarpa T. & G. Black Cottonwood. Leaves
ovate or lanceolate, truncate or heart-shaped at base, acute,
finely toothed, 2 to 5 in. long, on petioles L> to 2 in. long,
green above, brown or whitish beneath.
The Black Cottonwood becomes a conspicuous, broad-
topped tree along the rivers in Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite, and
Wawona valleys. The bark is whitish and smooth at first,
but fissured on old trunks into long, narrow plates.
2. P. tremuloides Michx. Aspen. Leaves round-ovate or
orbicular, abruptly tipped, faintly toothed, 24 2L> in. long,
on petioles 24 to 2 in. long.
The Aspen is a slender, graceful tree with leaves constantly
quivering even when there is apparently no breeze, the flat
petiole being specially adapted to ease of movement. The
bark is greenish white, becoming black. No other American
tree has so wide a range as the Aspen, which grows from
Hudson Bay and the Arctic regions south to Tennessee and
Mexico. In our district it grows on moist slopes and along
streams, forming thickets or small groves. It belongs to the
Upper Coniferous Belt, rarely descending to 4500 ft.
MYRICACEAE. Sweet-gale Family.
Shrubs and small trees with alternate simple leaves without
stipules. Flowers in short catkins, without calyx or corolla.
70
BIRCH FAMILY
1. MYRICA. Wax Myrtle.
1. M. hartwegii Wats. Sweet Bay. A deciduous pubescent
shrub with fragrant foliage. Leaves oblanceolate, acute, \y2
to 3 in. long, narrowed to a short petiole, toothed. Stamen¬
bearing flowers in catkins scarcely y2 in. long, each with 3 or
4 stamens. Pistil-bearing flowers in shorter catkins which
become berry-like and waxy-coated in fruit. — Rare, but found
on Big Creek, below the Mariposa Grove, and in the Merced
Canon below the Yosemite.
BETULACEAE. Birch Family.
Deciduous trees and shrubs with alternate simple petioled
leaves and deciduous stipules. Flowers mostly in catkins
appearing before the leaves.
Fruit nut-like, in a leafy tube . 1. Corylus.
Fruits small, many, in a woody cone . 2. Alnus.
1. CORYLUS. Hazel.
1. C. rostrata var. californica DC. California Hazel.
Leaves thin, roundish, toothed, 1J4 to 4 in. across, glandular-
hairy. Nut ovoid, hard, y2 in. long, enclosed in a hairy tube
Y to 1 y2 in. long.
Although more common in the Coast Ranges, the Hazel is
by no means rare from the Tuolumne to the lower end of
Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, ascending to 5500
ft. on Moss Creek. It is a loose, spreading shrub, 6 to 10 ft.
high.
2. ALNUS. Alder.
1. A. rhombifolia Nutt. White Alder. Leaves oblong-
ovate, tapering to each end, irregularly glandular-toothed,
2 to 4 in. long. Pistillate catkins erect, becoming woody
cones, y2 to Y in. long, bearing margined nutlets.
The Alder, which is a straight tree 30 to 80 ft. high, with
smooth, pale bark, grows along all of the larger streams, but
does not ascend above 5000 ft. alt. A characteristic grouping of
the trees is shown in our illustration facing page 4.
A. tenuifolia Nutt., the Mountain or Narrow-leaf Alder,
may reach our higher mountains from the north. It is a shrub
with doubly toothed leaves.
Betula occidentalis Hook., the Western Birch, grows on
the east slope of the Sierra Nevada. It is a tree with smooth,
brown bark and roundish, toothed leaves 1 or 2 in. long.
Birches are distinguished from alders by the solitary instead
OAK FAMILY 71
of clustered pistillate catkins, which do not become permanent
woody cones.
FAGACEAE. Oak Family.
Trees and shrubs with hard wood and alternate simple
leaves. Staminate flowers in slender clusters (catkins); calyx
several-lobed; stamens 4 to 12; petals none. Pistillate flowers
borne on the same plant, 1 to 3 in each scaly involucre; ovary
adherent to the calyx; petals none.
Fruit a smooth acorn borne in a scaly cup . 1. Quercus.
Fruit a spiny bur containing 1 to 3 nuts . 2. Castanea.
1. QUERCUS. Oak.
Flowers greenish or yellowish, the staminate in pendulous
catkins; pistillate in young leaf-axils, the ovary with 3 to 5
styles or stigmas. Fruit an acorn in a scaly cup.
Bark gray or whitish; stigmas sessile or nearly so.
Tree (sometimes dwarfed) ; acorn-cup thick, with gold¬
en fuzz . 1. Q. chrysolepis.
Shrub; cup thin, without golden fuzz . 2. Q. vaccinifolia.
Bark dark or black; stigmas on long styles.
Leaves entire or merely spiny-toothed . 3. Q. wislizenii.
Leaves with bristle-tipped lobes . 4. Q. kelloggii.
1. Q. chrysolepis Liebm. Maul Oak. Leaves ovate or
oblong-ovate, acute, entire or toothed
(even on the same twig), 1 to 3 in.
long, green above, golden beneath with
a fine fuzz, becoming smooth and pale.
Acorns ovate, globose, or cylindric,
either blunt or acute, 1 to \l 2/2 in. long,
in very shallow fuzzy cups.
The Maul Oak is a gray-barked,
evergreen tree, 20 to 60 ft. high, with
roundish or spreading crown. It is
one of the live oaks and belongs to the foothills and the
Yellow Pine Belt, becoming dwarfed along its upper limits.
It may be distinguished, even in its shrubby form, by the
golden-yellow color of the backs of some of its leaves and
by the golden fuzz on the thick acorn-cups.
2. Q. vaccinifolia Kell. Huckleberry Oak. Leaves oval
or oblong and obtuse, or ovate-lanceolate and acute, mostly
entire, to V/2 in. long, *4 to H in. wide, short-petioled, not
golden beneath and the margins not rolled back. Acorns
globose-ovate, ^ to H in. long, in thin cups ^ in. deep.
This oak forms meadowy patches of low chaparral around
OAK FAMILY
72
the rim of Yosemite Valley and on all the higher mountains.
The bark is light-colored and the twigs glabrous.
3. Q. wislizenii DC. Interior Live Oak. Leaves rigid,
oblong to ovate, entire or spiny-toothed, 1 to
2J4 in. long, green and shining above, yellow¬
ish green beneath. Acorns cylindric to conic,
acute, 1% to 1 Yi in. long, in reddish-brown
cups. — A small, round-headed tree with
smooth, black bark becoming fissured only
on large trunks. Belongs to the foothills but
reaches 3400 ft. in the Merced Canon.
4. Q. kelloggii Newb. California Black Oak. Leaves
thin, broad, deeply parted, each
of the several lobes with 1 to 3
or more coarse bristle-tipped
teeth, 3 to 8 in. long, 2 to 5 in.
wide, green and shining above,
lighter beneath. Acorns oblong,
obtuse, 1 to 1*4 in- long, deeply
set in a cup J4 to 1 in. deep.
( Q . calif ornica Cooper.)
Our Black Oak is a graceful,
deciduous tree, 30 to 80 ft. high,
with broad, rounded crown and
dark bark checked into small
plates. It inhabits valley floors
and benches of the Yellow Pine
Belt, becoming dwarfed and
shrubby at 7000 ft. alt. Q. more-
hus Kell., which is probably a
hybrid between this and Q.
•wislizenii, occurs at El Portal. It
has shallowly lobed leaves, the
lobes pointing upward, and its cups are similar to those of
Q. wislizenii.
Q. breweri Engelm., the Brewer Oak, and Q. dumosa Nutt.,
the Scrub Oak, have been reported from the Yosemite but
without specimens. The former is a shrub with round-lobed
leaves; the latter, which is a foothill shrub, has leaves either
entire or spiny-toothed.
2. CASTANEA. Chestnut.
1. C. sempervirens Kell. Bush Chinquapin. Leaves ob¬
long or lanceolate-oblong, narrowed at base, obtuse, V/2 to 3
MISTLETOE FAMILY 73
in. long, ^ to 1 in. wide. Catkins unbranched, 1 to \l/2 in.
long, in clusters.
The Bush Chinquapin is a spreading evergreen shrub 1 to
6 ft. high, with smooth bark and yellowish foliage. The
large burs are unlike anything else in the mountains. It
grows mostly at altitudes of over 6000 ft., often uniting with
Bitter Cherry and Snow-bush to form extensive beds of
chaparral.
URTICACEAE. Nettle Family.
It is probable that the common Nettle ( Urtica gracilis var.
holosericea Jepson) will be found in our mountains. It is an
erect, unbranched herb, 4 to 10 ft. high, with ovate, toothed
leaves and stinging hairs.
LORANTHACEAE. Mistletoe Family.
Evergreen shrubs, parasitic on trees. Leaves opposite,
entire, often reduced to scales. Flowers greenish, small, the
staminate and pistillate on separate plants. Sepals and
stamens 2 to 5 each. Ovary inferior, becoming a berry.
Flowers and berries globose; stems stout, mostly over 6
in. long . 1. Phoradendron.
Flowers and berries compressed; stems slender, mostly
under 6 in . 2. Arceuthobium.
1. PHORADENDRON. Mistletoe.
Parasites with flat thick leaves, or these reduced to scales
in our third species. Flowers globose, mostly 3-lobed, sunk
in the jointed stems. Fruit a globose pulpy sessile berry,
maturing the first winter.
1. P. villdsum Nutt. Common Mistletoe. Stems 1 to 3 ft.
long, pubescent, leafy. Leaves deep green, elliptic, obtuse,
3-nerved, Y to 1^2 in. long, %. to Y in- wide, short-petioled.
Berries pinkish. — Common on oaks.
2. P. bolleanum Eichler. Stems y2 to 1 ft. long, leafy,
becoming glabrous. Leaves greenish yellow, narrow, obtuse,
nerveless, to 1 in. long, *4 in- or less wide, short-petioled.
Berries pearl-white. — Common on Fir and Juniper.
3. P. juniperinum Englem. Stems y2 to 1 ft, long, glabrous,
yellowish. Leaves reduced to triangular obtuse scales. Berry
whitish or light red. — On Juniper, the var. libocedri Engelm.,
with longer and more slender joints, on Incense Cedar.
2. ARCEUTHOBIUM.
Glabrous parasites with square stems and scale-like leaves
SANDALWOOD FAMILY
74
united at base in pairs. Flowers crowded, compressed, the
staminate 2 to 5-parted, the pistillate 2-toothed. Fruit on a
recurved pedicel, maturing the second autumn. The ripe
berries suddenly eject the sticky seeds to a distance of
several yards. ( Razoumofskya .)
1. A. americanum Nutt. Stems slender, much branched,
greenish yellow. Staminate plants 3 or 4 in. long, producing
terminal flowers on distinct joints of an open panicle. Fertile
plants much smaller. — Known only on the Lodgepole Pine.
2. A. douglasii Engelm. Similar to no. 1 but only % to 1
in. high. Branches nearly erect, solitary or with accessory
ones behind (never beside) the primary ones. Flowers in
short (mostly 5-flowered) spikes. — On Douglas Fir. The var.
abietinum Engelm., larger, 1 to 3 in. high, with spreading
branchlets, grows on the White and Red Fir. Either form
may also be expected on Yellow Pine.
3. A. occidental Engelm. Stems stout, 2 to 5 in. high,
much branched. Staminate flowers in long spikes (flowers
9 to 17). — On Yellow, Jeffrey, and Digger Pine, Juniper, and
Alpine Hemlock, perhaps also on Fir. Distinguished from no.
2 by the greenish-brown instead of yellowish stems and by
the accessory branchlets of fruiting plants, which bear scales
instead of flowers.
SANTALACEAE. Sandalwood Family.
Leaves entire. Calyx 4 or S-cleft. Stamens 4 or 5, in¬
serted on a fleshy disk. Style 1; ovary inferior, becoming a
1-seeded fruit.
1. COMANDRA.
Bastard Toad-flax.
1. umbellata Nutt. Leaves alter¬
nate, oblong, thin, acute, much nar¬
rowed at base, 1 to \l/2 in. long, the
lower ones scale-like. Calyx-tube
continued as a neck to the dry round¬
ish fruit.
This is a very smooth, leafy per¬
ennial, y2 to I1/* ft. high, with small,
greenish-white flowers in terminal
clusters. The root forms parasitic
attachments to the roots of trees and
shrubs. It is plentiful in all our
mountains.
BIRTHWORT FAMILY
75
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE. Birthwort Family.
Flowers perfect, the brownish or greenish perianth 3-lobed,
the tube somewhat attached to the 6-celled ovary. Stamens
6 to 12, on the ovary.
1. ASARUM. Wild Ginger.
1. A. hartwegii Wats. Leaves alternate, entire, broadly
heart-shaped, pubescent below,
3 to 5 in. broad, on petioles 3 to
6 in. long. Flowers short-pedun-
cled, in the leaf-axils. Calyx-
lobes triangular, continued into
a tail 24 to \y2 in. long. Fila¬
ments stout, continued beyond
the anthers as a slender append¬
age. Styles 6, united at base.
This peculiar plant is appar¬
ently stemless, the fragrant,
creeping rootstocks being hid¬
den in a mass of dried leaves or
other matter. The hairy, brown¬
ish flowers, with their long-tailed
calyx-lobes, are nearly hidden
by the clumps of broad leaves,
which are often beautifully mot¬
tled with white. From its com¬
mon name one might assume
that the roots could be used as
a substitute for ginger, but such
is not the case. They are highly
aromatic, however, and this has
led to the suggestion that they might be used in the manu¬
facture of sachet powders. The Wild Ginger is common in
good soil in the lower part of the Yellow Pine Belt.
2. A. lemmonii Wats. Calyx-lobes only y2 in. or less long
and not tailed, the filaments not appendaged; otherwise
similar to no. 1. — A rare species, found growing near logs
in the Merced Grove.
Aristolochia californica Torr., the Dutchman’s Pipe, has
been found at “Tissack Bridge”, but it is common only in the
foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada and of the Coast
Ranges. Tissack Mountain is the Indian name of Half Dome.
The plant is a woody vine with heart-shaped leaves and in¬
flated flowers (1 in. or more long) which turn back on them¬
selves so as to bring the opening near the base.
76
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
POLYGON ACEAE. Buckwheat Family.
Herbs and low shrubs with simple leaves and small regular
flowers without petals. Stamens 4 to 9. Calyx 3 to 6-cleft.
Ovary 1-celled, mostly triangular, becoming a dry 1-seeded
fruit ( akene ).
Leaves without stipules; flowers surrounded by an involucre.
Involucre 1 or 2-flowered; annuals.
White-woolly plant; involucres sessile . 1. Chorizanthe.
Green plant; involucres peduncled . 2. Oxytheca.
Involucre several-flowered; coarse perennial plants (ex¬
cept E. virgatum ) . 3. Eriogonum.
Leaves with papery or membranous stipules sheathing the
stem, alternate; flowers without involucre.
Calyx-lobes 6, the 3 outer reflexed in fruit, the 3 inner
erect and enlarging . 4. Rumex.
Calyx-lobes 4, the 2 outer spreading, the 2 inner erect;
Alpine plant with roundish succulent leaves . 5. Oxyria.
Calyx-lobes 5 or 6, equal and erect in fruit . 6. Polygonum.
1. CHORIZANTHE.
1. C. membranacea Benth. Leaves linear, entire, acute,
1 or 2 in. long, the uppermost and even the bracts not much
reduced. Involucres several in each sessile head, 1-flowered,
papery, the 6 teeth bristle-tipped.
The erect, white-woolly stems of this annual are Yz to 2 ft.
high, simple below, but branching above and bearing several
or numerous bristly heads of pale flowers. It grows in dry,
loose soil of the foothills, reaching 4000 ft. alt. in Yosemite
Valley.
2. OXYTHECA.
1. O. spergulina Greene. Leaves linear, entire, 2 in. or less
long, somewhat hairy. Pedicels Y to Y in. long. Involucre
4-cleft. Flowers rose-color; outer segments obtuse; inner
segments 3-toothed. ( Eriogonum spergulinam.)
This delicate annual (2 in. to 3 ft. high) has its leaves all
in a basal tuft and bears a simple to diffusely branched
panicle of small flowers on capillary pedicels. It is common
in loose soil of the Yellow Pine Belt.
3. ERIOGONUM.
Leaves alternate or in circles or basal, without stipules.
Flowers on slender pedicels, several to many in each 4 to 8-
toothed involucre. Calyx 6-parted, persistent. Stamens 9.
Styles 3.
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
77
A. Flower-heads peduncled, in terminal umbels.
Umbel simple (its rays unbranched, bracted only at base).
Bracts at base of umbel in a leafy whorl.
Leaves rounded, Y in. or more wide; stems reclin¬
ing at base . 1. E. lobbii.
Leaves oblanceolate, less than in. wide; stems
erect . 2. E. umbellatum
Bracts inconspicuous, not leafy.
Foliage densely matted . 3. E. incanum.
Foliage loose, the stems being more diffuse at base... 4. E. marifolium.
Umbel compound (its rays being forked and bracted at
about the middle).
Leaves Y* in. or more wide . 1. E. lobbii.
Leaves less than J4 in. wide (usually Y\ in. or less).
Involucres deeply lobed, lobes becoming reflexed;
leaves lanceolate or spatulate . 5. E. stellatum.
Involucres with short erect teeth; leaves ovate or
roundish . 6. E. ursinum.
B. Flower-heads either sessile along1 2 the branches or terminal,
never umbellate.
Perennials with woody base.
Leaves nearly sessile, white-woolly on both sides.
Heads terminal, mostly solitary . 7. E. ovalifolium.
Heads scattered along the branches . 8. E. wrightii.
Leaves long-petioled, green above . 9. E. nudum.
Annual, slender, heads less than Y in. high . 10. E. virgatum.
1. E. lobbii T. & G. Flowering stems 3 to 8 in. high, from
a little-branched thick base. Leaves thick, oval or roundish,
very obtuse, distinctly petioled, to 2 in. long and nearly
as wide, white-woolly, often glabrate above. Umbels very
pubescent, of 2 to 5 rays only \]/2 in. or less long. Involucres
nearly y2 in. long, the lobes becoming recurved. Flowers
rose-color. — Tuolumne Canon, Lundy, and northward, on
gravelly slopes.
2. E. umbellatum Torr. Sulphur Flower.
stems 3 to 12 in. high, from a much-
branched woody leafy base. Leaves
oblanceolate or oblong, tapering to a
petiole, ^ to 1 in. long, white-woolly,
often becoming glabrous at least above.
Umbels of 3 to 10 stout branches 24 to 2
in. long. Involucre-lobes becoming re¬
flexed. Flowers yellow.
This low but almost bush-like plant,
with numerous yellow heads, is conspicu¬
ous on stony hillsides at middle alti¬
tudes, blossoming in July and August.
Flowering
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
78
It is common around Yosemite Valley, often in forms indis¬
tinguishable from E. stellatum.
3. E. incanum T. & G. Flowering stems numerous, 9 in.
or less high, from a dense mat of gray foliage. Leaves
oblanceolate or oval, to nearly 1 in. long, densely and
permanently white-woolly. Umbel of 5 to 10 slender branches
2 in. or less long, or the whole inflorescence reduced to a
small head in Alpine forms. Involucres with short erect
teeth. Flowers yellow, often tinged with red. — In decom¬
posed granite at high altitudes: Sentinel Dome, Lake Tenaya,
Clouds Rest, etc. The type specimens came from the
Tuolumne River at 8000 to 10,000 ft. alt.
4. E. marifolium T. & G. Very much like E. incanum , of
which it is perhaps only a form. Foliage-stems less compact,
the mats therefore more open. Leaves ovate or oblong,
sometimes glabrous above. — High mountains, as in Tilden
Canon at 8200 ft. alt.
5. E. stellatum Benth. Flowering stems 6 to 12 in. high,
from a loosely branched woody base. Leaves lanceolate, *4
to 1 in. long, white-woolly at least beneath. Involucres in
usually compound umbels with whorls of leaf-like bracts at
the nodes. — Differs from E. umbellatum only in having the
branches of the umbel again divided. Snow Creek, at 6600 ft.,
Glacier Point, and similar places.
6. E. ursinum Wats. Flowering stems 6 to 15 in. high,
from short and thick very leafy basal branches. Leaves oval
or roundish, % to ^ in. long, nearly as broad, white-woolly
beneath, greenish above. Umbel compound but very com¬
pact, whole inflorescence 1 *4 in. or less long, subtended by
many conspicuous bracts. Flowers very pale yellow. — Tahoe
district and northward, in the high mountains; to be expected
within our borders.
7. E. ovalifolium Nutt. Plant forming a dense white mat
an inch or two high, from which arise naked simple flowering
stems 1 to 9 in. long, each terminating in a dense head of
flowers. Leaves oval or roundish, in. or less long, per¬
manently white-woolly on both sides, so densely compacted
as to hide the short thick foliage-stems. Flowers roseate,
white, or yellow. — Gravelly slopes in the Alpine Zone, as on
Mt. Dana.
8. E. wrightii Torr. Stems woody, leafy, and much
branched below, the naked flowering shoots rising to 12 or 18
in. and bearing small clusters of rose-colored flowers. Leaves
oblanceolate, to 1 in. long, with smaller ones densely clus-
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 79
tered in their axils, white-woolly on both sides. — Frequent in
stony and gravelly places, flowering in late summer.
9. E. nudum Dough Stems few, erect, several inches to 2
ft. high, mostly glabrous above, clustered with the leaves
on a woody taproot. Leaves oblong, obtuse, usually 1 in.
long except in Alpine forms, on petioles of more than twice
their length, densely woolly beneath. Involucres in close
heads and in the forks of the inflorescence, or terminating
simple stems in Alpine plants. Bracts in 3’s, short, rigid, and
scale-like. Flowers dull white or pink. — Common every¬
where.
10. E. virgatum Benth. Stems few or solitary, erect, 3 in.
to 3 ft. high, from an annual root, woolly throughout. Leaves
chiefly basal, oblanceolate, usually wavy-margined, woolly.
Involucres sessile, scattered along the slender branches, each
subtended by 3 lanceolate scales. — A foothill species, ex¬
tending up to 4200 ft. or more.
4. RUMEX. Dock.
Perennials with small greenish or reddish flowers in ter¬
minal panicles. Leaves alternate, entire or with few lobes;
stipules sheathing the stem. Calyx of 6 sepals, the outer
small and spreading, the inner somewhat colored, becoming
larger and appressed to the 3-angled akene. Stamens 6.
Styles 3.
Plant small, slender; flowers unisexual.
Leaves mostly lobed at base . 1. R. aceto sella.
Leaves never lobed . 2. R. paucifolius.
Plant large, coarse; flowers mostly with both stamens
and pistils.
Leaves green, strongly wavy; sepals broad-winged. .3. R. crispus.
Leaves green, slightly wavy; sepals narrow-winged. 4. R. conglomeratus.
Leaves pale, flat, willow-like . 5. R. salicifolius.
1. R. acetosella L. Sheep Sorrel. Stems 1 to 124 ft. high,
from slender roots with running branches, the flowers in a
narrow panicle. Leaves mostly basal, oblong to oblanceolate,
usually with slender basal lobes, petioled. Flowers becoming
reddish, on very short pedicels jointed at the top. — An Euro¬
pean weed with very acid leaves, naturalized in all the lower
valleys.
2. R. paucifolius Nutt. Stems a foot or so high, from a
thick root, the flowers in a loose open panicle. Leaves
chiefly basal, lanceolate or narrow, never lobed, 1 or 2 in.
long, petiole usually longer. Flowers reddish, on pedicels
jointed at the base. — A weed of moist places: Yosemite, Lake
Tenaya, Bloody Canon, etc.
8o
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
3. R. crispus L. Curly Dock. Stems stout, ft. or
more high. Leaves oblong-lanceolate from a broad base, the
blade 4 to 10 in. long. Flowers in long very dense panicles
with nearly erect branches and few leaves, the clusters com¬
pact and red-brown in fruit. Fruiting sepals with broad
veiny border. — Common around weedy meadows and in
moist places at moderate altitudes.
4. R. conglomerate Murr. Green Dock. Stems clustered,
2 to 4 ft. high. Leaves oblong, the lower with broad base, the
blade 3 to 6 in. long. Flowers in clusters along the slender
spreading leafy branches. Fruiting sepals nearly covered by
the callous grain. — Low, damp ground in Yosemite Valley
and probably common in all similar places.
5. R. salicifolius Weinm. Willow Dock. Stems 1 to 3 ft.
high. Leaves willow-like, narrowed to both ends, 2 to 5 in.
long, pale. Flowers in dense clusters, on short spreading
branches, only the lower of which are leafy. — To be expected
at low altitudes.
5. OXYRIA. Alpine Sorrel.
1. O. digyna Camptd. Stems numerous and tufted on a
thick root, 3 in. to 1 ft. high.
Leaves all basal, kidney-shaped,
to 2 in. across, on very long
petioles. Flowers in a narrow
panicle with erect branches.
Calyx reddish, of 2 outer spread¬
ing sepals and 2 inner erect ones.
Stamens 6. Stigmas 2, sessile on
the ovary which develops into
a compressed 2-winged akene.
The Alpine Sorrel is a char¬
acteristic inhabitant of moist
places among rocks at high ele¬
vations, invariably indicating the
Alpine Zone. It is readily known
by its broad and smooth succu¬
lent leaves, which have a pleas¬
ant, acid taste, and by the
reddish tint, especially of the
flowers.
6. POLYGONUM. Knotweed.
Leafy herbs, one species woody at base. Leaves alternate,
entire, their stipules forming membranous sheaths around
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
8l
the stem. Flowers small, on jointed pedicels; calyx of 4 to 6
nearly distinct petal-like erect segments. Stamens 4 to 9.
Styles 2 or 3. Fruit a dry akene, either 3-angled or some¬
what flattened.
a. Flowers in a loose panicle; leaves 1 in. or more
wide . 1. P. polymorphum.
b. Flowers in dense oblong leafless racemes; leaves
narrower.
Stems with few leaves; flowers white . 2. P. bistortoides.
Stems leafy; flowers rose-color or pink.
Raceme solitary; leaf-sheaths not bristly . 3. P. amphibiuni.
Racemes several; leaf-sheaths bristly-f ringed . 4. P. persicaria.
c. Flowers in the leaf-axils.
Twining herb with heart-shaped leaves . 13. P. convolvulus.
Prostrate woody perennial . 5. P. shastense.
Slender glabrous annuals with narrow leaves.
Plants prostrate . 6. P. aviculare.
Plants erect.
Leaves obovate; stems reddish, leafy . 7. P. minimum.
Leaves narrower.
Stems 6 to 24 in. high.
Flowers erect.
Leaves merely acute . 8. P. ramosissimum.
Leaves with fine tips . 9. P. tenue.
Flowers pendent . 10. P. douglasii.
Stems 4 in. or less high
Stems much branched . 11. P. kelloggii.
Stems simple below . 12. P. imbricatum.
1. P. polymorphum L. Stems stout, erect, 2 to 7 ft. high,
perennial. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, acute, 3 to 6 in. long,
1 to 2*4 in. wide, narrowed or rounded to a winged petiole
y2 to l in. long. Flowers greenish white or rose-color, small
but numerous in a much branched bracted terminal panicle
often 1 or 2 ft. long. ( P . phytolaccaef olium Meisn.) — In wet
soil along creek banks and the margins of lakes, from the
Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite valleys to Tuolumne Meadows.
2. P. bistortoides Pursh. Stems several from a woody
root, 6 in. to usually 1 or 2 ft. high. Basal leaves oblong or
lanceolate, 3 to 5 in. long, *4 to 1 in. wide, distinctly petioled;
upper leaves smaller, sessile. Flowers white, in compact
cylindric or roundish heads terminating the stem.
The white flower-heads of this Polygonum are conspicuous
above the green herbage in nearly all of the mountain
meadows, especially where the soil is wet, being of tall
stature when growing at moderate altitude, but much dwarfed
along its upper limits. v
3. P. amphibium L. Water Persicaria. Aquatic perennial
with stout stems not branching above the rooting base, sel-
82
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
dom more than V/2 ft. high. Leaves usually floating, oblong
to lanceolate, acute, 3 to 6 in. long, 1 to 2 in. wide, long-
petioled. Flowers bright rose-color, in a dense oblong raceme
which is Yz to 2 in. long. — Usually growing in water but
sometimes on muddy banks where the stems become erect
and more pubescent. It has been collected in the Hetch
Hetchy meadows.
4. P. persicaria L. Lady’s Thumb. An introduced annual
with usually erect stems, 1 to 5 ft. high, leafy throughout.
Leaves lanceolate, 1 to 4 in. long, % to 1 in. wide, short-
petioled. Flowers pink, in dense oblong racemes (x/2 to V/4
in. long) terminating short branchlets. — In moist situations
but not in water; Yosemite Valley.
5. P. shastense Brewer. A low spreading perennial with
numerous leafy and woody twigs inclined to creep along
the ground. Leaves linear, rather less than in. long, acute.
Flowers in the lower leaf-axils, rose-color or nearly white. —
Only near timber-line on the higher peaks.
6. P. aviculare L. Yard Grass. A green glabrous annual
with prostrate wiry stems often several feet long. Leaves
oblong, acute, % to Y m- long- Flowers from most of the
axils, erect. — An European weed, naturalized around some
of the settlements.
7. P. minimum Wats. Stems scurfy, reddish, % to 1 ft.
high, leafy to the summit. Leaves mostly obovate or broadly
oblong, broad at apex but abruptly short-pointed, y to Y in.
long, nearly sessile. Flowers erect. Akenes black, shining,
slightly exserted from calyx. — A high-altitude species found
in moist soil on Mt. Watkins at 6900 ft. alt., also (by Miss
Helen D. Geis) in Yosemite Valley, where doubtless carried
down by streams.
8. P. ramosissimum Michx. Stems 1 or 2 ft. high, almost
woody, ridged, the few branches ascending. Leaves linear-
oblong, y2 to V/2 in. long, narrowed to each end, short-
petioled. Flowers several in each of the axils, on erect
pedicels. Stamens 3 to 6. Akenes granular, not shining. —
Yosemite Valley, etc.
9. P. tenue Michx. Much more slender than no. 8 and
only 1 ft. or less high, the leaves mostly narrowed to a
slender tip; stamens 8. — Reported from “Yosemite and above.”
10. P. douglasii Greene. Stems slender, y2 to iy ft. high,
with very few branches. Leaves linear-oblong, y2 to 2 in.
long, sharply pointed, sessile. Flowers remote, usually only
GOOSEFOOT FAMILY
83
1 or 2 in each axil, the pedicels reflexed. Akenes black, shin¬
ing. — Abundant in Yosemite Valley, etc., and occurring at
higher altitudes as var. latifolium Greene, with shorter stems,
broader leaves, and more crowded flowers.
11. P. kelloggii Greene. Stem 2 x/2 in. or less high, with
numerous erect branches from the base. Leaves crowded,
linear, under y2 in., acute, the upper not much reduced.
Flowers erect, crowded. — Ostranders, and elsewhere in the
higher mountains.
12. P. imbricatum Nutt. Stem solitary, slender, usually
simple below, 1 to 3 in. high. Leaves remote, linear, y2 to 1
in. long, acute, the upper ones short and crowded. Flowers
erect, crowded. (P. watsonii Small.) — Moist soil at middle
and upper altitudes.
13. P. convolvulus L. Black Bindweed. Stems 1 ft. or
more long, twining. Leaves ovate, broad and “eared” at base,
taper-pointed, 1 to 2 in. long, glabrous. Flowers in clusters
or racemose. Akene black. — An introduced weed, abundant
near settlements.
CHENOPODIACEAE. Goosefoot Family.
Weedy herbs with alternate leaves, no stipules, and minute
greenish flowers. Ovary 1-celled, becoming a dry 1-seeded
fruit. In our single genus the flowers are sessile in small
dense bractless clusters, the persistent calyx is 5-parted, and
the stamens are 5 in number.
1. CHENOPODIUM. Goosefoot. Pigweed.
1. C. album L. Lamb’s Quarters. Pigweed. An erect
simple-stemmed white-mealy annual, 1 or 2 ft. high. Leaves
ovate to lanceolate, mostly angulate-toothed, the blade 1 or
2 in. long. Flower-clusters in panicled spikes. — An introduced
weed of waste places. C. murale L., with coarsely toothed,
bright-green leaves, on much-branched stems, is also to be
expected.
2. C. botrys L. Jerusalem Oak. An erect very gland¬
ular greenish annual, 3 in. to 1 ft. high, simple or branched
from the base. Leaves oblong, pinnatifid into oblong angular
lobes, y2 to 1 y2 in. long. Flower-clusters in narrow leafless
panicles. — Introduced weed found in Yosemite Valley; the
herbage noticeably glandular and aromatic.
AMARANTHACEAE. Amaranth Family.
Weedy herbs with alternate leaves, no stipules, and minute
PURSLANE FAMILY
84
flowers each between 3 dry and rigid sharp-pointed bracts.
In our single genus the stamens are 5 or 3 and the 1-seeded
fruit is 2 or 3-beaked at apex.
1. AMARANTHUS. Amaranth.
1. A. graecizans L. Tumble Weed. A coarse diffusely
branched annual, 1 or 2 ft. high, the stems smooth and
whitish. Leaves obovate or spatulate, very obtuse, white-
veined, 1 in. or less long, slender-petioled. Flowers crowded
in the upper leaf-axils. Sepals 3. (A. albus L.) — A common
introduced weed of the plains, reaching our lower valleys.
Other species are also to be expected, especially A. calif ornicus
Wats., known by its nearly prostrate stems and single sepal
to the fertile flowers.
PORTULACACEAE. Purslane Family.
Low herbs with succulent entire leaves and regular flowers.
Ovary free from the calyx, becoming a many-seeded capsule.
Capsule breaking crosswise at maturity; stamens 5 to numerous. 1. Lewisia.
Capsule splitting longitudinally; stamens 3 or 5.
Flowers in racemes or scattered . 2. Montia.
Flowers in close coiled spikes; stamens long-exserted . 3. Spraguea.
1. LEWISIA. Bitter-root.
Herbs with thick perennial roots (slender stems from a
corm in L. triphylla ) and fleshy linear leaves. Sepals 2 to 8.
Petals 3 to 16. Style-branches 3 to 8. Capsule thin, the upper
part splitting off as a cap at maturity.
Leaves short, not exceeding the fully opened flowers . 1. L. rediviva.
Leaves exceeding the flowers.
Leaves all basal, a pair of short bracts on the stem.
Sepals entire, % in. or more long . 2. L. nevadensis.
Sepals glandular-toothed, less than in. long . 3. L. pygmaea.
Leaves 2 to 5 in a whorl midway of the stem . 4. L. triphylla.
1. L. rediviva var. yosemitana K. Brandegee. Yosemite
Bitter-root. Leaves thick and fleshy, spatulate or narrowly
oblong, mostly y2 to 1 in. long, crowded on the summit of
a thick fleshy root. Flowers solitary and terminal on short
erect stalks, overtopping the leaves when fully opened.
Sepals mostly 2 to 4, oblong, acute, pinkish, glandular-
margined. Petals 4 to 12, white, probably varying to rose-
color, y2 to 24 in- Ions'- Stamens 15 to 22. Style-branches
4 or 5.
The Bitter-root, which is said to be used by the Indians
for food, is of wide distribution in western North America,
PURSLANE FAMILY
85
but the Yosemite variety is one of our most local and rare
forms. It was first collected, “somewhere about Yosemite
Valley,” in 1891 by Mrs. Willie F. Dodd. Then, after a
period of twenty years, it was re-discovered by members of
the Sierra Club party of 1911, who brought it in from the
Lewisia rediviva yosemitana Lewisia pygmaea
summit of Mt. Watkins and from the crown of El Capitan.
This material and the field notes taken by Professor Jepson,
one of the collectors, indicate that our form is an exceedingly
variable one. The flower-stalks are jointed only near the
base and are apparently without bracts, while in the type
material, as described by Mrs. Brandegee, the stalks were
jointed and bracted near the summit, from which the flowers
promptly fell at maturity. There is also a wide variation
in the number of flower-parts, indicating that this is only a
variety of L. rediviva, which differs chiefly in its larger size
and greater number of sepals, petals, stamens, and style-
branches. Aside from its botanical interest, which centers
around its remarkable variability, the Bitter-root has an in¬
teresting history. Its generic name was given in honor of
Captain Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedi¬
tion, while its common name has more recently been used
to designate an important mountain range in Montana, where
!it has been adopted as the State Flower. The specific name,
rediviva, was applied because of the plant’s power to revive after
long periods of drought. Specimens uprooted for several
days have been known to unfold their flowers when placed
in water.
86
PURSLANE FAMILY
2. L. nevadensis Rob. Leaves several from the globular
or somewhat elongated thick root, linear, 2 to 5 in. long,
commonly exceeding the flower-stalk. Sepals 2, not gland¬
ular. Petals 6 to 8, white, about J4 in. long. Stamens 10 to
12. Styles 4 or 5. ( Calandrinia nevadensis Gray. Oreobroma
nevadensis Howell.)
The thick, fleshy petals, often suffused with pink, render
this plant quite conspicuous in low, moist places, notwith¬
standing its low stature. It grows in moist soil along meadow
borders at altitudes of 5000 to at least 9000 ft., as on Ascen¬
sion Mt., and in Stubblefield Canon.
3. L. pygmaea Rob. Pygmy Lewisia. Leaves numerous,
from the summit of a carrot-like root, linear, y2 to 2 or 3 in.
long, mostly exceeding the flower-stalks. Sepals 2, the margin
with a row of purple glands. Petals 6 to 8, white or rose-red,
about y in. long. ( Calandrinia pygmaea Gray. Oreobroma
pygmaea Howell.)
This attractive little plant, usually recognized in its fresh
state by the purple-fringed sepals, is encountered only near
timber-line (Snow Flat, Mt. Dana, etc.), where it often grows
in soil kept moist by melting banks of snow.
4. L. triphylla Rob. Stems slender, 1 to several, from a
globose corm. Leaves a pair or a whorl of 3 to 5 midway of
the stem, linear, y2 to 2 y2 in. long. Flowers on slender
pedicels. Sepals 2, entire. Petals 14 in* or less long.
( Claytonia triphylla Wats. Oreobroma triphylla Howell.)
The classification of this delicate plant has given botanists
no end of trouble, but because of the crosswise splitting of
its capsules it seems to belong in this genus. The flowers,
although somewhat fleshy, are very dainty, being of a light-
pink color. The species is well distributed in the mountains
and grows in moist soil.
2. MONTIA.
Fibrous-rooted succulent herbs. Sepals 2, rounded, com¬
monly a little unequal. Petals 5 or fewer. Stamens 3 to 5.
Capsule 3-valved, opening down the sides; seeds 2 to 5.
( Claytonia , of some authors.)
Flowering stems with a single pair of leaves united into a
disk . 1. M. perfoliata.
Flowering stems with opposite leaves
Petals equal, much exceeding the sepals . 2. M. chamissoi.
Petals unequal, scarcely exceeding the sepals . 3. M. fontana.
Flowering stems with alternate leaves.
Stamens S; stems simple . 4. M. parvifolia.
Stamens 3; stems erect, branched . 5. M. linearis.
PURSLANE FAMILY
87
1. M. perfoliata Howell. Miner’s Lettuce. Plant y2 to 1
ft. high, not producing runners. Basal leaves numerous, the
earliest linear, the later varying to ovate or orbicular or
even kidney-shaped and on petioles 2 to 8 in. long; stem-
leaves a single pair united into a disk beneath the raceme of
small white or pinkish flowers. Petals y in. long, twice as
long as the sepals. — Abundant everywhere except at very
high altitudes, passing into many peculiar forms, often much
reduced and delicate.
M. spathulata Howell, is similar to no. 1 but with stem-
leaves distinct, or somewhat united on one side, nearly equal¬
ling the short flower-cluster. — Reported from the Yosemite.
2. M. chamissoi D. & J. Stems with slender runners
which bury themselves and produce bulblets. Leaves op¬
posite, in several pairs, oblong-spatulate, 1 to 3 in. long
including the narrowed base (whole plant much reduced in
Alpine forms, sometimes only y2 in. high). Flowers 1 to 9,
on slender pedicels which spread or recurve in fruit. Petals
pale rose-color or nearly white, y in. long, much exceeding
the sepals. (M. chamissonis Greene.) — Wet, meadowy or
mossy places: Crane Flat; Yosemite Valley; Tuolumne
Meadows.
/
3. M. fontana L. Water Montia. Stems slender, 2 to 6
in. long, often rooting from the joints. Leaves opposite,
narrow, y to y in. long. Flowers few, the pedicels becom¬
ing recurved. Petals minute, white, united at base. — Of wide
distribution, a diminutive form occurring at Yosemite Falls.
4. M. parvifolia Greene. Stems fine and thread-like, r/2 to
1 ft. long, often reclining and running. Leaves alternate;
the lower obovate or oblanceolate, 2 in. or less long includ¬
ing the petiole; middle and upper leaves scarce, only y to y2
in. long, sessile, linear-lanceolate. Flowers few, racemose, the
pedicels becoming reflexed. Petals rose-color to white, to
y2 in. long, much exceeding the sepals. — On moist rocks
around Yosemite Valley, etc. Bulblets are found in the
leaf-axils, but drop off in drying.
5. M. linearis Greene. Stems erect, usually much branched,
3 to 6 in. high, annual. Leaves alternate, linear, y2 to 2 in.
long, sessile by a broad base. Flowers in racemes, the
pedicels y2 in. or less long, recurving in fruit. Sepals round¬
ish, blunt, white-margined. Petals white, unequal. Stamens
3. — Known in our district only from near Camp Curry,
Yosemite Valley, where it was found in 1911 by Miss H. A.
Walker.
88
PINK FAMILY
3. SPRAGUEA.
1. S. umbellata Torr. Pussy-paws. Leaves 1 to 3 in. long,
spatulate, obtuse, thick, those on the flower-stalks much re¬
duced. Flowers in terminal clusters of coiled spikes, forming
close heads or open panicles. Sepals and bracts papery, rose-
tinged, equalling the 4 rose or whitish petals. Stamens 3,
exserted. (C a lyp iridium umbellatum Greene.)
The chaffy flower-clusters of this plant are borne on nearly
naked stalks, which rise 4 to 12 in. high from a rosette of
basal leaves on a strong taproot. It is common in sandy soil
throughout the mountains, becoming perennial, with a thick
root, and much dwarfed at high altitudes. This pygmy form
is the var. caudicifera Gray. Mr. Grinnell, the zoologist, tells
us that the Pussy-paws is greatly appreciated by chipmunks.
These little animals shell out the minute, black seeds with
wonderful dexterity and after filling their cheek pouches,
carry the booty to hiding places, where it is presumably
stored up for winter use. As many as 750 of these seeds,
perfectly clean and free from chaff, have been found in the
cheek-pouches of a single chipmunk.
CARYOPHYLLACEAE. Pink Family.
Herbs with mostly thickened nodes, simple entire opposite
leaves, and regular flowers. Sepals and petals 5 or 4 (or
petals wanting), the stamens as many or twice as many.
Ovary superior, 1-celled, with 2 to 5 styles, becoming a
several or many-seeded capsule.
Sepals united; petals clawed . 1. Silene.
Sepals distinct; petals without claws.
Styles 5; petals notched; plants 4 to 12 in. high . 2. Cerastium.
Styles 3 or 4; petals parted nearly to base or absent; plants
4 in. or more high . 3. Stellaria.
Styles 3; petals entire. (Styles 3 or 4 and plant very low
in A. compacta .) . 4. Arenaria.
Styles 4 or 5; petals minute and nearly entire or absent;
plants less than 4 in. high . 5. Sagina.
1. SILENE. Catch-fly. Campion.
Annual and perennial large-flowered herbs. Calyx tubular
or inflated, 5-toothed. Petals 5, narrowed below to a claw,
which usually bears near its summit an entire or cleft scale.
Stamens 10. Styles 3 or 4.
Annual with pale flowers; a homely weed . 1. S. antirrhina.
Perennial with bright-red showy flowers . 2. 5. calif or nica.
Perennials with white or pale-rose flowers.
PINK FAMILY
89
Flowers mostly nodding.
Petals cleft into 4 narrow lobes . 3. S. lemmonii.
Petals cleft into 2 lobes . 4. S. bridgesii.
Flowers strictly erect.
Leaves ovate or lanceolate . 5. S.mensiesii.
Leaves linear, forming mats . 6. S. watsonii.
1. S. antirrhina L. Sleepy Catchfly. Leaves oblong-
lanceolate or linear, about 1 in. long. Flowers small, pink
or red, erect. Petals scarcely exserted from the calyx,
notched.
This erect, sparingly branched weed (1 ft. or so high) has
smooth stems except that the middle of each upper internode
is sticky. It grows in the Yosemite and doubtless in other
of the lower valleys.
2. S. californica Dur. Indian Pink. Leaves lanceolate or
broadly elliptic, narrowed to a sessile base, 1 to 3 in. long.
Flowers 1 in. long, deep red, erect. Petals with 2 broad lobes
flanked by 2 narrow ones. Stamens and styles exserted.
Seeds covered with minute protuberances.
The stems of this plant rarely rise more than 6 to 12 in.
above the ground but are sometimes much taller. They are
from thick, perennial roots and, like the leaves, are finely
pubescent. The strikingly handsome flowers are occasionally
seen on shaded hillsides along our lower borders, as at
Hodgdon Ranch, Hites Cove, Wawona Road near Eight-
mile, etc.
3. S. lemmonii Wats. Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate,
acute, usually shorter than the internodes on flowering stems.
Flowers La to 24 in- long* mostly nodding, solitary or in clus¬
ters of 2 or 3 along the upper part of the stem. Petals white
or pale rose, cleft into 4 linear segments, the claw with 2
narrow appendages. Styles much exceeding corolla.
This is by far the most common Catchfly at middle altitudes
and is at once recognized in the field by the drooping flowers
and finely fringe-cut petals. The stems are branching and
leafy at base and 1 to 2 ft. high.
4. S. bridgesii Wats. Habit and general characters of
S. lemmonii, from which it may be distinguished by the petals
which are cleft into only 2 segments. — Yosemite Valley is the
type locality of this species, reported also from Snow Creek
and Mt. Dana.
5. S. menziesii Hook. Stems weak, 2 in. to 2 ft. high, very
leafy throughout. Leaves mostly longer than the internodes,
broadly lanceolate to ovate, acute at each end, the upper
leaves scarcely smaller. Flowers Y\ to in. long, in a leafy-
PINK FAMILY
90
bracted panicle (solitary in dwarf specimens). Petals white,
cleft into 2 segments and often with a pair of small scales on
the claw, about equalled by the style. — Not common: Yo-
semite Valley; slopes west of Mono Lake.
6. S. watsonii Rob. Plant with many slender erect stems,
10 in. or less high, from a compact leafy base, finely glandular.
Leaves narrowly linear, ^ to 2 in. long. Flowers J/2 to Y in-
long, strictly erect, solitary or few, terminal. Petals white
or rose-color, the short blade with 2 lobes, each lobe usually
with a short lateral tooth, the claw with obtuse appendages. —
Of high altitudes; known by the straight stems, each termin¬
ated by a large erect flower.
S. douglasii Hook., of the Tahoe district and northward,
may be known, if found, by its narrow leaves and tall, nearly
glabrous stems each bearing 1 to 3 large, erect flowers.
2. CERASTIUM. Mouse-ear Chickweed.
Pubescent branching herbs with sessile leaves and no sti¬
pules. Sepals and petals 5 each, the latter white and notched
or cleft. Stamens 10 or 5. Styles 3. Capsule becoming
longer than the calyx, 10-toothed at apex.
1. C. viscosum L. Mouse-ear Chickweed. Leaves ovate
to elliptic, Yz to 1 in. long. Flowers white, small, on short
pedicels. Petals not longer than sepals (scarcely Y in-)-
Stamens 10, 5 of them without anthers. — A homely annual
weed, 4 to 12 in. high, in fields and along roadsides.
2. C. arvense L. Field Chickweed. Leaves linear, nar¬
rowly lanceolate, acute, to 1^2 in. long. Flowers several in
each terminal cluster, erect, long-pediceled. Petals white,
twice as long as sepals, deeply notched. — A leafy-based per¬
ennial, often matted, 4 to 8 in. high, growing in the crevices
of rocks along the Ledge Trail, at Vernal Falls, etc.
3. STELLARIA.
Low herbs, with numerous flat leaves and white slender-
pediceled flowers. Leaves entire (crisped in one species),
sessile. Sepals and petals 5 each, the latter always bifid or
divided into 2 lobes, rarely wanting. Stamens 3 to 10. Styles
3 or 4. ( Alsine .)
Petals shorter than the sepals, or wanting; stems weak.
Leaves broad, long-petioled . 1. S. media.
Leaves sessile or nearly so.
Flowers from the axils of very narrow bracts . 2. S. nitens.
Flowers in terminal umbels . 3. .S', umbellata.
Flowers from the axils of broad leaves . 4. S. crispa.
PINK FAMILY
91
Petals exceeding the sepals; stems erect.
Herbage nearly glabrous . 5. S. longipes.
Herbage glandular . 6. A. jamesii.
1. S. media Cyr. Common Chickweed. Stems weak, often
reclining, marked with a pubescent line. Leaves ovate, acute,
narrowed to a slender petiole, or the upper narrower and
sessile. Flowers on slender pedicels which become deflexed
in fruit. Petals shorter than sepals. — A weed, introduced
around the settlements.
2. S. nitens Nutt. Stems very slender, 4 to 12 in. high,
from an annual root, shining and nearly glabrous. Leaves
mostly linear-lanceolate, acute, *4 to /4 long, sessile (the
very lowest smaller and petioled). Flowers on long ascend¬
ing pedicels from the axils of minute whitish bracts. Sepals
white-edged, tapering to sharp points, the petals much shorter
or wanting. — A low-altitude plant, found at Vernal Falls.
3. S. umbellata Turcz. Stems smooth, weak, ascending
from a prostrate base. Leaves lanceolate or elliptic, *4 to Y\
in. long. Flowers umbellate, i. e., several from the summit of
each branch, the spreading pedicels J4 to 1*4 in. long and
short-bracted at base. Petals minute or none. ( Alsine baical-
ensis Cov.). — Soda Springs of the Tuolumne, and perhaps
elsewhere at high altitudes.
4. S. crispa C. & S. Stems numerous, weak, often re¬
clining, glabrous, 1 to 3 ft. long. Leaves thin, ovate, usually
crisped on the edges, acute, ^4 to 2 in. long. Flowers solitary
from the leaf-axils, on pedicels % to 2 in. long. Petals shorter
than sepals or none. — In meadows and other grassy places.
5. S. longipes Goldie. Stems numerous, slender, erect, 6
to 15 in. high, from running rootstocks, the whole plant
smooth and nearly glabrous. Leaves linear-lanceolate, very
acute, *4 in. to 1 in. long. Flowers solitary or loosely clus¬
tered, on pedicels of various lengths. Petals white, 2-parted
to below the middle, longer than sepals.
This is perhaps our most common Stellaria. It grows
throughout the Yellow Pine Belt in moist or grassy places.
When shaded by other plants its stems and leaves are much
longer and more slender than in the ordinary form.
6. S. jamesii Torr. Stems erect, strongly angled, usually
6 to 12 in. high, pubescent and viscid above. Leaves lance¬
olate, slenderly acute, 1 to 2*4 in. long. Flowers on short
pedicels (1 in. or less) in leafy panicles. Petals white, 2-cleft
above the middle, equalling or longer than sepals. — Not rare
ip shaded places of the Yellow Pine Belt.
92
PINK FAMILY
4. ARENARIA. Sandwort.
Low branching annuals and perennials with linear sessile
leaves without stipules. Sepals and petals 5 each, the latter
white and entire. Stamens 10. Styles 3.
Petals shorter than the rigidly sharp-pointed sepals; leafy
glandular perennial . 1. A. nuttallii.
Petals longer than the sepals.
Plant perennial, with more or less woody base.
Compact Alpine plant, not 3 in. high . 2. A. comp acta.
Taller, more loosely branched.
Flowers on long pedicels; stems branched throughout. .3. A. capillaris.
Flowers in small heads; stems simple above the leafy
base . 4. A. congesta.
Plant annual; flowers showy, on naked pedicels . 5. A. douglasii.
1. A. nuttallii Pax. Stems leafy, numerous and matted,
from a thick perennial root, 2 to 6 in. high, glandular. Leaves
rigid, sharply pointed, about 54 in- long. Flowers short-pedi-
celed, in green leafy-bracted clusters. Sepals with strong
midrib, rigidly sharp-pointed. Capsule with 3 entire valves. —
To be expected at more than middle altitudes. The form with
leaves less rigid, scarcely spreading or pungent, and very
attenuate sepals 54 in- long is the var. gracilis Rob.
2. A. compacta Coville. Stems much branched and leafy,
forming dense mats only an inch or two high, from a thick
woody root. Leaves awl-like, less than 54 in- long, minutely
hairy. Flowers terminal on short naked pedicels, small.
Sepals acute, green only in the middle, shorter than the
petals. — Alpine plant from Mt. Dana, near Bloody Canon,
and the Mt. Whitney district.
3. A. capillaris Poir. Stems erect from a branching per¬
ennial base, densely leafy below, 3 to 8 in. high. Leaves
rigid, sharp-pointed; the lower in dense fascicles, 54 to 1 in.
or more long; upper in pairs, shorter. Pedicels glandular,
mostly 54 to 24 in. long, the flowers therefore scattered.
Sepals obtuse or barely acute. Capsule with usually 3 toothed
valves.
This Arenaria grows on nearly all of the domes and
gravelly summits from El Capitan and Sentinel Dome to Mt.
Conness, etc. The leafy portion is often very compact, espe¬
cially in plants of high altitudes, and the old branches are
woody and scaly with dry leaves of previous years.
4. A. congesta Nutt. Perennial and branching at the
densely leafy base, the simple erect stems 6 to 12 in. high.
Leaves rigid, sharp; the lower fascicled, 54 to 2 in. long;
WATER LILY FAMILY
93
upper opposite, shorter. Pedicels glabrous, % in. or less long,
the flowers therefore in terminal head-like clusters. Sepals
acute. Capsule normally with 3 toothed valves.
Although this Arenaria is common both north and south of
the Yosemite, it has been reported but once from within the
Park. It inhabits loose soil at more than middle altitudes.
The var. suffrutescens Rob. has woody stems *4 in- thick and
long pedicels, the flowers in umbels. Var. subcongesta Wats,
has flowers in expanded branching clusters.
5. A. douglasii Fenzl. A nearly glabrous much-branched
annual, 2 to 8 in. high. Leaves filiform, not rigid, % to l in.
long. Flowers numerous, on spreading naked pedicels, larger
than in other species (over J4 in. across). Sepals acutish,
narrowly thin-margined. Capsule with 3 entire valves. — In
loose soil of open places, mostly at less than 4500 ft. alt.; our
only annual species.
5. SAGINA. Pearlwort.
Diminutive annual and biennial herbs with narrowly linear
or filiform exstipulate leaves and minute long-pediceled
flowers. Petals white and shorter than the sepals, or wanting.
Styles 4 or 5. Capsule 1-celled.
1. S. apetala Ard. Stems nearly erect, not matted. Pedi¬
cels from the leaf-axils and terminal, minutely glandular,
straight. Flower-parts mostly in 4’s. Petals minute or want¬
ing. — Yosemite Valley near Stoneman Bridge.
2. S. occidentals Wats. Stems loosely branched, spread¬
ing. Pedicels axillary and terminal, glabrous, straight.
Flower-parts in 5’s. Petals nearly equalling the sepals. — To
be expected.
3. S. linnaei Presl. Stems densely matted, 3 in. or less
high. Pedicels all terminal, glabrous, often becoming bent
or recurved at summit. Flower-parts in 5’s. Petals nearly
equalling the sepals. — Yosemite Valley near Pohono Bridge
and Happy Isles.
NYMPHAEACEAE. Water Lily Family.
Aquatic perennial herbs with horizontal rootstocks and
large floating leaves. Represented with us by a single, large-
flowered species.
1. NYMPHAEA. Water Lily.
1. N. polysepalum Engelm. Indian Pond Lily. Floating
leaves 8 to 12 in. long, 6 to 9 in. broad, with rounded basal
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
94
lobes and a closed sinus. Calyx cup-shaped, 2^4 to 4 in.
across; sepals 7 to 12, yellow and petal-like, or the outer
greenish. Petals 12 to 18, in. long and resembling stamens.
Stamens with dark-red anthers but yellow pollen. Fruit
nearly globose, with narrow neck and concave summit.
The Water Lily is a conspicuous inhabitant of quiet ponds
from Lake Eleanor and Hetch Hetchy to the Yosemite, Eagle
Peak Meadows, etc. The round leaves, known as lily pads,
float on the surface of the water, above which the stout pedi¬
cels carry the thick-sepaled, yellow flowers. The Klamath
Indians, of Oregon, roast the seeds, which they call wokas,
and eat them either dry, as we do popcorn, which they much
resemble in taste, or as a porridge or bread after they have
been ground into a meal (Coville).
RANUNCULACEAE. Buttercup Family.
Crowfoot Family.
Herbs with alternate or basal leaves (except Clematis, a
climber with opposite leaves), and without true stipules.
Flower-parts all free and distinct. Sepals often petal-like.
Petals sometimes wanting. Stamens mostly numerous. Pis¬
tils 1 to many, superior, 1-celled, each bearing a single style,
maturing into dry fruits or berries.
A. Flowers without spurs or hoods, the sepals and petals all flat
or concave.
Leaves compound.
Flowers white, in. across; leaves opposite . 1. Clematis.
Flowers white, very small; leaves alternate . 8. Actaea.
Flowers greenish, very small; leaves alternate . 2. Thalictrum.
Leaves simple, entire or lobed.
Sepals 5, green or white; petals yellow or white or re¬
duced to greenish glands . 3. Ranunculus.
Sepals 6 to 9, white or blue; petals none . 4. Caltha.
B. Flowers either with 1 or more slender spurs or helmet-shaped.
Petals 5, continued backward as slender spurs . 5. Aquilegia.
Petals 4, unlike; upper sepal continued backward as a spur. 6. Delphinium.
Petals 2; upper sepal continued upward as a helmet-shaped
hood . 7. Aconitum.
1. CLEMATIS. Virgin’s Bower.
1. C. ligusticifolia Nutt. Leaves opposite, compound;
leaflets 5 to 7, ovate, broad at base, irregularly toothed, 1 to 3
in. long. Sepals 4, petal-like, in. long. Petals none. Sta¬
mens numerous. Akenes many, the feathery tails very con¬
spicuous in fruit.
The stems of this Virgin’s Bower clamber over bushes and
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
95
trees by the aid of their leaf-stalks, thus making more con¬
spicuous the showy flowers, which are borne in clusters on
long peduncles from the upper leaf-axils. It belongs to low
altitudes but reaches Wawona and the Hetch Hetchy.
2. THALICTRUM. Meadow-rue.
1. T. fendleri Engelm. Leaves glabrous, alternate, com¬
pound to thrice compound (leaflets with rounded lobes), the
3 to 5 basal ones with long petioles dilated at insertion, the
uppermost sessile. Flowers on leafy stems, staminate and pis¬
tillate on different plants. Sepals greenish, falling early.
Petals none. Stamens many; filaments thread-like; anthers
linear, attached at base. Akenes 5 to 15, sessile, swollen on
one side, about % in. long, tapering to the slender persist¬
ent style.
The fern-like leaves of the Meadow-rue are borne on
smooth, perennial stems 1 to 3 ft. high. The numerous,
greenish, staminate flowers are like so many tassels suspended
from the branches of a loose panicle. It grows in moist
places at all altitudes below timber-line. T. polycarpum Wats,
is a related species of the foothills, and reported from Yo-
semite Valley, distinguished by its very numerous akenes
each about % in. long.
3. RANUNCULUS. Buttercup. Crowfoot.
Herbaceous fibrous-rooted perennials with yellow or white
flowers. Sepals and petals 5 to 15 each, the latter with a small
nectar-bearing pit at base or reduced to scales. Pistils numer¬
ous, developing into a globular or oblong head of akenes.
Flowers white; leaves finely dissected; aquatic . 1. R. aquatilis.
Flowers white; leaves roundish, lobed . 2. R. hystriculus.
Flowers yellow.
Leaves entire.
Stems creeping, rooting from the nodes . 4. R. Hammula.
Stems not rooting from the nodes . 5. R. alismaefolius.
Leaves lobed or parted.
Plant 9 in. or less high, glabrous.
Flower-stalk naked . 3. R. cymbalaria.
Flower-stalk leafy-bracted . 6. R. oxynotus.
Plant 1 to 2 ft. high, pubescent.
Akenes (seed-bodies) round, with short incurved
beak . 7. R. calif ornicus.
Akenes ovate, with long straight beak . 8. R. orthorhynchus.
1. R. aquatilis L. Water Buttercup. Leaves roundish, the
submersed ones divided into many thread-like divisions.
Flowers white, with yellowish centers, short-stalked and as
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
96
though floating. Sepals 5, early falling. Petals 5, scarcely
Y % in. long. Akenes rough. — In ponds near Crockers.
2. R. hystriculus Gray. Leaves mostly from the base, on
petioles 2 to 5 in. long; the blade nearly orbicular, y2 to 2 y2 in.
across, with several rounded and bluntly toothed lobes.
Stems 4 to 10 in. high, bearing only 1 or 2 flowers. Sepals 5,
y to y. in. long but unequal, white. Petals reduced to green¬
ish scale-like nectaries. Styles hooked. Akenes thin, papery,
loosely investing the small seed.
This flaccid, glabrous perennial grows on shaded rocks and
ledges kept moist by seeping water or spray from waterfalls,
and is rare except near the Yosemite, where it has been found
at Vernal, Royal Arch, Staircase and Nevada falls, and in Lit¬
tle Yosemite Valley. It is so unlike the other buttercups,
especially in its reduced petals and almost bladdery seed-
bodies, that some botanists place it in a genus ( Kumlienia )
by itself.
3. R. cymbalaria Pursh. Sea-side Crowfoot. Rarely over
6 in. high, some stems creeping and rooting, the flowers soli¬
tary on naked stalks. Leaves glabrous, succulent, roundish,
coarsely few-toothed, y to y in. across, long-petioled. Petals
5 to 9, yellow, y in. or less long. Akenes numerous, in an
oblong head. — Moist or salty soil, of northern regions almost
around the globe. Appears at Tuolumne Meadows in the
var. alpina Hook., a lowr form with small, 3-toothed leaves.
4. R. flammula var. reptans E. Meyer. Small glabrous
creeping perennial, 2 to 4 in. high, the flower-stalks terminat¬
ing in single flowers. Leaves mostly basal, with long petioles;
blade y to 1 in. long, linear to lanceolate. Petals obovate,
less than *4 in* long, yellow. — Wet meadows in Hetch Hetchy
and Yosemite valleys, along the Pohono Trail, etc.
5. R. alismaefolius Geyer. A glabrous perennial, 3 in. to
1 ft. high, the flower-stalks bearing solitary or few long-pedi-
celed flowers. Leaves mostly near the base, long-petioled;
blade lanceolate to oblong, y2 to 2 in. long; upper leaves
linear, sessile. Petals obovate, from scarcely y to y in.
long, deep yellow, shining. — In moist soil at Hetch Hetchy
Valley, White Wolf, Snow Flat, Vogelsang Pass, Smedberg
Lake, etc. The common form with leaves mostly ovate, or
even cordate, and small flowers is var. alismellus Gray, the
original specimens of which came from Lake Tenaya and Mt.
Dana.
6. R. oxynotus Gray. Alpine Buttercup. Stems closely
compacted at base, sheathed by brown remnants of the pre-
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
97
vious year, seldom more than 6 in. high, the flowers solitary
on leafy-bracted stalks. Leaves glabrous; the lower long-
petioled, roundish, y to 1 in. across, with 5 to 9 roundish or
oblong obtuse lobes or teeth; upper leaves sessile, fan¬
shaped, parted into narrow lobes. Sepals glabrous to shaggy-
pubescent. Petals obovate, yellow, y to y2 in. long. — Near
snow banks above timber-line on Clouds Rest, Mt. Lyell,
Vogelsang Pass, Piute Mt., etc.
7. R. californicus Benth. Common Buttercup. Lower
leaves long-petioled, divided or parted, the lobes coarsely and
sharply toothed; upper leaves few, entire or with few lobes.
Petals mostly 5 (5 to 15), spatulate, deep glossy yellow, y to
y2 in. long, short-clawed. Akenes roundish, glabrous, each
with a minute curved beak.
The Common Buttercup is a pubescent, loosely branched
plant, 1 to 2 ft. high, wTith numerous flowers in an open pani¬
cle. It is common around dry meadows at the lower alti¬
tudes, especially in the Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite, and Wawona
districts.
R. tenellus Nutt, is to be expected at low altitudes. It may
be distinguished from no. 7 by the more slender beak of the
hairy akene, the petals never more than 5.
8. R. orthorhynchus Hook. Lower leaves divided into 3
or 5 broad coarsely toothed leaflets; upper leaves small,
merely lobed and toothed. Petals mostly 5, oblong, yellow,
y2 to in. long, sessile. Akenes ovate, margined, the nearly
straight beak as long as the body.
In wet meadows near Hetch Hetchy Valley, in upper Yo¬
semite Valley, and at other low altitudes this coarse, strongly
pubescent plant may be found in abundance, often growing
with the Common Buttercup. It is commonly 1 to 1 y2 ft.
high.
4. CALTHA. Marsh Marigold.
1. C. biflora DC. Smooth glabrous perennial from a fasci¬
cle of fibrous roots, the simple leaves all basal and the white
or blue flowers terminating naked peduncles. Leaves fleshy,
round-reniform, wavy-margined or bluntly toothed, 1 to 4 in.
across, long petioled. Flower-stalks 4 to 12 in. high. Sepals
6 to 9, y2 to % in. long. Petals none.
Associated with the Shooting-star, this round-leaved herb
often occupies half-boggy places at high altitudes, as along
the swales just south of Glacier Point, or it may grow along
moist, grassy stream banks, as at Snow Flat. It is often
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
98
called “Cowslip” but that name rightly belongs to certain
European Primulas. The tender herbage is sometimes used
as a salad.
5. AQUILEGIA. Columbine.
Perennial branching herbs with compound leaves and
brightly colored flowers in loose leafy-bracted panicles. Sepals
5, oblong or oval. Petals 5, produced backward into con¬
spicuous hollow spurs. Pistil of 5 carpels developing into 5
distinct follicles.
1. A. truncata F. & M. Plant 1 to 3 ft. high, glabrous, or
slightly pubescent above. Basal leaves on long petioles, twice
ternately compound; leaflets deeply and obtusely lobed.
Flowers red, with yellow centers, usually nodding. Spurs
24 to 1 in. long; sepals somewhat shorter.
This is the well known Columbine of the Coast Ranges
where, however, it is scarcely more common than with us.
Its showy flowers nod to one from nearly every moist hill¬
side, from the foothills well up toward the Alpine Zone.
The incurved tips of the spurs contain nectar, which, of
course, can be reached only by animals with long tongues.
Hummingbirds sometimes visit them and probably aid in
cross-pollination while sipping the nectar. Bees, as though
less conscientious in regard to paying for their meals, some¬
times cut through the spurs with their mandibles and thus
obtain the nectar, notwithstanding the handicap of their short
tongues.
2. A. pubescens Coville. Plant 18 in. or less high, minutely
pubescent on growing parts. Leaves similar to A. truncata
but smaller. Flowers yellow, with a tinge of pink, usually
erect. Spurs 1 to V/2 in. long.
This is even more handsome than our common species and
the flowers, with long downwardly pointing spurs, are much
larger. But it is restricted to the neighborhood of timber-
line, having been collected in our district only on Mt. Dana
and at Mono Pass. It ranges southward to Mineral King,
Mt. Whitney, etc.
6. DELPHINIUM. Larkspur.
Perennial herbs with palmately divided leaves and blue or
whitish flowers in terminal racemes. Sepals 5, colored, the
upper one produced backward as a spur. Petals 4, the upper
pair developed backward within the calyx-spur. Stamens
numerous. Pistils 3, becoming many-seeded pods.
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
99
Flowers in dense racemes; stout plants with tapering roots.
Leaves perfectly glabrous; moist places.
Stems 3 to 6 ft. high; leaves 3 to 5 in. wide . 1. D. glaucum.
Stems 1 to 2J4 ft. high; leaves smaller . 2. D. andersonii.
Leaves very pubescent, especially the petioles; dry
places . 3. D. hansenii.
Flowers in very loose racemes; slender plants with round¬
ish tuber-like roots, except no. 6.
Flowers blue.
Leaf-lobes oblong or obovate, obtuse . 4. D. decorum.
Leaf-lobes linear, acute . 5. D . paucidorum.
Flowers red . 6. D. nudicaule.
1. D. glaucum Wats. Tall Mountain Larkspur. Leaves
glabrous, of orbicular outline, 3 to 5 in. wide, 5 to 7-parted
into narrowly cleft divisions. Flowers blue, the close raceme
6 to 18 in. long; pedicels mostly y in. long (the lowest \y2
in.). Sepals and spur each about y2 in. long. Pods y2 in.
long, not diverging.
The very robust, leafy stem, 3 to 6 ft. high, from a cluster
of thickish but not tuber-like roots readily distinguishes this,
the largest of all our larkspurs. It inhabits stream banks and
wet meadows but is by no means common.
2. D. andersonii Gray. Similar to D. glaucum but smaller;
stems rarely 3 ft. high; leaves 3 in. or less wide, cut into
broad obtuse lobes; spur y2 to y in. long, much longer than
the sepals. — Immature plants from Table Lake, north of the
Tuolumne River, seem to be this.
3. D. hansenii Greene. Leaves pubescent, cleft into oblong
or linear segments. Flowers pink or white, in a dense raceme,
the pedicels mostly y in. long. Sepals about y in. long,
exceeded by the spur (spur strongly curved in var. arcuatum
Greene). Pods erect.
The stout, inconspicuously leafy stems of this species, end¬
ing in racemes of pale, pinkish flowers, are common sights
in fairly dry situations of moderate altitudes, as from the
Hetch Hetchy to Yosemite and Wawona. It grows ll/2 to 3
ft. high, from a cluster of thick, tapering roots.
4. D. decorum var. patens Gray. Leaves obscurely pubes¬
cent, 1 to 3 in. wide; the lower deeply 3 to 6-lobed; divisions
obovate or oblong, obtuse, entire or slightly lobed; upper
leaves with narrow segments. Flowers blue, the raceme 3 to
8 in. long. Sepals about y2 in. long, equalled by the thick
spur. Pods diverging from below the middle.
This common larkspur, with slender stems ( y2 to 2 y2 ft.
high) from a cluster of tuber-like roots, few leaves, and a
loose cluster of deep-blue flowers, occurs almost throughout
100
BUTTERCUP FAMILY
the lower part of the Yellow Pine Belt, both in meadows and
in half-open places between the trees.
5. D. pauciflorum Nutt. Stem slender, 1 ft. or less high,
from tuber-like roots. Leaves obscurely puberulent, 54 to 2
in. wide, all cleft into linear acute lobes. Flowers blue or
pinkish purple. Sepals about 54 in. long, much shorter than
the slender spur. Pods diverging. — Moist soil from the Yo-
semite and Ackerson’s to Tuolumne Meadows.
6. D. nudicaule T. & G. Red Larkspur. Leaves thick,
fleshy, glabrous, 1 to 254 in. wide, deeply cleft into obovate
obtuse shallowly lobed divisions. Flowers scarlet and yellow,
in a very loose raceme. Spur 54 to 54 in. long, longer than
sepals.
The thick leaves, nearly naked stems (54 to 2 ft. high),
and reddish flowers readily characterize this striking species.
It belongs chiefly to the Coast Ranges but also occurs spar¬
ingly in the Sierra Nevada, as at Porcupine Flat, where dis¬
covered by Mr. H. M. Evans.
7. ACONITUM. Monkshood.
1. A. columbianum Nutt. Monkshood. Leaves alternate,
deeply cleft into toothed or slender-lobed divisions; lower
long-petioled, uppermost sessile. Flowers blue, often mixed
with white or cream. Sepals 4; the uppermost helmet-shaped,
or hooded, 54 to % in* long- Petals 2, hammer-shaped, nearly
concealed by the hood. Stamens numerous. Pods 3 to 5.
This western Monkshood is an erect, perennial herb, 2 to
6 ft. high, with long, loose racemes of showy, irregular flowers.
The blue, helmet-shaped hood at once distinguishes it. It
may be looked for in moist places along any of the higher
streams or meadows, but it is more common in the Tahoe
district.
8. ACTAEA. Baneberry.
1. A. spicata var. arguta Torr. Leaves mostly basal, 54
to 2 ft. long, several times ternately compound; leaflets
ovate, serrate or incised, 154 to 3 in. long. Sepals usually 4,
roundish, white, falling early. Petals small, 1 or 2, or lacking.
Stamens 11 to 18. Pistil 1, developing into a red or white
berry with polished surface.
This Baneberry is a perennial, glabrous herb with clustered
stems (1J4 to 2 ft.), ample foliage, and small, white flowers
in terminal racemes. It grows in moist places in the Yosem-
ite Valley and doubtless elsewhere at low altitudes.
CALYCANTHUS FAMILY
IOI
CALYCANTHACEAE. Calycanthus Family.
Aromatic shrubs with opposite entire leaves, no stipules,
the sepals and petals similar and numerous.
1. CALYCANTHUS. Carolina Allspice.
1. C. occidentals H. & A. Sweet-scented Shrub. Erect,
4 to 10 ft. high. Leaves harsh, ovate, acute, 2 to 6 in. long.
Sepals and petals about 1 in. long, livid red, turning brown or
tawny toward the ends. Stamens numerous. Fruit cup-like,
1 to 1 *4 in- long. — Foothill canons, extending up the Merced
to 3500 ft. alt. at Cascade Creek. Variously known as Spice-
bush, Spice-wood, Wine-flower, etc. The foliage and flowers
are aromatic when bruised.
LAURACEAE. Laurel Family.
Trees or shrubs with simple leaves and small clustered
flowers. The foliage emits a pungent odor when crushed.
1. UMBELLULARIA.
1. U. calif ornica Nutt. California Laurel. Leaves alter¬
nate, oblong or broadly lanceolate, entire, 3 to 5 in. long, on
short petioles. Flowers greenish, in small short-stalked
clusters, regular, in. long. Sepals 6. Petals none. Sta¬
mens 9, the anthers opening by uplifted valves. Ovary
superior, 1-celled, becoming a 1-seeded olive-like fruit.
The laurel is an aromatic, evergreen tree, 20 to 60 ft. high,
inhabiting canons and hillsides at moderate altitudes. It is
also known as Bay Tree and Mountain Laurel. In northern
California and Oregon, where it is called Pepperwood, it
becomes so large that it yields lumber of a high grade.
PAPAVERACEAE. Poppy Family.
Herbs with regular perfect flowers. Sepals 2 or 3, petals
4 or 6. Stamens numerous. Pistil 1, compound, the ovary
superior.
Leaves finely cut; flowers orange-color . 1. Eschscholtzia.
Leaves entire; flowers cream-color . 2. Platystemon.
1. ESCHSCHOLTZIA.
1. E. californica Cham. California Poppy. Leaves much
dissected into linear or oblong segments, 1 to 6 in. long
including the petiole. Flowers orange-color, varying to
straw-color, to 1^4 in. long, on pedicels 2 to 4 in. long.
102
FUMITORY FAMILY
Sepals united into a cap, which falls off as the flower opens.
Capsule 1-celled, inany-seeded.
Our well-known Poppy blooms as an annual in warm sand
near Bridal Veil Falls, where seed has doubtless been acci¬
dentally introduced, and also occurs, in a perennial form, at
Wawona, where it is apparently native. It is the same spe¬
cies which is so common and beautiful at lower altitudes.
2. PLATYSTEMON.
1. P. californicus Benth. Cream-cups. Leaves chiefly
basal, elliptic to oblanceolate, to 1 in. long, the upper ones
narrower and smaller. Flowers cream-yellow, % to nearly
Yz in. long, on pedicels 3 to 5 in. long. Sepals 3. Petals 6,
withering and closing about the forming fruit. Pistil break¬
ing up at maturity into 6 to 20 separate parts.
The Cream-cup is a hairy annual with many spreading
branches from the base. It grows sparingly in the Yosemite
with the Poppy and may be expected in warm soil along our
lower borders, since it is very plentiful throughout the foot¬
hills and valleys of California.
FUMARIACEAE. Fumitory Family.
Glabrous perennial herbs with compound finely lobed
leaves and irregular perfect heart-shaped flowers. Sepals 2,
small. Petals 4, the inner pair narrower than the outer and
united by their tips over the stamens and style. Stamens 6.
Ovary superior, developing into a 1-celled capsule.
1. DICENTRA.
1. D. formosa DC. Bleeding Heart. Leaves all from the
creeping rootstock, compound and many
times cut into acute lobes, 3 to 9 in.
long and nearly as wide, the petiole 4
to 12 in. long. Flowering stems ex¬
ceeding the leaves, naked, terminated
by a narrow panicle of rose-purple
flowers. Corolla flattened, ^4 in* long,
cordate at base; tips of outer petals
slightly spreading, Y, in. long. — Shaded
woods at low altitudes: Merced Grove; Yosemite Valley.
2. D. uniflora Kell. Leaves all from a cluster of fleshy
tuber-like roots, compound, the leaflets divided into obtuse
lobes, 2 in. or less long, the petiole 1 to 3 in. long. Flowering
stems 1 to 4 in. high, naked, terminated by a single (rarely 2)
MUSTARD FAMILY
103
white or flesh-colored flower. Corolla flattened, y2 or £4 in.
long; tips of outer petals becoming recurved, % in. long or
slightly more. — Yosemite Valley, Snow Creek, Mt. Lyell
(10,500 ft.), Tilden Lake, Macomber Ridge; seldom seen in
flower and often overlooked. D. pauciflora Wats, is a similar
species which may occur. It has coral-like roots and nodding
flowers nearly 1 in. long.
CRUCIFERAE. Mustard Family.
Herbs with alternate or basal leaves, no stipules, and the
flowers in terminal bractless racemes. Sepals and petals each
4 (except Lepidium), regular and distinct. Petals narrowed
below to claws, the blades spreading in the form of a cross.
Stamens 6. Ovary superior, with a single style and stigma,
developing into a 2-celled pod which opens from below up¬
ward, leaving the thin partition behind, or permanently closed.
Herbage with mustard-like taste, never poisonous.
A. Leaves entire or merely toothed (even the lower).
Pods Yi in. or less long.
Pedicels erect or spreading; seeds several; pods
opening at maturity.
Pods oblong or lanceolate . 1.
Pods nearly orbicular, flat, notched at summit . 4.
Pods thick, pear-shaped or nearly globose; water
plants . 5.
Pods wedge-shaped, flat, notched at summit . 6.
Pedicels recurved; seeds 1 or 2 in the orbicular pod.
Pods not wing-margined, minutely bristly . 2.
Pods broadly wing-margined . 3.
Pods 1 in. or more long, slender.
Flowers orange or yellow, ^ in- or more across . 10.
Flowers white or purplish, smaller.
Upper leaves oblong or narrower . 14.
Upper leaves nearly orbicular . 15.
Draba.
Lepidium.
Subularia.
Capsella.
Athysanus.
Tiiysanocarpus.
Erysimum.
Arab is.
Streptanthus.
B. Leaves with several or many lobes (especially the lower).
Herbage finely pubescent (except in one introduced
Brassica) ; plants of dry places.
Pods 1-celled or with spongy cross-partitions . 7. Raphanus.
Pods 2-celled, wedge-shaped, notched at summit . 6. Capsella.
Pods 2-celled, linear, beaked at summit.
Leaves entire or with large lobes . 8. Brassica.
Leaves finely cut into many small lobes . 9. Sisymbrium.
Herbage glabrous or nearly so; succulent plants of
moist places.
Pods cylindric or 4-sided.
Seeds in 2 rows in each cell . 11. Radicula.
Seeds in 1 row in each cell . 12. Barbarea.
Pods flattened parallel to the partition . 13. Cardamine.
104
MUSTARD FAMILY
1. DRABA.
Depressed Alpine and sub-alpine herbs, with short racemes
of small, white or yellow flowers, pubescent with short
branched hairs. Leaves entire or few-toothed. Pods short,
flattened parallel to the partition; seeds in 2 rows in each
cell, not margined or winged.
Slender annual or biennial with a rosette of basal leaves... 1. D. stenoloba.
Compact dwarf perennials, densely leafy at base.
Flowers yellow; pods twisted . 2. D. lemmonh.
Flowers yellowish; pods not twisted . 3. D. glacialis.
Flowers white . 4. D. breweri.
1. D. stenoloba Ledeb. Stems erect from a leafy base,
annual or biennial. 1 ft. or less
high, including the long raceme
of yellow flowers (fading to
white or pinkish). Leaves thin,
obovate or oblanceolate, acutish,
Ya to in. long. Pods linear,
acute, glabrous, % to Y* in. long.
— Moist soil, 6500 ft. alt. to tim¬
ber-line.
2. D. lemmonii Wats. Stems
close and matted at the per¬
ennial base, Yz to 2 in. high in¬
cluding the raceme of bright-
yellow flowers. Herbage green
or yellowish. Leaves densely
clustered, oblong with narrow base (spatulate), mostly very
blunt, not ribbed, ^ to ^ in. long. Pods oblong or broadly
lanceolate, more or less twisted, Ya in. long. — “Summit of Mt.
Lyell, at 13,000 ft.” is given as the type locality of this spe¬
cies, which also grows on Mt. Gibbs, Mt. Dana, etc.
3. D. glacialis Adams. Branches very compact and leafy,
forming rounded cushion-like perennial plants, the flowering
stems Ya to 3 in. high. Flowers yellowish. Herbage gray
with short hairs. Leaves linear, rigid, rather acute, ribbed by
the reflexed margins and prominent midnerve, mostly minute,
rarely Y* in. long. Pods ovate or roundish, not twisted, Ya
in. or less long. — Above timber-line on Mt. Dana, Unicorn
Ridge, etc.
4. D. breweri Wats. Stems erect from a branching per¬
ennial base, 1 to 4 in. high, including the raceme of small
white flowers. Herbage gray with a close pubescence.
Leaves mostly in a basal tuft but also scattered along the
MUSTARD FAMILY
105
flowering stems, oblong or linear, obtuse, not ribbed, rarely
over in* long. Pods linear-oblong, *4 in- long- — Mt. Dana
(type locality) and other high peaks; recognized by its white
flowers.
D. crassifolia Graham has been reported from Peregoy’s,
but an error is suspected. This species is a smooth, green
annual or biennial, with only the edges of the leaves sparsely
hairy, the lanceolate pods flat, acute, and smooth.
2. ATHYSANUS.
1. A. pusfllus Greene. Herbage pubescent, the pods with
hooked hairs. Leaves mostly basal, broadly
oblong, often coarsely toothed, to *4 in.
long. Flowers minute, white, the petals often
wanting. Pods very small, in slender racemes,
orbicular, flat, not opening at maturity.
This is a delicate annual, seldom a foot high,
best known by its short, bristly pods which
cling to clothing, etc. It is plentiful in the
Foothill Belt and its range extends to nearly
6000 ft. alt. in the mountains.
3. THYSANOCARPUS.
1. T. curvipes Hook. Fringe-pod. Leaves sessile by a
clasping base, narrowly lanceolate, inch or
two long, the lower usually toothed or pinna-
tifid and with stiff hairs (the basal petioled
and forming a rosette). Flowers small, white
or purplish. Pods 1-seeded, obovate or ellip¬
tic, flat on one side, curved on the other,
broadly margined with a wing which is often
perforated.
The Fringe-pod grows in warm, sandy soil
in Yosemite Valley but belongs chiefly to
lower altitudes. It is an erect annual, 1 to 2 ft. high, with
few branches. The delicate pods, daintily suspended on
slender, recurved pedicels of a long and loose raceme, make
the plant very ornamental.
4. LEPIDIUM. Pepper -GRASS.
1. L. densiflorum Schrad. Stem erect,
V2 to 1^2 ft. high, with spreading branches
above. Leaves green and nearly glabrous,
toothed, those of the branches narrower
and entire. Fruiting racemes 1 to 6 in.
io 6
MUSTARD FAMILY
long, Y in. wide. Flowers minute, the sepals whitish but
petals wanting. Pods nearly flat, orbicular, notched at apex,
Ys in. across, short-pediceled. (L. apetalum of authors, not of
Willd.) — An annual weed, abundant in low valleys.
5. SUBULARIA. Awlwort.
1.‘ S. aquatica L. A compact glabrous plant, 1 to 4 in. high,
growing in water or mud. Leaves erect, entire, narrow, taper¬
ing, 1 to 3 in. long. Racemes short, few-flowered (there are
also minute simplified flowers beneath the surface). Pods
subglobose or pear-shaped, Y in* long, on short spreading
pedicels. — Reported from Crescent Lake (Congdon) and
Mono Pass (Bolander).
6. CAPSELLA.
1. C. bursa-pastdris Moen. Shepherd’s Purse. Stems
erect, 3 to 15 in. high, nearly glabrous. Basal
leaves petioled, deeply lobed to nearly en¬
tire; upper leaves mostly entire, sessile by a
lobed base. Flowers white, minute, on spread¬
ing pedicels in loose terminal racemes. Pods
flat, wedge-shaped, deeply notched at the
broad summit. — An introduced, annual weed
of Yosemite Valley, etc.
7. RAPHANUS. Radish.
1. R. raphamstrum L. Jointed Charlock. Stems 1 or 2
ft. high, with very few but stiff hairs.
Leaves lyre-shaped, 3 to 6 in. long, the
upper ones smaller and only toothed.
Pedicels ascending, ^ to ^ in. long.
Petals yellow or whitish, veiny (flower
^ in. across). Pods strongly constrict¬
ed between the 4 to 8 seeds, long-
beaked. — Introduced annual weed of
lower Yosemite Valley.
8; BRASSICA. Mustard.
Annuals, the larger lower leaves com¬
monly pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe
the largest (lyre-shaped), the upper ones smaller and only
toothed or entire, clasping at base only in no. 3. Petals with
long claw and spreading yellow blade. Pods cylindric.
1. B. nigra Koch. Black Mustard. Stems Y to 3 ft. high,.
MUSTARD FAMILY
107
nearly glabrous. Petals about *4 in. long. Pods beaded, on
short erect pedicels, appressed, Y to Y in. long, with conical
seedless beak; seeds dark, very peppery. — Introduced weed in
low places.
2. B. arvensis B. S. P. Charlock. Stems erect, 1 to 3 or
even 6 ft. high, rough. Petals Y to y2 in. long. Pods knotty,
nearly erect along the stems, 1 to V/2 in. long, with a stout
2-edged beak which often contains a seed. — An introduced
weed along our lower borders, especially near dwellings.
3. B. campestris L. Rutabaga. Plant glabrous except the
lower leaves, y2 to 4 ft. high. Leaves clasping the stem.
Petals Y in. long. Pods smooth, 1% to 1 y2 in. long, narrowed
to a slender cylindric beak. — A garden plant run wild; grows
at Tuolumne Meadows.
9. SISYMBRIUM.
Erect annuals with deeply cut or finely lobed leaves not
clasping at base and small yellow flowers. Pods linear, short,
scarcely flattened.
1. S. canescens Nutt. Tansy Mustard. A leafy annual, a
few inches to 2 ft. high, from a
taproot, grayish with a close pu¬
bescence. Leaves always finely
many-lobed. Pedicels Y to Y in.
long, spreading. Pods slightly
longer, erect or nearly so; seeds
in two rows in each cell.
The gray herbage and finely
cut leaves of the Tansy Mustard
are commonly seen around de¬
serted camps and in other waste
places of our district. It is
widely distributed in North
America. The seeds were for¬
merly used by the Indians, who added them to coarse flour, or
“pinole,” to give it a more piquant taste.
2. S. incisum Engelm. Much like no. 1, but often nearly
glabrous and the leaves less finely lobed. Seeds as wide as
the pod and therefore in one row in each cell. — Widely dis¬
tributed.
10. ERYSIMUM. Wall Flower.
1. E. asperum DC. Western Wall Flower. Leaves rough-
pubescent, \y2 to 5 in. long, Y to y2 in. wide, entire to sharply
io8
MUSTARD FAMILY
toothed. Calyx cylindric, Y, to y2 in. long. Corolla about Y
in. across, the petals with slender claws and obovate blades.
Pods linear, ascending or spreading, 4-sided, 3 or 4 in. long,
with a stout beak.
The stout, erect, mostly simple stems of this Wall Flower
bear showy terminal racemes of usually bright-orange flowers.
In this form it is common from the foothills up through the
pine forests to about 8000 ft. alt., but on the high mountains
it is replaced by the var. perenne Coville, which has lemon-
yellow flowers. In both forms the root may be either biennial
or perennial.
11. RADICULA. Water Cress.
Nearly or quite glabrous plants of wet places. Pods linear
or oblong, nearly cylindric, on spreading pedicels. Seeds
minute, in 2 rows in each cell.
1. R. nasturtium-aquaticum B. & R. Water Cress. Stems
creeping and rooting at the joints but
with erect flowering branches. Leaves
with roundish or elliptic segments, the
terminal one largest. Flowers white,
less than ^ in- across, the petals twice
as long as the sepals. Pods y2 to 1 in.
long, on spreading pedicels about as
long. ( Nasturtium officinale R. Br.)
The Water Cress is an excellent
salad plant, the herbage being very ten¬
der and palatable and, like all other
members of the Mustard Family, en¬
tirely free from poisonous properties.
It grows only in wet place-3 at middle
and lower altitudes, where the succu¬
lent, leafy stems may be seen rising
from the water or trailing along damp
banks and bearing short racemes of
white flowers. Especially good specimens were noted in the
Yosemite Valley.
2. R. curvisiliqua Hook. Western Yellow Cress. Stems
y2 to \y2 ft. long, often rooting in mud from the lower joints.
Leaves pinnatifid, the segments either narrow or broad.
Flowers small, yellow. Pedicels & in. or less long, spreading.
Pods y to Y in* long, cylindric, erect, often curved; seeds
in 2 rows in each cell. {Nasturtium curvisiliqua Nutt.) — Near
streams and in other wet places.
MUSTARD FAMILY
109
12. BARBAREA.
1. B. vulgaris R. Br. Winter-cress. Lower leaves elliptic,
Yz to 4L> in. long, sometimes with small
lobes along the petiole; upper leaves
pinnatifid, with a large terminal lobe.
Flowers yellow, about Y l°ng> in
terminal racemes. Pod 1 Yz in. long;
seeds in 1 row in each cell.
This is a smooth, somewhat succu¬
lent perennial with angular stem 6 to
16 in. high. It is a widely distributed
plant found at Bridal Veil Meadows
and is of frequent occurrence in moist
places throughout our mountains. The figure represents a
sub-alpine form with depressed stem and small pods.
13. CARDAMINE.
1. C. breweri Wats. Leaves mostly compound, with a
large roundish terminal leaflet and 1 or 2 small lateral ones,
the uppermost and the basal leaves often simple and entire
or lobed. Flowers white, about Y\ in- long* in terminal
racemes. Pods erect, Y to V/2. in. long, flattened, the seeds
in one row in each cell. — A smooth, erect plant, to 2 ft.
high, occurring almost throughout the Sierra Nevada but not
yet found in the Yosemite National Park.
14. ARABIS.
Erect biennial and perennial herbs with white or purplish
flowers in terminal racemes. Herbage with short branched
hairs or the upper parts glabrous. Leaves entire or shallowly
toothed. Pods compressed parallel to the partition, long and
linear. Seeds flat, more or less wing-margined.
A. Plants tall, 1 to 3 ft. higli.
Pods erect; plant glabrous except at base.
Basal leaves 2 to 4 in. long, toothed . 1. A. glabra.
Basal leaves much smaller, entire . 7. A. lyallii.
Pods recurved or spreading.
Lower leaves ^ to 1 in. wide, upper leaves narrowed
to the base . I . 2. A. repanda.
Lower leaves 34 in. or less wide, upper ones clasping
the stem by a broad base.
Pods nearly straight, pendent on sharply deflexed
pedicels . 4. A. holboellii.
Pods curved, on spreading pedicels . 5. A. arcuata.
no
MUSTARD FAMILY
B. Plants low, 1 ft. or less hig'h.
Pods stout, % in. broad; leaves J4 to \y2 in. long,
sparsely pubescent . . . .
Pods slender, in. broad.
3. A. platysperma.
Stems branching and matted at base.
Sepals pubescent .
Sepals glabrous .
6. A. lemmonii.
7. A. lyallii.
Stems mostly simple below; leaves 1 to in. long.. 4. A. holboellii.
1. A. glabra Bernh. Tower Mustard. Lower leaves ob-
lanceolate, 2 to 4 in. long, coarsely toothed, rough hairy;
stem-leaves broadly lanceolate, entire, clasping by an arrow¬
like base. Flowers dull white, less than *4 long. Pods
strictly erect, straight, 3 or 4 in. long. (A. perfoliata Lam.)
The Tower Mustard is a tall, erect biennial (2 to 4 ft.), usu¬
ally without branches. It grows in Yosemite Valley but is
more common in the foothills.
2. A. repanda Wats. Stem stout, 2 or 3 ft. high, from a
biennial or perennial taproot. Lower leaves obovate or
broadly oblanceolate, 1 to 3 or 4 in. long, shallowly toothed;
stem-leaves narrowly oblong or lanceolate, narrowed to a
broad petiole, not clasping. Flowers white, small. Pods
spreading or recurved from nearly erect pedicels, 3 or 4 in.
long.
Aside from the position of its pods, this Arabis is known by
its leaves, which are broader than in related species. It grows
sparingly in Yosemite Valley (type locality), on Rancheria
Mt., and in similar places, its range extending far north and
south.
Arabis repanda
A. platysperma
A. holboellii
3. A. platysperma Gray. Stems several, strictly erect from
the perennial root, 3 to 12 in. high. Lower leaves oblance-
MUSTARD FAMILY
III
olate, to V/2 in. long; the upper much smaller, sessile but
not clasping the stem. Petals nearly white. Pods stiffly
erect, 1 to 2 p2 in. long, very acute. Seeds orbicular, broadly
winged. — In open, gravelly places from 4000 ft. to timber-line.
Alt. Dana is the type locality.
4. A. holboellii Hornem. Stem usually simple below, 1
to 2 54 ft. high, from a biennial taproot. Herbage finely pu¬
bescent below. Basal leaves oblanceolate, mostly entire, 1^4
in. or less long; stem-leaves oblong or lanceolate, sessile by
a broad clasping base. Flowers white or purplish. Pods
nearly straight, 1^ to 3 in. long, pendent from sharply
deflexed pedicels, the seeds in one row.
Although this species is sometimes confused with no. 2 and
no. 5, it may be known from either of them by the more
slender pods, which at maturity form a much narrower
cluster. It is common throughout the mountains except at
very high altitudes. A. bolanderi Wats., first described from
specimens gathered in “Yosemite Valley or Alono Pass,”
seems to be only a form of this. Its only distinguishing
characters are the short pods, to 1J4 in. long, and the
seeds somewhat in two rows. The pods, however, are exceed¬
ingly variable as to length.
5. A. arcuata Gray. Stem erect, 1 to 2 ft. high, from a
biennial or perennial tap¬
root, rough- pubescent.
Lower leaves narrowly ob¬
lanceolate, 1 or 2 in. long,
entire or sharply toothed;
stem -leaves lanceolate,
acutely angled and clasp¬
ing at base. Flowers *4
to in. long, rose-color.
Pods spreading, curved, 2
to 4 in. long; seeds in 2
rows in each division (in
only 1 row in all our other
species).
The compact, rose-pur¬
ple flower-clusters of this Arabis may be seen anywhere in
the lower part of the pine belt in Alay or early June, soon
followed by the loose, dome-shaped raceme of long, recurving
pods. It grows as isolated plants or in small clumps, inhabit¬
ing loose soil, especially on the slopes.
6. A. lemmdnii Wats. Stems numerous and branching be-
1 12
SUNDEW FAMILY
low to form leafy mats, 4 to 12 in. high,
from a perennial root. Herbage ashy-pu¬
bescent. Basal leaves oblanceolate or spatu-
late, entire, obtuse, Y in. or less long;
stem-leaves sessile, clasping. Flowers pur¬
plish. Sepals hairy. Pods straight, 1 to V/2
in. long, erect or widely spreading, or even
deflexed. — Of high altitudes, as on Mt.
Dana.
7. A. lyallii Wats. Similar to A. lemmonii but less branched,
sometimes with erect stems 1 or 2 ft. high, usually much
lower, the herbage green. Sepals not hairy. Pods nearly
erect and straight. — Mono Co., reaching the crest of the
mountains at Mt. Dana and extending to Macomber Ridge
and Tuolumne Meadows.
15. STREPTANTHUS.
1. S. tortuosus Kell. A glabrous branching annual, Y* to
3 ft. high. Lower leaves oblanceolate,
petioled, entire or serrate; middle and
upper leaves oblong ovate or roundish,
obtuse, closely sessile and clasping the
stem, Yz to 1 Y* in. long. Flowers race¬
mose, pale yellow or purplish, Y to Y
in. long, on pedicels Ya in- or less long.
Sepals acuminate, the tip usually re¬
curved. Pods very slender, 2 to 6 in.
long, recurved.
This smooth, often purplish leaved
annual usually grows Yz to 3 ft. high
throughout the pine belt, where it is
common. It is always freely branched,
but when the central axis is very short and the lateral
branches much developed, as is often the case at high alti¬
tudes, it is the form known as var. orbiculatus Hall. In this
variety the flowers are smaller and usually of a deep-purple
color.
DROSERACEAE. Sundew Family.
Bog-herbs, mostly glandular-hairy. Flower-parts wither¬
ing-persistent. Petals and stamens borne on the calyx.
1. DROSERA. Sundew.
1. D. rotundifolia L. Round-leaved Sundew. Leaves all
in a tuft at base, roundish, Yz in. or less across, hairy-
STONECROP FAMILY
113
margined, narrowed to hairy
petioles. Flowers white,
about J/^ in. broad, 1 to 25
in a terminal naked-stalked
1-sided raceme. Petals and
stamens 5 each. Styles 3 or
5, deeply parted; capsule 1-
celled, many-seeded.
Although the Sundew has
not yet been found in the
Yosemite National Park,
there is little reason to
doubt its occurrence, since
it grows in cold bogs of
Strawberry Valley, Cala¬
veras Co., and in Huckle¬
berry Meadow, Giant For¬
est. The numerous bristly
hairs of the leaves exude a
fluid that glistens in the sun¬
shine like dewdrops, hence
the common name of the genus. The Sundew is a partially
insectivorous plant. When an insect alights upon one of the
leaves, the bristles close in upon the body, holding it fast; at
the same time digestive juices are excreted which gradually
decompose the nitrogenous material, rendering it available
for the nourishment of the plant. The California Pitcher
Plant ( Darlingtonia ) is even more interesting in its method
of trapping insects, but it does not grow in the Yosemite
National Park, being restricted to bogs from Plumas Co. to
Mt. Shasta and the North Coast Ranges. It is reported that an
eastern botanist once experimented with insectivorous plants,
feeding them on various sorts of food, until one day he made
the mistake of supplying them with fresh cheese. As a re¬
sult they all contracted dyspepsia and died, thus abruptly
terminating the investigation!
CRASSULACEAE. Stonecrop Family.
Succulent perennial herbs with mostly entire leaves and no
stipules. Sepals, petals, and pistils of the same number
(4 or 5), the stamens twice as many. Fruit consisting of
dry many-seeded pods.
Petals erect; leaves 1 to 4 in. long . 1. Cotyledon.
Petals spreading; leaves 1 in. or less long . 2. Sedum.
STONECROP FAMILY
1 14
1. COTYLEDON.
1. C. nevadensis Wats. Leaves closely sessile, ovate to
oblong, acuminate, 1 to 4 in. long, 54 to £4 in. wide. Corolla
tubular, 24 to 54 in. long, cleft to below the middle into lance¬
olate taper-pointed erect segments, yellowish, or reddish in
small plants of sunny places or in poor soil. ( Dudleya neva¬
densis B. & R.)
This is a stout, perennial, thick-rooted herb, with a dense,
basal cluster of fleshy leaves. The scaly-bracted flowering
stems are 4 to 12 in. long and branch above to form a loose,
roundish inflorescence. It is common on rocks and in crev¬
ices at middle altitudes, growing where the soil is so shallow
that it retains moisture for only a short time after rains.
But the succulent leaves serve as reservoirs for the storing
of water, this ever present supply being drawn upon as
needed by the plant.
2. SEDUM. Stonecrop.
Perennial herbs with fleshy obtuse leaves and terminally
clustered flowers with spreading petals.
1. S. roseum Scop. Leaves numerous up to the flowers,
54 to 24 in. long, obovate or oblong. Flowers usually dark
purple, in a dense terminal cluster, the petals about 54 in-
long and distinct.
The erect stems of this Alpine Sedum are closely clustered
on a thick, woody, branching base and are 2 to 8 in. high. It
is common in loose soil about timber-line, especially from
the Tuolumne Meadows to Mt. Dana, Mt. Lyell, Clouds
Rest, etc.
2. S. obtusatum Gray. Plant spreading and matted, with
many basal rosettes of thick leaves. Rosette-leaves spatulate,
1 in. or less long. Flowering stems 4 to 6 in. high, with few
and small oblong leaves. Petals yellow, 54 to H in. long,
lanceolate, united for about one-fourth their length.
The plants from which this species was first described came
from Mt. Hoffmann and Vernal Falls, but it is common
throughout the Sierra Nevada, growing on rocks. A dwarf
form with leaves less than 54 in. long and perhaps narrower
calyx-lobes has been named Gormania hallii Britton. It has
been collected only at Lamberts Dome, Tuolumne Meadows.
3. S. yosemitense Britton. Yosemite Stonecrop. Very
much like Y. obtusatum, and perhaps not a distinct species,
but the narrowly lanceolate petals are distinct to the base.
It was originally collected between Vernal and Nevada Falls
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY 115
but is very plentiful all around the Yosemite and Hetch
Hetchy valleys. It also grows at Chilnualna Falls.
S. radiatum Wats., of the Coast Ranges, was once reported
from the Yosemite, but doubtless in error. It has thin leaves,
broadest at base, those of the stem scarcely shorter than the
basal ones.
SAXIFRAGACEAE. Saxifrage Family.
Herbs and shrubs, usually without stipules. Stamens 5 or
10 (numerous only in Philadelphus) and, like the petals, usu¬
ally inserted on the calyx. Parts of the pistil commonly
fewer than the sepals, either distinct or united.
A. Annual and perennial herbs.
Stamens 10.
Fruit of 2 cells or pods; petals entire . 1. Saxifraga.
Fruit 1-celled; petals entire or lobed . 6. Tellima.
Stamens 5.
Leaves entire; flowers large, solitary . 7. Parnassia.
Leaves toothed; flowers clustered.
Stems leafy.
Petals white; leaves 4 to 8 in. across . 2. Boykinia.
Petals purplish edged; leaves smaller . 3. Bolandra.
Stems naked except at base; flowers very small.
Petals entire . 4. Heuchera.
Petals pinnately parted, greenish . 5. Mitella.
B. Shrubs with distinctly woody stems.
Leaves opposite; flowers white . 8. Philadelphus.
Leaves alternate . 9. Ribes.
1. SAXIFRAGA. Saxifrage.
Herbs, with simple mostly basal leaves, the naked stems
bearing terminal clusters of white or roseate flowers. Petals
5, entire. Stamens 10. Styles 2. Ovary either free from the
calyx or attached to its base, maturing into a 2-celled 2-beaked
capsule, or the cells forming nearly distinct pods.
Leaves nearly orbicular, as broad as long.
Blade of leaf to 2 ft. broad . 1. S.peltata.
Blade of leaf 1 to 2}4 in. broad . 2. S. punctata.
Leaves much longer than broad.
Flowers solitary, terminating branchlets which also bear
bud-like plantlets . 3. S.bryophora.
Flowers clustered.
Leaves few, at the base of erect stems.
Stems 6 to 15 in. high; flowers scattered in an open
panicle . 4. S. virginiensis.
Stems 3 to 8 in. high; flowers mostly in a single
terminal head . 5. S. nivalis.
Stems 1 to 3 ft. high; flowers in small clusters ter¬
minating lateral branchlets . 6. S. integrifolia.
Leaves numerous along matted stems. ............. ,7. S.tolmiei.
ii 6
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
1. S. peltata Torr. Indian Rhubarb. A pubescent per¬
ennial with creeping rootstocks, the stems (1 to 3 ft.) bearing
loose panicles of rose-color or nearly white flowers. Leaves
roundish, x/2 to 2 ft. broad, coarsely lobed and irregularly
toothed, with a short-funnelform cavity over the insertion
of the long petiole. Petals about % in. long. ( Peltiphyllum
peltatum Engl.) — Along rocky margins of streams at middle
and lower altitudes, the flowers appearing before the leaves.
Locally noted at Little Crane, Moss, and Grouse creeks.
A glabrous or slightly pubescent plant,
1 to 2 ft. high, from a creeping root-
stock, the numerous flowers in a widely
branched open panicle. Leaves orbicu¬
lar, 1 to 2l/2 in. across, equally and
deeply toothed, on petioles 1 to 8 in.
long. Petals oval, obtuse, narrowed to
a claw, white, with a pair of greenish-
yellow dots at base.
In this Saxifrage we have one of the
cleanest and most pleasing plants in the
mountains. The broad, smooth leaves,
round as a cart-wheel, have a whole¬
some appearance and the modest, white
flowers are daintily clustered in the loose panicle. It grows
in partial shade on moist, mossy banks, where its ample
foliage is displayed without fear of the hot sun. A thrifty
colony was noted in a shady glade just below Glacier Point,
where it is hoped that it may long continue to cheer the
passing wayfarer. Such groups are not uncommon in simi¬
lar places at 6000 to perhaps 9000 ft. alt.
3. S. bryophora Gray. A delicate fibrous-rooted annual,
2 to 8 in. high, the white flowers solitary and terminal on the
widely spreading branchlets which also bear numerous bud¬
like bulblets on deflexed “pedicels.” Leaves nearly sessile,
spatulate-oblong, acute, entire, J/2 to \ in. long. Petals ovate,
abruptly contracted to a claw, white, with a pair of yellow
spots at base, & in. long.
The specific name, bryophora, signifies a “moss bearer”
and was applied to this species because of the bulblets which
are borne along the branches and resemble small moss plants.
These stem-grown bulbs, which are really modified buds,
fall to the ground and give rise to new plants, thus providing
the species with an unusual method of reproduction. This
Saxifrage grows in open, gravelly, but moist soil of the
2. S. punctata L.
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY 117
Upper Coniferous Belt, as along Snow Creek, and on Mt.
Lyell, Mt. Dana, Macomber Ridge, etc.
4. S. virginiensis var. californica Jepson. A glandular-
pubescent perennial, 6 to 15 in. high, from a short rootstock,
the small whitish flowers in an elongated loose panicle.
Leaves few, petioled, oblong or spatulate, toothed or entire,
the blade 1 to 2 in. long. Petals oblong, sessile, white or
rose-tinted. — On cool, shaded slopes of middle altitudes:
Eagle Peak, Little Yosemite, Wawona Road, etc.
Saxifraga virginiensis californica
5. S. nivalis L. An obscurely viscid-pubescent plant, 3 to
8 in. high, from a short rootstock, the small flowers in a
close terminal head (inflorescence rarely branched). Leaves
oblong-obovate or spatulate, with short broad petiole or
nearly sessile, entire or slightly toothed, V/2 in. or less long.
Petals white, oblong or spatulate, about -h in. long. — Found
in moist soil at high al¬
titudes : Lake Tenaya,
Glacier Point, Vogel¬
sang Pass, Mt. Lyell.
6. S. integrifolia var.
sierrae Coville. A ro¬
bust glandular peren¬
nial, 1 to 3 ft. high,
with white flowers in
small rounded clusters
terminating the short
branchlets of the pani¬
cle. Leaves oblong or
oblanceolate, obtuse, %
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
Il8
to 1% in. wide, 2 to 6 in. long including the broad petiole,
minutely few-toothed. Petals small, obovate, dull white. —
In moist meadows and on stream banks, as at the base of
Clouds Rest and on Mt. Dana.
7. S. tolmiei T. & G. Nearly glabrous, very leafy at the
matted creeping perennial base, the white flowers loosely
clustered at the summit of a naked stalk 2 to 6 in. high.
Leaves spatulate, leathery, nerveless, obtuse, entire, in. or
less long, sessile. Petals lanceolate, small. (Y. ledifolia
Greene.) — Near snow banks above timber-line; not yet found
in our district but to be expected since it occurs in Tulare Co.
and is common from Pyramid Peak north to Washington.
2. BOYKINIA.
1. B. major Gray. Leaves several, on very long petioles
(upper ones sessile), the blade fan-shaped, 6 to 18 in. across,
deeply palmately lobed, the lobes sharply toothed; stipules
very large. Flowers numerous, small, in open terminal pani¬
cles. Petals 5. Stamens 5. Capsule 2-celled.
This is a stout perennial, 2 or 3 ft. high, the erect stem with
several broad, rounded leaves and a large, loose cluster of
white flowers. It grows along nearly all of the streams below
6000 ft., coming into bloom about midsummer.
3. BOLANDRA.
1. B. californica Gray. Lower leaves long-petioled, the
uppermost sessile; stipules often conspicuous; blades round¬
ish, ^2 to V/2 in. across, irregularly cut into several broad
toothed lobes. Flowers on long diverging bracted pedicels.
Calyx cup-shaped, purplish, the lobes reduced to slender re¬
curved tips. Petals 5, tapering to slender tips, dull white, the
edges and tip rose-red. Stamens 5.
This slender, graceful plant, with weak stems 6 to 18 in.
long, was first found in “Yosemite Valley, on the Mariposa
Trail, among rocks,” by H. N. Bolander, of the State Geo¬
logical Survey, for whom it was named. It is not known
from outside of the Yosemite National Park, where it has
been collected as follows : Eagle Peak, Staircase Falls,
creeks near Artist’s Point, Nevada Falls, Glacier Point Trail
(6900 ft.), Tenaya Falls, Stubblefield Canon (8400 ft.), and
trail above Pleasant Valley.
4. HEUCHERA. Alum -root.
Perennial herbs with leaves and naked flowering stems all
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
1 19
from a stout branching base. Leaves long-petioled, palmately
veined. Flowers small, reddish or nearly white. Calyx bell¬
shaped, the tube adherent below to the 1-celled ovary. Petals
5, small, entire. Stamens 5. Styles 2.
1. H. micrantha Dough Leaves hairy, ovate, 1 to 3J4 in.
across, more or less lobed and toothed, long-petioled. Pani¬
cle very loose, of numerous small flowers, 2 to 4 in. wide and
6 to 18 in. long. Calyx pale, about t’b in. long including the
teeth.
The long, feathery cluster of minute flowers readily dis¬
tinguishes this plant. These flowering shoots are 1 to 2 ft.
long and spring from a basal cluster of ample leaves. They
decorate nearly every shady slope and rocky stream bank up
to 6000 ft., as around the walls of Yosemite Valley, where
they are exceedingly abundant and highly ornamental.
2. H. rubescens Torr. Leaves rough, hairy on edges and
veins, with broad almost heart-shaped base, to 1% in.
broad, bluntly toothed and often slightly lobed, on petioles
1 or 2 in. long. Panicle rather compact, usually 1-sided, Yz
to 1 in. wide and 2 to 6 in. long (rarely 2 in. wide and 9 in.
long). Calyx rose-red, fully % in. long, with blunt green
teeth. Petals narrow, white, nearly twice as long as calyx-
teeth.
This Alum-root, which seldom exceeds 1 ft. in height,
occurs plentifully on rocky ledges at middle and higher alti¬
tudes. It was noted at Eagle Peak, Nevada Falls, Glacier
Point Short Trail (6900 ft.), and Clouds Rest. In the High
Sierra Nevada the stems are shorter and the flower-clusters
more compact.
3. H. pnnglei Rydb. Leaves rough and with stiff hairs on
edges and veins, ovate, the base straight (truncate) or
slightly wedge-shaped, Yz to 1% in. across, sharply cut¬
toothed, on petioles 1 or 2 in. long. Panicle 1 in. or less wide,
2 to 6 in. long. Calyx dull white or reddish, Yz> in- long exclu¬
sive of the narrow green teeth. Petals white, twice longer
than calyx-teeth, almost reaching the conspicuous orange
anthers.
The pale flowers of this species are found with those of
H. rubescens at Nevada Falls and on the Glacier Point Trail.
It also grows near Yosemite Falls. The characters are in¬
constant and suggest a hybrid origin.
5. MITELLA. Mitrewort.
1. M. breweri Gray. Leaves all basal, roundish, the base
120
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
heart-shaped, shallowly lobed and toothed, 1 to 3 in. across,
on shaggy petioles 2 to 5 in. long. Flowers greenish, small,
in narrow graceful racemes 4 to 8 in. long. Petals 5. Ovary
mostly inferior, short and broad, becoming a globular capsule
which soon opens, exposing the numerous seeds. ( Pectian -
tia breweri Rydb.)
The slenderly lobed, green petals at once distinguish this
species since these characters do not recur in any other
Yosemite plant. It grows in moist, shady places throughout
the Sierra Nevada at altitudes of about 4000 to 8000 ft.
6. TELLIMA.
Ours dainty perennial herbs with slender rootstocks bear¬
ing bulblets and rounded mostly basal leaves, the few flowers
loosely spaced in a terminal raceme. Stipules small, fringed.
Petals 5, clawed, much exceeding the sepals. Stamens 10,
short. Ovary mostly inferior, 3-valved, 1-celled. ( Litho -
phragma.)
1. T. affinis Boland. Woodland Star. Basal leaves long-
petioled, roundish, parted into lobed or toothed divisions, Yz
to 1 in. across; stem-leaves 1 to 4, alternate, parted nearly
to base. Flowers white or pinkish, on pedicels mostly longer
than the top-shaped calyx. Petals about $4 in. long, irregular¬
ly cleft into several narrow lobes. Ovary half inferior.
The stems of this plant are rough with short hairs and
commonly 10 to 20 in. high. The leaves are also rough-hairy
and often bronze-brown beneath. It grows on moist banks
in Yosemite Valley, along Moss Creek, and elsewhere at
moderate altitudes. A name by which it is sometimes known
is “Star-of-Bethlehem,” but that belongs to a species of
Ornithogalum, a member of the Lily Family often grown in
gardens.
2. T. scabrella Greene. Basal* leaves kidney-shaped, with
a broad sinus, Y Y in- across, on petioles Y to 2 in. long,
shallowly lobed, the lobes nearly entire; stem-leaves 1 to 3,
alternate, 3-cleft into narrow often toothed lobes. Flowers
3 to 6, white, nearly sessile. Petals entire, Y in. long, includ¬
ing the claw. Ovary nearly free.
The slender, minutely roughened stems of T. scabrella are 6
to 12 in. high. It is the Sierran representative of T. cymbalaria ,
of the Coast districts, differing in its more slender habit,
smaller size, and very short pedicels. Our species grows at
Bridal Veil Falls, near Nevada Falls, and on the McClure
Fork of the Merced at 9500 ft. (Jepson), always in moist soil.
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
121
7. PARNASSIA. Grass-of-Parnassus.
1. P. californica Greene. Leaves basal, glabrous, round-
ovate to elliptic, entire, the blade 24 to 2 in. long. Flowers
solitary, terminating stalks y2 to 2 ft. high and naked save for
one bract. Petals 5, roundish, y2 in. long, white, green-veined.
Stamens 5, and in addition 5 clusters of short gland-tipped
bristles (aborted filaments). — Rare in our district, being re¬
ported only from “Ostranda’s,” but it also grows near Mono
Lake.
8. PHILADELPHIA. Syringa.
1. P. lewisii var. californicus Gray. Leaves opposite,
petioled, the blade 1 y2 to 3 in. long and 24 to 2 in. wide, ovate,
acute, entire or sparsely toothed. Flowers in terminal pani¬
cles. Calyx top-shaped, adherent to the ovary. Petals 4,
broad and obtuse, y2 in. long. Stamens 20 to 40. Fruit a
dry capsule.
During the early summer, while covered with white, fra¬
grant bloom, this shrub, which commonly grows to a height
of 4 to 12 ft., is one of the most pleasing sights in our foothill
district. It is plentiful in the Merced and other canons,
ranging up to 4000 ft. alt. In Yosemite Valley, it may be
seen along the south road just above the village and again
near Bridal Veil Falls, where it forms fragrant, flowery
thickets in June and July.
9. RIBES. Currant. Gooseberry.
Shrubs. Leaves alternate, petioled, irregularly orbicular in
outline, palmately lobed. Flowers in short racemes or soli¬
tary. Calyx-lobes, petals, and stamens 5 each. Calyx-tube
adnate to the ovary and projecting beyond it. Styles 2. Fruit
a smooth or prickly berry.
Plant without spines or prickles.
Flowers white or cream-color, in. long . 1. R. cereum.
Flowers pink, H in. long . 3. R. nevadense.
Flowers greenish or pinkish, in. long . 2. R. viscosissimutn.
Plant with spiny stems.
Flowers saucer-shaped above the ovary . 4. R. montigenum.
Flowers tubular or cylindric. (Genus Grossularia,
of some.)
Ovary bristly; berry spiny . 5. R.roezli.
Ovary and berry nearly smooth . 6. R. lasiantlium.
1. R. cereum Dougl. Leaves l/2 to 1^4 in. across, gland¬
ular and soft-pubescent, or glabrous above, nearly orbicular,
obscurely lobed, the margin finely toothed or crenate. Flow-
122
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
ers white or cream, tubular above the ovary, nearly in.
long, pubescent. Berry bright red, becoming glabrous.
This is an intricately branched, rigid shrub, 2 to 4 ft. high,
without spines or bristles. It is common in the mountains,
mostly at high altitudes. R. inebrians Lindl., is a form differing
in the bracts, which are entire or occasionally with a lateral tooth,
and in the usually glabrous styles. In typical R. cereum the
bracts are lobed or toothed and the style is usually pubescent.
2. R. viscosissimum Pursh. A leafy shrub, 3 ft. or less
high, without spines or bristles. Leaves 1 to 2 in. wide, gland¬
ular-pubescent on both sides, with 3 or 5 rounded lobes, the
margins obtusely toothed. Flowers greenish or pinkish, 24 in-
long including the glandular-pubescent ovary. Berry black,
sometimes with a white bloom.
The abundant, fragrant foliage of this shrub is borne on
short stems 1 to 3 ft. high, without spines or bristles. One
first meets it at about 6000 ft., as along the Pohono Trail. In
var. hallii Jancz., of northern California, the ovary is smooth
and the sepals purplish, but in specimens from Matterhorn
Canon (Jepson, no. 4498) both kinds of flowers occur on a
single branch.
3. R. nevadense Kell. Sierran Currant. Leaves thin, 1 to
3 in. wide, finely pubescent or glabrous, distinctly lobed, the
lobes obtuse and obtusely toothed. Flowers pink, 8 or more
in a dense raceme, 24 in- long including the glandular ovary.
Berry black but covered with a white bloom, sparsely gland¬
ular, sweet and insipid.
The clean, thrifty, unarmed shrubs of this currant, usually
3 to 6 ft. high, are often seen in the mountains at altitudes of
4000 to 8000 ft. A form from Hetch Hetchy with small, thick
leaves very pubescent beneath, may be identical with R. malva-
ceum Sm., of southern California.
4. R. montigenum McCl. A straggling flexuous shrub, 1 to
2^2 ft. high, the nodes spiny and the stems sometimes bristly.
Leaves soft-pubescent, 24 to 1 in. across, 3 or 5-parted into
toothed divisions. Flowers saucer-shaped above the glandular
ovary. Berries red, glandular-bristly. — Common in the high
mountains.
5. R. roezli Regel. Wild Gooseberry. A stout shrub with
many short rigid branchlets, 1 to 4 ft. high, the nodes spiny.
Leaves ^2 to 1 in. across, minutely soft-pubescent, cleft less
than half way into roundish bluntly toothed lobes. Flowers
dull red, 24 in- long including the bristly and hairy ovary.
ROSE FAMILY 123
Berry purple, Yz in. in diameter, beset with stout spines.
( R . amictum Greene.) — Plentiful at middle altitudes.
R. amarum McCl. has been collected at Footman Mt. and
may reach our lower borders. It has larger leaves than R.
roezli (1 to 2 in. wide), and the numerous bristles of the
ovary and berry are gland-tipped. It is also called R. mari-
posanum Congdon.
6. R. lasicinthum Greene. Distinguished from no. 5 by the
paler and often smaller leaves, the smaller yellowish flowers
and the merely granular ovary which matures into a smooth
berry. — High altitudes, as at Merced Lake.
ROSACEAE. Rose Family.
Herbs and shrubs with alternate, simple or compound
leaves and usually evident stipules. Flowers regular. Calyx
5-lobed, sometimes with 5 small accessory lobes. Petals 5
or none. Stamens 5 to numerous, inserted with the petals
on the calyx. Pistils 1 to many, various.
A. Leaves compound, with 3 to numerous leaflets.
Fruit fleshy or pulpy, called a berry or hip.
Stems woody, not prickly; erect shrub . 3. Pirus.
Stems woody, prickly.
Flowers white . 5. Rubus.
Flowers pink . 14. Rosa.
Stems herbaceous, creeping, not prickly . 6. Fragaria.
Fruit dry, not berry-like.
Pistil only 1; stamens 15; flowers white . 9. Stellariopsis.
Pistils 3 to 15 or numerous.
Stamens 5; leaflets 3; petals yellow . 10. Sibbaldia.
Stamens 5 to 15, inserted near throat of calyx, dis¬
tant from the receptacle; leaflets more than 3... 8. Horkelia.
Stamens 20 or more, inserted on base of calyx near
the receptacle.
Styles straight, falling from the mature ovary . 7. Potentiixa.
Styles hooked (or feathery), persistent . 11. Geum.
B. Leaves simple (dissected into many small lobes in Chamaebatia; all
woody plants).
a. Pistils numerous; leaves large, palmately lobed. .Rubus parviflorus, p. 125.
b. Pistils about 5, becoming several-seeded pods; flowers
rose-color . 1. Spiraea.
c. Pistils 5, becoming 1-seeded dry fruits; flowers white.. 2. Holodiscus.
d. Pistil 1.
Leaves finely cut into small lobes . 12. Chamaebatia.
Leaves simply toothed or entire.
Petals none; pistil becoming a feathery-tailed akene..l3. Cercocarpus.
Petals white.
Ovary superior; fruit a cherry . 15. Prunus.
Ovary inferior; fruit berry-like . 4. Amelanchier.
124
ROSE FAMILY
1. SPIRAEA. Spirea.
1. S. densiflora Nutt. Stems woody. Leaves simple, ellip¬
tic or short-oblong, very obtuse, sharply toothed above the
entire base, 34 to 1^2 in. long, narrowed to petioles less than
34 in. long. Flowers rose-color, in a compact roundish
terminal cluster 34 to 134 in. across, the peduncle longer than
the leaves. Petals 5, rounded. Stamens 20 or more. Pistils
about 5, each becoming a small several-seeded pod. (S. betulae -
folia rosea Gray.)
The leafy stems of this plant form dense clumps 2 ft. or
less high, and the rounded summit is rosy with the compact
flower-clusters. The species grows in rocky moist soil, as
at Yosemite Falls, Lake Tenaya, Lake Merced, and Matter¬
horn Canon.
2. HOLODISCUS.
1. H. discolor var. dumosa Maxim. Ocean Spray. Stems
woody, intricately branched, 1 to 4 ft. high. Leaves simple,
obovate, narrowed to a nearly sessile base, obtuse, coarsely
toothed above the middle, about 34 in. long (|4 to 1 in.),
whitish soft-tomentose beneath. Flowers numerous, small,
white, in oblong or pyramidal terminal panicles. Petals 5,
rounded. Stamens 20. Pistils 5, distinct, becoming hairy
akenes.
Rocky ledges and cliffs form the natural habitat of this
plant, which may be tall or short, many or few-flowered,
depending on the soil conditions and altitude. It ranges from
Yosemite Valley and Lake Eleanor to 9000 ft. alt. and doubt¬
less even higher.
3. PIRUS. Mountain Ash. Rowan.
1. P. occidentalis Wats. Western Mountain Ash. Stems
woody, 2 to 6 ft. high. Leaves pinnately compound, 4 to 8
in. long, glabrous. Leaflets 7 to 11, oblong, obtuse, toothed
above the middle, 1 to 234 in. long. Flowers white, about 34
in. across, in flat-topped clusters much shorter than the leaves.
Stamens 20. (P. sambucifolia , of Bot. Calif. Sorbus occidentalis
Greene.)
The Mountain Ash is a rare, deciduous shrub, beautiful in
foliage and in flower, but especially striking in late summer
and autumn when the large clusters of berry-like fruits turn
to coral-red. It grows on stream banks or in other moist
places from Tuolumne Canon, Snow Creek, and Crescent
Lake to Mt. Lyell and the Sierran crest. The common name
ROSE FAMILY
125
was not well chosen, for the term ash properly belongs only to
species of Fraxinus, but “Mountain Ash” as applied to Pirus,
is now too firmly established to be dislodged.
4. AMELANCHIER.
Service Berry. June Berry. Shad Bush.
1. A. alnifolia Nutt. Stems woody, divaricately branched,
2 to 10 ft. high. Leaves simple, short-petioled, /2 to 1 in.
long, oval or short oblong, toothed around the very obtuse
summit, pubescent beneath. Flowers white, in short leafy-
bracted lateral racemes. Petals 5, spatulate, 24 to J2 in. long,
much exceeding the calyx and the 20 very short stamens.
Ovary inferior.
Our species of Service Berry is a common, red-twigged
shrub which produces pulpy, black, roundish fruits J4 in. in
diameter. The edible pulp is an article of food among the
Indians, but its sickly-sweetish taste is not pleasant to
epicurean palates. The abundant white bloom often covers
whole thickets, as is shown in our illustration. A dwarf form
of the shrub has been found at high altitudes.
5. RUBUS.
Bushes with erect or trailing stems. Stamens numerous.
Pistils many, crowded on an elevated receptacle, becoming
fleshy and fusing to form a so-called berry.
1. R. parviflorus Nutt. Thimble Berry. A woody-stemmed
perennial, 2 to 3 ft. high, without prickles. Leaves simple,
palmately 5-lobed (lobes toothed), circular in outline, heart-
shaped at base, 3 to 7 in. across, on petioles 1 to 3 in. long.
Petals white, 24 in* long- Fruit large, with luscious but thin
pulp. ( R . nutkanus Moc.)
The broad, horizontally spreading leaves mark this species
as a shade-lover. It is especially common along streams in
partial shade of pine and oak trees and is plentiful from our
lower borders up to at least 7000 ft. alt. Only the birds seem
to find the picking of the berries a profitable occupation. In
the eastern states this plant is known as Salmon Berry, while
certain members of the raspberry group are there called
thimble berries.
2. R. leucodermis Dough Wild Raspberry. Stems woody,
prickly. Leaflets 3 to 7, ovate, acute, doubly toothed, 1 to 2^4
in. long, green above, white beneath. Petals white, about 24
in. long. Fruit either black or red, edible.
The Wild Raspberry forms thickets at a few places in
126
ROSE FAMILY
Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite valleys and elsewhere along our
lower borders. Its berries are as highly flavored as those
of any cultivated species and are eagerly sought by campers,
who usually find, however, that the birds have preceded them.
, * - *'• !
6. FRAGARIA. Strawberry.
Perennials with running stems which root at the joints,
the white flowers in small clusters. Leaves basal, each with
3 obovate or wedge-shaped toothed leaflets and with a pair
of stipules at base of petiole. Sepals 5, alternating with as
many sepal-like bractlets. Petals 5, obtuse, never notched.
Stamens about 20. Receptacle hemispheric or conic, becom¬
ing enlarged and juicy, bearing the minute dry akenes scat¬
tered over its surface.
1. F. californica C. & S. California Wild Strawberry.
Leaflets sessile, ^ to 2 in. long, silky-pubescent beneath.
Flowers white, ^ to 1 in. across, in irregular clusters, the
branches being very unequal. Seed-like akenes set in shallow
pits of the juicy fruit.
The California Strawberry is most abundant in the Coast
Ranges, but it occurs also in the foothills of the Sierra
Nevada, as from Crockers to Big Meadows and the Mariposa
Grove, and has been found as high as 6200 ft. alt. in Little
Yosemite Valley. The Sierran plants are almost entirely of
the var. crinita Hall, distinguished by their thicker leaves and
by the long, white, almost shaggy hairs of the petioles and
flower-stalks. The berries, though small, are of delicious
flavor.
2. F. virginiana Duch. Leaflets mostly short-stalked, 1 to
3 in. long (shorter in one var.), silky-pubescent beneath,
nearly glabrous above. Flowers white, x/2 to 1 in. across, on
nearly equal branches of a few-flowered umbel. Seed-like
akenes set in deep pits of the juicy fruit.
Visitors to the Yosemite are not long in locating the
strawberry beds and filling their baskets with the luscious
fruit. These patches, like those to be found at the Hog
Ranch, near Hetch Hetchy, are doubtless the result of plant¬
ings of roots brought from the East by the early settlers,
since the plants have all of the characters of the eastern
form. The native wild strawberries of this species, which
grows throughout the Sierra Nevada from about 4000 ft. alt.
to timber-line, belong to the following varieties: Var. platy-
petala Hall, distinguished by its smoother and greener appear¬
ance, the leaves being practically glabrous above and with
ROSE FAMILY
127
a slight bloom; petals mostly larger than in the species,
often nearly twice as long as the calyx. Var. platypetala
f. sibbaldifolia Hall is a sub-alpine form of small size, the
leaflets to 1 in. long, toothed only around the summit,
the lateral ones nearly sessile. It grows on Mt. Dana and
elsewhere toward timber-line, but as one descends he finds
the plants becoming larger and larger, gradually taking on
the characters of var. platypetala.
7. POTENTILLA.
Annual and perennial herbs, one species a low shrub, with
compound leaves. Flowers yellow or whitish, in terminal
clusters or solitary, never sessile. Calyx nearly flat to cup¬
shaped, with 5 main teeth alternating with 5 tooth-like bract-
lets. Petals 5, broad, obtuse, often notched. Stamens at
least 20, inserted on a thickened ring near base of calyx;
filaments thread-like. Pistils 10 to 80, on a conical receptacle
which does not become fleshy or juicy, each pistil maturing
into a dry seed-like akene.
Stems erect and woody; low shrub of high altitudes . . 1. P. fruticosa.
Stems creeping and rooting in wet places . 2. P. anserina.
Stems erect or reclining, neither woody nor rooting from the
joints.
Leaflets 3.
All 3 leaflets sessile or short-stalked . 3. P. flabellifolia
Terminal leaflet long-stalked . 4. P. grayi.
Leaflets 5 or more, all from summit of petiole.
Stems mostly 1 ft. or more high . 5. P. gracilis.
Stems Yi to 1 ft. high . 6. P. dissect a.
Leaflets 5 or more, scattered along the petiole.
Herbage white with soft cottony hairs . 7. P. brezveri.
Herbage green, more or less viscid-pubescent.
Flowers yellow . 8. P. glandulosa.
Flowers white or cream-color when fresh . 9. P.lactea.
1. P. fruticosa L. Shrubby Cinquefoil. Leaves to Y\
in. long, on petioles of in. or less, much crowded, white
silky-pubescent beneath; leaflets 3 to 7, pinnately arranged
but very crowded, oblong, entire, ^4 in* or less long. Flowers
yellow, ^2 to 1 in. across, the petals orbicular. ( Dasiphora
fruticosa Rydb.)
As indicated by its name, this is a true shrub. The very
leafy branches, with a shreddy, reddish bark, and the large,
yellow flowers render it an attractive object at about timber-
line on the higher mountains. It is plentiful on Mt. Dana,
Mt. Lyell, etc., its range extending thence northward to
Alaska and around the world in sub-arctic regions.
ROSE FAMILY
128
2. P. anserina L. Silver-weed. Leaves 6 to 18 in. long
including the petiole, green above, white-silky beneath; leaf¬
lets 7 to 21, Y* to 1 in. long, with smaller ones interposed,
oblong, sharply toothed. Flowers yellow, solitary on very
long pedicels. ( Argentina anserina Rydb.)
The Silver-weed inhabits marshy or springy places where
the stems creep along the ground, rooting at the joints and
sending up tufts of leaves and long, naked flowering stems.
It is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
3. P. flabellifolia Hook. Leaves few, on petioles 14 to 4
in. long, chiefly basal, thin, obscurely pubescent; leaflets 3,
all sessile or nearly so, Yz to 1 in. long, fan-shaped, deeply
and obtusely few-toothed, the lateral ones oblique. Flowers
yellow, in a loose cyme. (P. gelida Wats., not Meyer.)
The broad, green leaves of only 3 leaflets, the long petioles,
and the flowers of a very bright, cheerful yellow best mark
this species. It grows abundantly in moist soil at Lake Ten-
aya, Snow Flat, Clouds Rest, and other places at high
altitudes.
4. P. grayi Wats. Leaves on petioles Y in. or less long
(except a few bract-like ones), nearly or quite glabrous;
leaflets 3, the terminal one distinctly stalked, Ya to Va in. long,
obovate, coarsely and deeply 5 to 7-toothed, the teeth mostly
acute. Flowers yellow, in a loose cluster or solitary.
This is a rather dwarf plant with the leaves all huddled at
the base and the flowering stalks 6 in. or less high. It is
found sparingly at high altitudes.
5. P. gracilis Dough Leaves mostly in tufts from the
base, on petioles 2 to 8 in. long,
soft-pubescent above, densely silky
or white-tomentose beneath; stem-
leaves smaller and shorter-petioled;
leaflets 5 to 7, all sessile on the end
of the petiole, 1 to 2 in. long, ob-
lanceolate, divided into lanceolate
acute teeth. Flowers yellow, nu¬
merous in the loose terminal
cluster.
This robust plant is commonly
12 to 18 in. high. Its numerous
forms have given rise to many
named varieties. Var. rigida Wats.
(P. nuttallii Lehm.) has leaves long-
hairy beneath but not woolly. Var. fastigiata Wats., is stout
ROSE FAMILY
129
and low, with broad greenish leaflets. Var. hallii Wolff, is a
low form with very green leaves and short petals scarcely
exceeding the calyx. P. blaschkeana Turcz., is a large form
with leaflets cleft into narrowly ovate or oblong teeth, silky
and green above, white and tomentose beneath. — All of these
are common throughout the middle Sierra Nevada.
6. P. dissecta Pursh. Similar to P. gracilis but smaller.
Petioles 2 in. or less long. Leaves somewhat silky but green
on both sides, the leaflets sharply cut-toothed. — Eastern slope
of the Sierra Nevada, reaching Mt. Lyell.
7. P. breweri Wats. Leaves mostly in a basal tuft, on
petioles % to 2 in. long, densely white silky-pubescent on
both sides; leaflets 5 to 11, crowded along the common rachis,
Y to 34 in- long, broadly wedge-shaped and deeply cut¬
toothed. Flowers yellow, rather few.
In typical P. breweri the stems are nearly erect and the
flowers quite compact. In var. expansa Wats., the widely
spreading stems are upwardly curved and the flower-clusters
loosely expanded. The white, almost cotton-like covering of
the leaves contrasts well with the bright-yellow flowers. The
stems are 6 to 18 in. high. The variety is common from
Snow Flat and Clouds Rest to the crest of the Sierra Nevada.
The type locality of the species is Mono Pass.
8. P. glandulosa var. nevadensis Wats. Leaves
3 to 10 in. long, on petioles 1 to 4 in. long, those
toward the top gradually smaller, soft-pubescent
and somewhat glandular, not tomentose or cot¬
tony; leaflets 5 to 9, not crowded, from less than
Yz to V/z in. long, obovate, regularly sharp-
toothed. Flowers yellow, in an open cluster.
( Drymocallis glandulosa monticola Rydb.)
The stems of this plant are usually erect, Yz to
2 ft. high, and bear several leaves in addition to
the basal cluster. It is common up to 11,000 ft.,
where, however, it becomes much dwarfed. Vari¬
ous forms have been named but only the var.
redexa Greene, with reflexed petals and calyx-
lobes, can be satisfactorily separated.
9. P. l£ctea Greene. The white or cream-colored flowers
constitute the only character by which this may be certainly
distinguished from no. 8, and even these often turn yellow in
drying. The stems are slender and erect and the petals do
not much exceed the calyx. It grows in open places in the
pine forests from about 4000 to 9000 ft. alt. In the lower part
ROSE FAMILY
130
of its range and in protected places the stems are tall, the
leaves broad, and the petals are often much longer than the
calyx. This form, which grows at Hog Ranch and in Fresno
County, has been called Drymocallis gracilis Rydb.
8. HORKELIA.
Perennial herbs with pinnately compound leaves and yel¬
low or white flowers in close terminal clusters (sessile, or
pedicels shorter than calyx). Calyx cup-shaped, with 5 main
teeth alternating with 5 tooth-like bractlets. Petals 5, wedge-
shaped to linear. Stamens 5 to 15, inserted on the calyx-
throat and therefore well separated from the receptacle; fila¬
ments either filiform or dilated. Pistils 2 to numerous, on a
permanently dry conical receptacle, becoming akenes. — Aside
from the technical characters, our species differ from Poten-
tilla in having smaller flowers in more compact clusters.
Flowers white.
Stamens 10; filaments broad.
Leaflets 11 to 17 . 1. H. fuse a.
Leaflets 5 to 9 . 2. H. tridentata.
Stamens about 15; filaments thread-like . 3. H. unguiculata.
Flowers yellow; stamens 5 or 10.
Leaves green . 4. H. gordonii.
Leaves densely white-silky, worm-like . 5. H. muirii.
1. H. fusca Lindl. Stems mostly 1 to V/2 ft. high, purplish
or green. Leaves 3 to 5 in. long, including petiole, somewhat
glandular, either green or whitish pubescent; leaflets 11 to 17,
wedge-shaped, % to ^4 in. long, the upper portion deeply
toothed or cut into acute divisions. Flowers white, the calyx
purplish. ( Potentilla douglasii Greene.) Var. tenella Wats., is
the more slender form, 6 in. to 1 ft. high, the flowers smaller
(Horkelia tenella Rydb., H. parvidora Nutt., and Potentilla
andersonii Greene).
This plant has numerous leaves at base but passing up the
stem they become fewer and smaller. In the Yosemite and
at Hog Ranch the foliage is green and glandular; at Lake
Tenaya, where it covers exposed slopes, the foliage is almost
white with soft hairs.
2. H. tridentata Torr. Stems 9 to 18 in. high. Leaves 1 to
3 in. long including petiole, always white or gray with silky
hairs; leaflets 5 to 9, linear to obovate, ^ to Yt. in. long,
entire or three-toothed at apex (rarely 4 or 5-toothed).
Petals oblanceolate, white, slightly exceeding the sepals. (Po¬
tentilla tilingii Greene.)
The silky pubescence and few teeth of the leaflets best mark
ROSE FAMILY I3I
this species. It grows in the pine forests at middle altitudes,
as at Yosemite Valley and Hog Ranch.
3. H. unguiculata Rydb. Stems numerous, 6 to 15 in. high,
leafy to the top. Leaves 2 to 5 in. long, grayish with scat¬
tered hairs; leaflets numerous and crowded (30 or more),
in. or less long, divided to the base into linear segments.
Flowers white, the calyx commonly purplish. ( Ivesia ungui¬
culata Gray.) — Remarkable for its leafy stem and soft, crowd¬
ed leaflets. First described from specimens gathered at West-
falls Meadows by H. N. Bolander (alt. 8000 ft.) but now
known to range south to Fresno Co.
4. H. gorddnii Hook. Flowering stems 2 to 8 in. high,
nearly leafless. Leaves basal, ^ to 3 in. long, scarcely peti-
oled, green or yellowish green, obscurely hairy; leaflets
numerous, about ^ to *4 in- long* cleft nearly to base into
narrow divisions, closely placed but not entirely masking the
leaf-stalk. Flowers yellow, in slightly branched or more
head-like terminal clusters. ( Ivesia gordonii T. & G.)
The narrow leaves of this plant form dense tufts resem¬
bling clumps of certain mosses. It grows only near timber-
line and many forms occur. One, with conspicuous petals
exceeding the calyx, is the var. megalopetala Rydb. Another,
with very dwarf habit and bristle-tipped leaves, has been
called H. pygmaea Rydb. A third form, likewise dwarfed, with
leaves only 1 in. long, the minute segments densely crowded
(not bristle-tipped) is H. lycopodioides Rydb.; it comes from
Mt. Hoffmann and Mt. Dana. Such forms, however, do not
serve well for species.
5. H. muirii Rydb. Stems erect, slender, 1 to 5 in. high.
Leaves 1 to lji in. long, terete, white or pale and silky with
a dense soft hairiness; leaflets very numerous, minute, com¬
pletely covering the central stalk nearly to the base. Flowers
in white-hairy heads, the minute yellow petals linear. ( Poten -
tilla muirii Greene.)
This is a most peculiar Alpine plant, with its dense, basal
tuft of worm-like leaves, and short, nearly naked flowering
stalks each capped by a round head of minute flowers. It in¬
habits gravelly slopes high up on Mt. Hoffmann, where it was
first found by John Muir, in whose honor it was named.
9. STELLARIOPSIS.
1. S. santolinoides Greene. Stems slender, erect, y2 to 1 ft.
high, nearly naked, widely branched above. Leaves cylin-
dric, 1 to 3 or 4 in. long, gray and silky with a dense pu-
ROSE FAMILY
I32
bescence; leaflets minute, scale-like, imbricated. Petals
white, exceeding the short sepals. Stamens 15. Pistil only 1.
( Ivesia santolinoides Gray.)
The peculiar, worm-like leaves form the most striking fea¬
ture of this plant, which may also be known by its very dif¬
fuse panicle of numerous flowers. It always grows in sandy,
open places and is especially plentiful on the gravelly domes
around the Yosemite. It was first discovered by H. N.
Bolander, of the State Geological Survey, along the Merced
River at 9000 ft. alt.
10. SIBBALDIA.
1. S. procumbens L. Leaves softly hairy, compound, with
3 terminal leaflets, the lower petioles to 3
in. long; leaflets broadly wedge-shaped, 3 to
5-toothed at apex, %. to ^ in* long, short-
stalked. Flowers few, distinctly pediceled.
Petals 5, yellow, spatulate, shorter than the
calyx. Stamens 5. Pistils 5 to 20, the fruit
dry.
The general appearance of Sibbaldia sug¬
gests strawberry plants, but the numerous
flowering stems, 2 to 6 in. high, all spring from a mat of basal
leaves on a strong, perennial taproot, there being no creep¬
ing stems: It grows only on the higher mountains and is
much dwarfed above timber-line.
11. GEUM.
1. G. macrophyllum Willd. Stems erect, 1 to 2 ft. high,
stiff-hairy. Leaves mostly basal, 4 to 18 in. long including
the petiole; the terminal leaflet nearly orbicular, lobed and
coarsely toothed, 2 to 6 in. wide; other leaflets smaller, some
minute. Flowers yellow, to ^ in* across, calyx-lobes
reflexed. Stamens numerous. Pistils numerous.
This perennial herb is at once recognized by the bur-like
fruits and odd leaves, the large, terminal leaflet being out of
all proportion to the others. It grows in shaded places from
the foothills and Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows.
In G. tridorum Pursh., of Tahoe and northward, the leaves are
cut into many narrow segments, the flowers are purplish, and
the akenes have straight, feathery tails.
12. CHAMAEBATIA.
1. C. foliolosa Benth. Kit-kit-dizze. A low intricately
branched fragrant shrub. Leaves obovate-oblong, to 3 in.
ROSE FAMILY
133
long, several times pinnately dissected into minute crowded
lobes. Flowers white, y2 in. across, pediceled in loose ter¬
minal clusters. Petals 5, obovate. Stamens many. Pistil 1,
simple.
Kit-kit-dizze, the Indian name of this charming, fern-like,
little plant has been adopted at the suggestion of Dr. C. Hart
Merriam. Although sometimes called “Bear Clover,” bears
will have nothing to do with it, and “Mountain Misery,” an¬
other of its names, is wholly inappropriate. It is often known
as “Tarweed,” but the true tarweeds are all Compositae. The
finely cut foliage forms fragrant carpets in open pine forests
of middle and lower altitudes. On warm days the odors dis¬
tilled from the resinous leaves are very suggestive of healing
properties. The plant has been collected in large quantities
for medicinal purposes.
13. CERCOCARPUS. Mountain Mahogany.
1. C. parvifolius Nutt. Mountain Mahogany. Hard Tack.
Stems woody, 6 to 12 ft. high, with a thin gray bark. Leaves
simple, obovate, coarsely toothed above the middle, veiny,
glabrous above, y2 to 2l/2 in. long. Flowers in clusters of 2
or 3. Calyx with a slender stem-like tube and salverform
limb. Petals none. Stamens numerous. Pistil 1, becoming a
1-celled akene with a twisted feathery tail 2 in. long.
The exceedingly hard and beautiful wood of this loosely
spreading shrub has given its common name. It grows in
Hetch Hetchy Valley and the lower foothills, where whole
slopes are sometimes made gray by its peculiar, feathery-
tailed seed-bodies. On the easterly slope of the Sierra
Nevada, as near Mono Pass, and in some parts of southern
California, it is replaced by a species with narrow, entire
leaves (C. ledifolius Nutt.).
14. ROSA. Rose.
1. R. californica C. & S. California Wild Rose. Stems
erect, 1 to 6 ft. high, with stout recurved prickles. Leaves
pinnate, hairy; leaflets 5 or 7, ovate to elliptic, sharply
toothed, to 1 y2 in. long. Flowers pink, y2 to 1 in. across.
Petals 5 to 8, rounded. Stamens numerous. Ovaries many,
hard at maturity and enclosed in the globose fleshy calyx-
tube, which is called a “hip.”
This common rose grows around all the meadows of Yo-
semite, Hetch Hetchy, and other low valleys, but reaches
6000 ft. alt. in a dwarfed form. The flowers are both abun¬
dant and fragrant.
134
ROSE FAMILY
15. PRUNUS. Cherry. Plum.
Shrubs or small trees with reddish astringent bark, simple
leaves, and showy white flowers. Petals 5. Stamens 15 to
30. Pistil 1. Fruit globose, without bloom, the pulp covering
a bony stone.
1. P. emarginata Walp. Bitter Cherry. Leaves oblong-
obovate, obtuse, finely toothed, Y to 1$4 in.
long, on petioles *4 in. or less long; blade
with 1 or 2 glands on the narrowed base.
Flowers white, 3 to 10 in each lateral cluster.
Cherry oval, bright red, bitter.
Many a thicket in the mountains is formed
of this shrub, especially where the soil is
fairly moist and at more than middle alti¬
tudes. The cherries have a slight tonic effect and are used
medicinally by mountaineers, who allow them to stand in
whiskey or brandy and then drink the extract.
2. P. demfssa Walp. Western Choke-cherry. Leaves ob¬
long or broad-elliptic, acute, finely toothed, 1J4
to 3 in. long; petiole ]4 to in. long, with 1 or
2 glands just below its summit. Racemes 2 to
4 in. long, each with 20 to 50 white flowers.
Cherry dark purple, bitter.
The Choke-cherry is a graceful shrub, often
6 to 15 or even 50 ft. high. The beautiful fruits
are very attractive during the summer months
but their strongly astringent qualities are not
pleasing to the taste. The plant grows in
moist places up to 6000 ft. and is often met
with in the Yosemite.
3. P. subcordata Benth. Sierra Plum. Leaves elliptic or
almost round, to 1^4 in. long; petiole about *4 in. long.
Flowers 2 to 4 in a cluster, white. Fruit a red plum, $4 to 1
in. long, either with dry pulp or juicy and edible.
The stiff, crooked stems of the wild plum are usually 3 to 6
ft. high and much branched. The plant, which is seldom seen
in bloom, grows in the lower part of Yosemite Valley, in
Hetch Hetchy Valley, etc. With us the fruit usually remains
small and dry but in the northern Sierra Nevada it becomes
large and is gathered in quantity, both for eating fresh and
for preserving. The plums are exceptionally fine in Plumas
and Modoc counties, where, in addition to the red-fruited
form, there is one with yellow fruits.
PEA FAMILY
135
LEGUMINOSAE. Pea Family.
Herbs and shrubs, ours with alternate compound leaves
with stipules. Calyx S-toothed or in Lupinus 2-lipped. Cor¬
olla of 5 petals, irregular and butterfly-like; the upper petal
is the banner, the lateral petals are the wings, the 2 lowest
petals unite by their edges to form the keel. Stamens 10,
united into a sheath around the ovary, or 1 of them free.
Pistil 1, maturing into a 1-celled several-seeded pod.
A. Flowers in racemes.
Leaflets 3; flowers small, yellow . 2. Medicago.
Leaflets more than 3.
Leaves palmate, the leaflets all from the summit of the
petiole . 1. Lupinus.
Leaves pinnate, the leaflets arranged along the sides of
the common axis.
Leaves not tendril-bearing . 5. Astragalus.
Leaves ending in slender tendrils.
Style hairy all around the summit . 6. Vicia.
Style hairy on the upper side only . 7. Lathyrus.
B. Flowers in heads or in umbels or solitary.
Leaves palmately compound, the 3 leaflets all from the sum¬
mit of the petiole . 3. Trifolium.
Leaves pinnately compound . 4. Hosackia.
Cercis occidentalis Torr., the Western Red-bud or Judas
Tree, grows in the foothill canons below our borders. It is
a shrub with reddish flowers appearing in spring before the
simple, rounded leaves.
1. LUPINUS. Lupine.
Herbs and low shrubs with palmately compound leaves of
more than 3 leaflets. Flowers showy, in terminal racemes or
spikes. Calyx 2-lipped. Pod oblong, flattened, 2 to 12-seeded.
A. Annuals.
Flowers in. or less long, purplish and white . 1. L. micranthus.
Flowers over y2 in. long, pink and yellow . 2. L. stiver sii.
B. Perennials.
Leaflets mostly 1 l/2 in. or more long.
Leaves green and nearly glabrous . 3. L. longipes.
Leaves pale, long-hairy . . . 4. L. covillei.
Leaflets under 1 y2 in. or rarely 2 in. long.
Flowers y2 in. or more long.
Keel hairy on the inner edge.
Banner glabrous; pubescence slightly spreading. . 5. L. grayi.
Banner hairy on back; foliage silvery-pubescent.. 6. L. ornatus.
Keel entirely without hairs . 7. L. forinosus.
PEA FAMILY
136
Flowers less than in. long.
Petioles longer than the leaflets.
Stems to 3 ft. high . 8. L. albicaulis.
Stems rarely over 1 ft. high.
Leaflets acute.
Flowers blue or pink . 9. L. confcrtus.
Flowers nearly white; dwarf . 10. L. danaus.
Leaflets obtuse, silky; matted plant . 11. L. breweri.
Petioles mostly shorter than leaflets; erect white-
hairy plant; flowers not J4 in. long . 12. L. meionanthus.
1. L. micranthus Dougl. Small-flowered Lupine. Stems
several from the base, leafy, 5 to 15 in. high, gray-pubescent.
Leaflets linear or linear-oblanceolate, J4 to 1 in. long, densely
gray-pubescent on both sides. Flowers scarcely ^ in. long,
mostly in 3 to 6 whorls, blue or purplish, the banner with a
central white spot which changes to purple.
Throughout the length of California, especially on the plains
and in the foothills, we find this to be the most abundant
lupine. In our district it ranges up to 4000 ft. alt., as in Yo-
semite Valley. A common form, or perhaps a distinct species,
is the var. bicolor Wats., known by its larger flowers to
in. long) ; this is plentiful on the flats around Wawona and
along the Tuolumne River below 4500 ft. alt. The root-tuber¬
cles are usually well formed in these annual species, indicating
their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through the aid of
bacteria, and in this way they enrich the soil in which they
grow, especially if plowed under at maturity.
2. L. stiversii Kell. Stem much branched, leafy, 6 to 18 in.
high, finely pubescent. Leaflets obovate or wedge-shaped,
obtuse, to 1 /4 in. long, green and succulent, sparsely hairy.
Flowers fully in. long, scattered in the raceme; banner
yellow, fading to salmon-color; wings rose-pink.
In point of color, this is the most striking of all our lupines,
the large flowers being yellow in the center and with a bright-
pink or rose-color border. It always grows in warm, sandy or
gravelly places and is restricted to the western slopes of the
middle Sierra Nevada and a few localities in the Coast Ranges.
In our district it has been found sparingly from the foot of
El Capitan to El Portal, on several slopes near Wawona, on
Sawmill Mt., and near Hog Ranch. L. citrinus Kell., with pure-
yellow flowers, may be expected in similar situations.
3. L. longipes Greene. A leafy bushy plant, 2 to 6 ft.
high. Leaflets 7 to 11, lanceolate, acute, 2 to 4 in. long, green
and little if at all hairy. Flowers about *4 in. long, in elon¬
gated racemes, blue or lavender, the banner with white center,
PEA FAMILY 1 37
the keel hairy on inner edge. Pods about 7-seeded, the seeds
flattened.
The green, leafy clumps of this lupine, plumed with numer¬
ous racemes of blue flowers, may be seen in springy places
and around nearly any of our meadows from the altitude of
Wawona well up toward timber-line. Plants growing in wet
meadows are usually more succulent and larger-flowered than
those which inhabit the half-dry borders a short distance
away.
4. L. covillei Greene. Stems in rounded clumps, \y2 to 2 y2
ft. high, leafy up to the flowers. Leaflets 7 to 9, very narrowly
lanceolate, \x/2 to 4 in. long, shaggy with long hairs. Flowers
about y2 in. long, in dense racemes, equalled by the persistent
bracts, purple. Pods shaggy, about 1 in. long, 5 or 6-seeded. —
Mt. Hoffmann, Lake Tenaya, Seavey Pass, Tilden Lake, and
elsewhere at high altitudes.
5. L. grayi Wats. Stems scarcely woody at base, growing
in rounded clumps about 1 ft. high, naked near the flowers.
Leaflets 7 to 9, oblanceolate, 94 to 1/4 in- long, gray with a
somewhat spreading dense pubescence, not shining. Flowers
y2 in. long, blue or purple, the banner yellow in the middle
and entirely glabrous on the back, even in bud; keel hairy
along the upper edge.
This beautiful and fragrant plant, which was named in
honor of Dr. Asa Gray, and so might be called Gray’s Lupine,
often covers whole hillsides in the open pine forest. Its range
extends from about 4000 ft. alt., as in Yosemite Valley and
near Wawona (the type locality), to at least 6500 ft., as in
Little Yosemite and Aspen valleys. Excellent specimens may
be seen on the pine flats above Mirror Lake.
6. L. ornatus Dough Similar to L. grayi, but the stems
woody, often forming distinct trunks, and the plant bushy;
foliage shining and silvery with closely appressed hairs; ban¬
ner hairy on the back, especially in bud. — Of low altitudes, as
along the slopes of Merced Canon below Yosemite Valley;
even more handsome than no. 5, because of its bush-like habit
and silvery foliage.
7. L. formdsus Greene. Stems weak, often curved at base,
usually many in a rounded clump, iy to 3 ft. high, leafy nearly
to the flowers. Leaflets 7 to 9, linear-lanceolate, 94 to 1/^ in-
long, silky-hairy. Flowers l/2 in. long, “rich violet,” the keel
glabrous. — Plentiful around Wawona and elsewhere at low
altitudes; a beautiful and showy species.
8. L. albicaulis Dough Habit and appearance of L. for -
PEA FAMILY
138
ntosus but the pubescence sparse and appressed, the flowers
smaller and less brightly colored, tawny to dull blue, the keel
much exposed. — Scattered throughout the lower part of the
Yellow Pine Belt, in a mostly blue-flowered form. Flowers
sometimes nearly as large as in L. formosus, which may be
only a variety of this. In the Botany of California, L. parvi-
Horus is reported from the Yosemite, but the specimens the
authors had in mind were apparently L. albicaulis.
9. L. confertus Kell. Stems erect, 6 to 15 in. high, each
ending in a naked-peduncled raceme. Leaflets 5 to 8, nar¬
rowly oblanceolate, acute, H to 1^4 in. long, gray with loose
spreading hairs. Flowers crowded, about Y in. long, blue or
pinkish, the banner oblong and keel hairy along the upper
edge.
Under this species we are obliged to retain a large number
of forms until the group is more thoroughly worked out by
specialists. Genuine L. confertus is an erect plant with con¬
spicuous bracts and is common in many of our drier meadows.
A smaller plant of the dry hillsides, with leaves only Ya to Ya
in. long, has passed as L. minimus, which is perhaps a differ¬
ent species of Oregon and northward.
10. L. danaus Gray. An Alpine dwarf, the stems often
prostrate, 1 to 4 in. high. Leaflets 4 to 6, acute, % to 54 in.
long, gray-hairy. Flowers few, crowded, about 54 in. long,
pale pink or nearly white, the keel tipped with purple and
hairy along its upper edge. — Only above or near timber-line,
the original specimens from Mt. Dana at about 12,500 ft. alt.
11. L. breweri Gray. Stems woody, spreading, 9 in. or
less long, very leafy. Leaflets 6 to 10, obovate, obtuse, *4 to
Y\ 1°- long, soft and nearly white with appressed silky hairs.
Flowers crowded, % in. long, blue, the banner roundish, the
keel hairy along upper edge.
This plant grows in gray, leafy mats studded with the com¬
pact, blue, flower-clusters which are only 2 in. or less long.
It inhabits gravelly ridges and slopes above 5000 ft. alt., being
very common on El Capitan, Sentinel Dome, and similar sum¬
mits. The original specimens came from the “Yosemite trail,
alt. 6000 ft.”
12. L. meion^nthus Gray. Stems erect, from a woody
root, 1 to 2 ft. high, very leafy up to the flowers. Leaflets
5 to 7, narrowly lanceolate, acute, ^ to 1 in. long, mostly
longer than the petioles, silvery with soft hairs. Flowers pale
blue, scarcely Ya in. long. — From the Minarets and Rancheria
Mt. to Tahoe and Nevada.
139
PEA FAMILY
2. MEDICAGO.
Herbs with pinnately compound leaves (leaflets only 3)
and small usually yellow flowers in short racemes. Intro¬
duced plants of some forage value, now running wild. The
ordinary Alfalfa, with blue flowrers, is a member of this genus.
1. M. hispida Gaertn. Bur Clover. Herbage nearly gla¬
brous. Leaflets obovate, about Yz in. long, rigidly toothed.
Peduncles 3 to 5-flowered. Pod twisted into 3 to 5 coils, the
thin edge with hooked or curved prickles. ( M . denticulata
Willd.) — Sparingly introduced; the stems, which are a few
inches to 2 ft. long, lie flat on the ground and bear numerous
burs.
2. M. lupulina L. Nonesuch. Black Medick. Much like
Bur Clover but with more flowers and kidney-shaped 1-seeded
pods which are not at all bur-like. — Grows at Crockers and
perhaps elsewhere near settlements.
M. apiculata Willd., if found, may be distinguished by its
several-seeded, spirally coiled, unarmed pods. Otherwise it
is exactly like M. hispida.
3. TRIFOLIUM. Clover.
Herbs with palmately compound leaves (leaflets 3 in our
species) and white, red or purple flowers in head-like clus¬
ters. Pod oblong, 1 to 8-seeded.
A. Flower-heads subtended by an involucre of distinct or
united bracts.
Bracts minute (rarely ^ in. long) . 1.
Bracts conspicuous, at least half as long as calyx. ,
Herbage plainly pubescent.
Involucre flat; flowers over y2 in. long . 2.
Involucre cup-shaped; flowers much smaller . 6.
Herbage glabrous.
Heads over J4 in. broad; leaflets mostly Y\ in.
long.
Leaflets linear or linear-lanceolate, not veiny. . . 3.
Leaflets broader, veiny . 4.
Heads less than Y* in. broad; leaflets mostly Ya,
in. long . 5.
T. monanthum.
T. obtusiftorum.
T. microcephalum.
T. tridentatum.
T. spinulosum.
T. variegatum.
B. Flower-beads naked.
Plant conspicuously pubescent.
Leaflets acute . 7.
Leaflets obtuse.
Heads dense, conic, rose-red . 8.
Heads dense, gray; calyx-teeth long-hairy . 13.
Heads loose, pale . 9.
T. longipes.
T. pratense.
T. macraei.
T. breweri.
PEA FAMILY
140
Plant glabrous.
Root perennial.
Flowers white; introduced species . 10. T. repens.
Flowers purplish; native species . 11. T. bolanderi.
Root annual; native species . 12. T. gracilentum.
1. T. monanthum Gray. Stems numerous, mostly spread¬
ing from a thick root, inch or two to a foot long. Leaves
obovate, in. or less long, nearly entire. Heads on pedun¬
cles rarely Y* in. long; involucre of 4 to 9 distinct bracts not
in. long. Flowers white (often pink-veined) with dark-
purple centers. Pod 1 to 3-seeded.
This clover, which ranges from middle altitudes to above
timber-line, was first described from specimens collected at
the Soda Springs of the Tuolumne. These were of the sub-
alpine form, in which the plants are nearly glabrous and the
heads only 1 to 3-flowered. At lower elevations the stems are
longer and more spreading, the herbage more hairy, and the
heads 3 to 8-flowered. This latter form is the var. parvum
McDer. (T. multicaule Jones). None of our other species
resemble this one, except no. 5, and that has larger, toothed
bracts.
2. T. obtusiflorum Hook. Stems stout, erect, 1 to 2 ft.
high. Leaflets narrow-elliptic or oblanceolate, about 1 in.
long, Y\ in. wide, with many spine-like teeth; stipules large,
cut-toothed. Heads purplish, 1 in. or more across, on pedun¬
cles 1 to 3 in. long; involucre irregularly cut into many spine¬
like lobes.
The remarkable clamminess readily distinguishes this spe¬
cies in the field, the robust plants being wet, as though with
dew, even on dry days. The heads are larger than in any of
our other clovers. It grows above Mirror Lake, near the El
Capitan Bridge, near Alder Creek, at El Portal, etc., and is
probably not rare in the mountains although nowhere
abundant.
3. T. tridentatum Lindl. Stems erect from a curved base,
very slender, Y* to 1Y ft. high. Leaflets slenderly lanceolate
or linear, 24 to 1*4 in. long, sharply toothed, the tip awl-like;
stipules toothed. Heads purplish, 24 in* across, on peduncles
1 or 2 in. long; involucre with slender lobes. — Shady places in
the foothills, but reaching 6200 ft. alt. in Little Yosemite
Valley.
4. T. spinulosum Dough Stems decumbent to erect, stout,
6 to 12 in. high, the whole plant glabrous. Leaflets broad-
elliptic or oblong, mostly $4 in- long and *4 to Vs in* wide,
short-tipped, minutely sharp-toothed, the midrib and cross-
PEA FAMILY
141
veinlets prominent; stipules large, toothed. Heads white and
purple, Y in. across, on peduncles 1 or 2 in. long; involucre
deeply cut into awl-shaped lobes. — Grassy places at moderate
altitudes; considered by some botanists to be a form of
T. involucratum Willd.
5. T. variegatum var. pauciflorum McDer. Stems very
slender, 9 in. or less high. Leaflets obovate, obtuse, Y in- or
less long, minutely toothed. Heads purplish, 1 to 7-flowered,
Y in. or less broad, on peduncles rarely exceeding Y in.;
involucre irregularly cleft. Pod 2-seeded. (T. geminiHorum
Greene. T. pusillum Greene.)
The weak stems of this clover, which is widely distributed
except in the high mountains, are commonly reclining or sup¬
ported by other plants. It is best distinguished by the in¬
volucre which, although evident, is smaller than in any other
species except no. 1 and subtends but few flowers.
6. T. microcephalum Pursh. Small-headed Clover. Stems
weak, spreading, 3 to 15 in. long, the herbage loosely hairy.
Leaflets spatulate and obcordate, Y* in. or less long, y in. or
less wide, toothed toward the apex; stipules ovate, tapering
to a slender tip, mostly entire. Flower-heads rose-color to
white, usually Yz in. across, on peduncles to in. long;
involucre cup-shaped, with 7 to 10 nearly entire lobes. — Com¬
mon, especially in the lower parts of our district.
7. T. longipes Nutt. Stems stout, 3 to 12 in. high, the
dense foliage often forming a sod, the herbage pubescent.
Leaflets linear-oblong (early ones roundish), acute, Y to 1/4
in. long, sharply toothed. Heads purplish, becoming brown,
dense, Y to 1 in. across; flowers nearly sessile, permanently
erect. Peduncles stout, 2 or 3 in. long. — In meadows from
4600 ft., as at Lake Eleanor, nearly to timber-line.
8. T. pratense L. Red Clover. Stems stout, erect, y2 to 2
ft. high, the herbage glabrous. Leaflets large, ovate to ellip¬
tic, nearly or quite entire. Heads large, conic. — Introduced
and running wild near the settlements.
9. T. breweri Wats. Stems weak but usually ascending,
6 to 18 in. long, leafy throughout, the herbage sparsely pu¬
bescent. Leaflets oblanceolate to roundish, Y to Y in. long,
toothed. Flowers whitish or purplish, few and loose in the
head, slender-pediceled, becoming reflexed. Peduncles to
2 in. long, spreading.
“Clark’s, Yosemite Valley” is the locality where this species
was first discovered. It is now known to be fairly common
PEA FAMILY
142
in the middle Sierra Nevada, growing in rather dry soil of
open pine forests.
10. T. repens L. White Clover. Stems short, numerous,
forming a sod. Leaflets broadly reverse-heart-shaped or
roundish. Heads medium-sized, roundish, the flowers white.
— Escaped from some of the meadows where introduced for
agricultural purposes.
11. T. bolanderi Gray. Stems 1 ft. or less high, nearly
naked save at the leafy branching base, the herbage glabrous
throughout. Leaflets narrowly obovate, obtuse, nearly entire,
to Yz in. long. Heads purplish, in. wide, on peduncles
2 to 6 in. long. Flowers pediceled, at length reflexed in the
head.
This rare clover is peculiar in having very long peduncles
terminated by umbrella-like heads of reflexed flowers. It is
known only from above the Yosemite Valley, where it has
been found at Westfall’s and Peregoy’s meadows. The for¬
mer is the type locality.
12. T. gracilentum T. & G. Pin-point Clover. Stems erect,
slender, ^ to 1 ft. high, the herbage glabrous. Leaflets
broadly wedge-shaped, notched at the broad summit, toothed,
about in. long. Peduncles % to 5 in. long. Flowers pale or
purplish, becoming reflexed, thus exposing the pin-like cen¬
tral stalk. — Of the lowlands, but reaching Wawona.
13. T. macraei H. & A. Stems stout, often wiry, much
branched at base, the herbage grayish hairy. Leaflets wedge-
shaped, obtuse, toothed above the middle, to 1 in. long.
Heads sessile or on short peduncles, rendered gray by the
long hairs of the calyx-teeth. Flowers purplish, permanently
erect. — A foothill species reaching Wawona.
4. HOSACKIA.
Herbs with pinnately compound leaves and whitish yellow¬
ish or purplish flowers borne solitary or in small clusters on
bracted peduncles. Calyx-teeth 5, nearly equal. Pod flat or
nearly cylindric, several-seeded, never inflated.
Annuals; peduncles 1 or 2-flowered.
Leaflets mostly 3; stems erect . 1. H. americana.
Leaflets mostly 4 (3 to 7).
Pods glabrous; flowers minute . 2. H. parviflora.
Pods pubescent; flowers Y\ in. or more long . 3. H. strigosa.
Perennials; several flowers terminal on each peduncle.
Stipules large; pods nearly straight, opening at maturity.
Corolla purplish . 4. H. crassifolia.
Corolla yellow and white . 5. H. torreyi.
PEA FAMILY
M3
Stipules gland-like; pods incurved, not opening.
Stems prostrate, hairy; leaflets obovate . 6. H. decumbent.
Stems nearly erect; leaflets oblong . 7. H. glabra.
1. H. americana Piper. Spanish Clover. Dakota Vetch.
Stem erect, to 2 ft. high,
leafy and hairy throughout.
Leaflets 1 to 3, ovate or oblong,
y2 to \ in. long. Flowers in.
long, salmon-colored; the pe¬
duncle exceeding the leaves.
Pod ^ to 1 in. long; seeds
oblong, smooth. ( Lotus ameri-
canus Bisch.)
The Spanish Clover is an abundant species throughout the
arid foothill belt, where it is an important forage plant for
late summer feed. It rarely occurs above 5000 ft. alt., but is
very common on the floor of Yosemite Valley, where it grows
in a small form and exhibits a wide range of variation, espe¬
cially as to the amount of pubescence of the herbage.
2. H. parviflora Benth. Stems 3 to 8 in. long, prostrate
or with ascending branches. Leaflets 3 to 5, nearly glabrous,
obovate to oblong, obtuse, less than y2 in. long. Flowers pale
pink, turning red, about y in. long, on bracted peduncles
shorter than the leaves. Pod glabrous, the edges thickened;
seeds roundish, smooth. ( Lotus micranthus Benth.) — Moist
soil at the foot of Yosemite Falls and elsewhere at moderate
altitudes; best distinguished by the green herbage and small
flowers.
3. H. strigosa var. hirtella Hall. Stems 4 to 12 in. long,
nearly prostrate, with short spreading hairs. Leaflets 4 to 7,
very hairy, oblong, obtuse, y to y in. long. Flowers yellow,
about y in. long; the peduncles either shorter or longer than
the leaves, each usually with a bract at summit. Pod hairy,
with thin edges; seeds square, rough, notched on one side.
( Lotus hirtellus Greene.)
This variety is found in the lower part of the pine belt from
near the lower end of Yosemite Valley to ridges above Hetch
Hetchy. In true H. strigosa the leaflets are usually acute and
the hairs closely appressed to the stems and leaves, while in
our variety the leaflets are obtuse and the hairs spreading.
This form occurs wherever the conditions are semi-arid, as
along the Sierra Nevada foothills and near the southern
deserts.
4. H. crassifolia Benth. Stems stout, 2 to 3 ft. high, the
PEA FAMILY
144
herbage dull green and nearly glabrous. Leaflets 9 to 15,
thick, obovate or oblong, obtuse, Y* in. or more long. Flowers
numerous, in a compact umbel, % to */> in. long, the peduncle
shorter than the leaves. Pod thick, 2 to 2J4 in. long. ( Lotus
crassifolius Greene.)
Under favorable conditions the sturdy plants of this species
appear in abundance, forming miniature thickets. Whether
growing thus together or as scattered individuals, they have
a clean, wholesome appearance, perhaps due to their smooth
herbage and upright habit of growth. Even the pods are full
and fat, as though they might yield peas fit for the table.
There is reason to suspect, however, that the seeds are poi¬
sonous. This is a rather common species throughout the
Yellow Pine Belt, extending to altitudes of at least 6500 ft.
5. H. torreyi Gray. Meadow Hosackia. Stems often 1 to
2 ft. high, mostly glabrous. Leaflets 5 to 11, softly pubescent,
narrowly oblong, mostly acute, Y* to Y in. long. Flowers Yz
in. long, yellow, with white keel and wings, on peduncles
which eventually exceed the leaves. Pod flat. ( Lotus torreyi
Greene.)
The stems of the Meadow Llosackia are weak and slender
but always erect. It grows in moist, grassy places, especially
around springs, the parti-colored flowers often forming yel-
low-and-white patches of considerable extent. Although con¬
fined to altitudes of less than about 7000 ft. the species occurs
throughout the whole length of the Sierra Nevada and also
in the North Coast Ranges.
PEA FAMILY I45
6. H. decumbens var. nevadensis Wats. Stems wiry, often
1 or 2 ft. long, the herbage conspicuously
hairy. Leaflets 3 to 5, obovate, acute, Ya
to Y* in. long. Flowers numerous, yellow¬
ish, Ya to nearly Yz in. long, the peduncle
very short. Pod strongly curved, Ya in*
long, with slender curved beak longer than
the body. ( Lotus nevadensis Greene.)
The numerous stems of this plant di¬
verge from the perennial root like the
spokes of a wheel, forming loose, leafy
mats in half-shady and dry places of open pine forests. It is
a perennial but sometimes flowers as an annual.
7. H. glabra Torr. Deer- weed. Stems woody at base, 2 to
4 ft. high, sparsely leafy, the herbage nearly glabrous. Leaf¬
lets 3 to 6, oblong, Ya to Y2 in. long. Flowers many, yellow,
turning red, Ya in- long, the umbels sessile. Pod with incurved
beak. ( Syrmatium glabrum Vog.) — A foothill species, com¬
mon at El Portal and elsewhere near our lower borders.
5. ASTRAGALUS. Loco-weed. Rattle-weed.
Perennial herbs with pinnately compound leaves, true stip¬
ules, and pale flowers in terminal racemes. Calyx 5-toothed.
Pod 2 to many-seeded, 1-celled or incompletely 2-celled.
Leaflets not prickly-pointed.
Pod sessile in the calyx.
Pod bladdery, not woolly . 1. A. lentiginosus
Pod not bladdery, woolly . 2. A. purshii.
Pod narrowed below to a stalk.
Walls of the bladdery pod thin . 3. A. whitneyi.
Walls of the firm pod thick . 4. A. bolanderi.
Leaflets prickly-pointed and rigid . 5. A. kentrophyta.
1. A. lentiginosus Dough Leaflets 9 to 21, oblong or obo¬
vate, entire, about in. long. Flowers white or purple. Pod
Y* to 24 in. long, bladdery-inflated, ovate, stoutly beaked,
curved, sessile in the calyx.
The numerous leafy stems give this plant a bush-like
appearance, though only 6 to 15 in. high. The typical form is
green but there is a var. fremontii Wats., with silvery pu¬
bescence and larger, nearly straight pods. A. lentiginosus
grows at Mono Pass, where it inhabits warm, gravelly ridges.
It is probably one of the species responsible for the loco
disease mentioned under no. 4.
2. A. purshii Dough Leaflets 9 to 19, narrowly oblong, y 2
in. or less long, crowded, woolly. Flowers dull white, purple-
PEA FAMILY
146
tipped. Pod 1 in. or less long, ovate, incurved, thick-walled,
densely long-hairy, sessile in the calyx. — Eastern ranges of
the Sierra Nevada and therefore to be expected along our
borders. A compact, gray plant, instantly recognized by its
woolly pods.
3. A. whftneyi Gray. Leaflets 11 to 19, linear, Ya to Y* in.
long. Flowers violet. Pod 1 to \Yz in. long, balloon-like, with
thin walls, glabrous, narrowed at base to a stalk longer than
the calyx. — Mt. Warren and other high peaks near the des¬
ert; doubtless occurs along our eastern borders.
4. A. bolanderi Gray. Leaflets 17 to 27, linear-oblong,
entire, Ya to 1 in. long. Flowers nearly white. Pod 1 in. or
less long, slightly inflated, thick-walled, incurved, on a stalk
longer than the calyx.
This plant resembles no. 1 but may be distinguished by the
narrow leaflets and stalked pods. It varies from green to sil¬
very pubescent. “Yosemite Valley” is given as the type
locality, but we did not find it there, although it grows near
Eagle Peak, Snow Flat, Peregoy Meadows, and elsewhere in
open, gravelly places.
The name “Loco-weed” has been applied to this genus of
plants because of their tendency to produce symptoms of
insanity in animals when eaten, loco being the Spanish for
“crack-brained.” While most animals will not touch the
weeds, some of them, especially young or underfed ones, will
occasionally nibble the herbage, then eat more freely, and
finally acquire the “loco habit,” which is likely to be trans¬
mitted to other members of the flock or herd. It has recently
been discovered that the poisonous effect is not due to the
weed itself but to the metal barium, which the plant takes up
from the soil. Since the amount taken up and the form in
which it occurs varies with local conditions, a species may be
poisonous in one locality and harmless in another, hence the
wide difference of opinion among stockmen as to the danger
from loco-weeds.
5. A. kentrophyta Gray. Leaflets 5 to 7, narrow, rigid and
spine-like, not Y* in. long. Flowers only 1 to 5 on each
peduncle, whitish. Pod ovate, pointed, Ya in- long, sessile in
the calyx. — A matted plant, 6 in. or less high, found near the
summits of Mt. Warren and Mt. Dana and also in the
Rocky Mts.
A. congdonii Wats, comes from Hites Cove, below the
Yosemite Valley and may be known by its linear reflexed
pods.
PEA FAMILY
147
6. VICIA. Vetch.
1. V. americana Muhl. Stems 1 to 3 ft. long, from a per¬
ennial root, trailing, or climbing by tendrils. Leaflets 4 to 11,
much varied in shape and size. Flowers purplish or bluish,
24 in. long, 4 to 8 in each raceme on peduncles shorter than
the leaves. Pod flat, several-seeded. (V. durbrowi Eastw.)
Throughout the lower part of the pine belt we find this
vetch to be rather common, usually occurring as var. truncata
Brewer, with leaflets as though cut across at apex and 3-
toothed. Vicia is always known by the tuft of hairs com¬
pletely surrounding the apex of the style, but, aside from this
technical character, the plants are much like those of the
wild sweet pea.
7. LATHYRUS. Sweet Pea.
Perennial herbs with pinnately compound leaves ending in
tendrils. Upper teeth of calyx shorter than the lower. Style
flattish, hairy only along one side. Pod flat, several-seeded.
1. L. nuttallii Wats. Herbage finely pubescent. Leaflets
3 to 6 pairs, elliptic, acute, 1 or 2 in. long, much longer than
the sharp arrow-shaped stipules; tendrils commonly short
and unbranched. Peduncle 3 to 5-flowered. Corolla reddish
purple, drying to blue, to 24 in- long, the keel abruptly
curved upward.
The rather stiff stems of this plant are 9 to 18 in. high and
nearly erect. Its range extends from near Eightmile, on the
Wawona Road, northward along the lower slopes of the
Sierra Nevada. L. nevadensis Wats., a related species also to
be looked for, has yellowish-white flowers and very much
reduced tendrils.
2. L. sulphureus Brewer. Herbage glabrous. Leaflets 6 to
10, not paired, 24 to 2 in. long, ovate or elliptic, acute or
obtuse but with a short needle-like tip; stipules large, often
toothed; tendrils branched. Peduncle with 10 to 25 flowers
on recurved pedicels. Upper calyx-teeth short, sharp, in¬
curved. Corolla dull white (banner purple-veined), soon
turning to a yellowish brown, y2 in. long, very obtuse.
This species has leafy stems, \y2 to 3 ft. long. The numer¬
ous whitish or brown flowers, borne in crowded racemes, dis¬
tinguish it from the others. It is not rare in the lower part
of the pine belt, growing in small patches and isolated clumps.
3. L. graminifolius White. Herbage glabrous or nearly so.
Leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, linear, pointed, \x/2 to 3 in. long; stipules
GERANIUM FAMILY
I48
small, narrow; tendrils simple or branched. Pedunqle with
mostly 3 (2 to 10) spreading flowers. Corolla in. long,
nearly white but variable as to color. (L. paluster graminifolius
Wats.)
The numerous, grass-like leaves are much narrower in this
species than in the others and the stems are rarely over 1 ft.
long. It grows in open pine forests near Crockers and at Big
Meadows. Although apparently rather rare in California,
it has a wider range than our other species, extending south¬
ward to Mexico.
GERANIACEAE. Geranium Family.
Herbs with lobed dissected or compound leaves and regular
flowers. Sepals and petals 5 each, the stamens twice as many
(5 in Erodium) and distinct. Ovary 5-lobed, each lobe be¬
coming a 1-seeded nutlet.
Leaves palmately lobed. . 1. Geranium.
Leaves pinnately dissected or compound.
Flowers Y\ in. long, purple; stems prostrate . 2. Erodium.
Flowers Yz in. long, whitish; stems erect . 3. Floerkia.
1. GERANIUM. Geranium.
Herbs with forking stems, swollen joints, and alternate
stipulate palmately parted leaves. Petals deciduous. Styles
united around an elongated axis, becoming coiled tails of the
seed-bodies.
1. G. carolinianum L. Carolina Geranium. Stems slen¬
der, weak, Y* to V/2 ft. long. Herbage pubescent. Leaves
roundish, 1 to 2 in. across, parted into 5 to 7 wedge-shaped
toothed obtuse segments. Petals pink, about y in. long.
This is a naturalized annual from the Eastern United
States, now found as far into the mountains as the Hetch
Hetchy and Yosemite valleys. G. dissectmn L., differing in
its purple flowers and acute leaf-lobes, is also to be expected.
2. G. incisum Nutt. Stems erect, 1 to 2 ft. high; herbage
pubescent with rather short dingy hairs, glandular. Leaves
2 to 4 in. broad, roundish, palmately parted into 3 to 5 lobes
which are again cleft or toothed. Petals pinkish, with deep-
red veins, hairy within, to 24 in. long.
This pink-flowered geranium, which grows from thick,
perennial roots, is a pleasing and not uncommon inhabitant
of the Yellow Pine Belt. In exposed places the plants are
small and very hairy, in the shade they become taller and
smoother. Occasionally they produce albino flowers and can
then scarcely be distinguished from the next species.
FLAX FAMILY
149
3. G. richardsdnii F. & M. Distinguished from G. incisum
by its white but roseate-veined petals and by its longer white
hairs mostly tipped with purple glands. — Indian Creek at
7300 ft. and elsewhere in the higher mountains.
2. ERODIUM. Storksbill.
1. E. cicutarium L’Her. Red-stem Filaree. Herbage with
scattered spreading hairs. Leaves opposite, 1 to 4 in. long,
compound; leaflets ovate or oblong, sharply cut and irregu¬
larly toothed. Flowers small, rose-purple, on long pedicels.
Sepals with 1 or 2 bristle-like hairs. Filaments not toothed
(as in related species).
This, the common Filaree, or Alfilerilla, is a prostrate an¬
nual which has made its appearance at a few places along
our lower borders. It is very abundant in the foothills and
on the plains, where it is considered to be one of the most
important of the introduced forage plants.
3. FLOERKIA. Meadow Foam.
1. F. alba Greene. Stems weak, 6 to 12 in. long, the young
parts and buds with long hairs. Leaves alternate, cut into
linear-lanceolate acute segments x/4 to % in. long, without
stipules. Petals persistent, yellowish white, often roseate at
top, about L2 in. long. Seed-bodies very rough.
The very flaccid stems and finely cut leaves best mark this
pretty annual, which has been found in Hetch Hetchy Valley
and along the Hog Ranch Road, where it forms white, bil¬
lowy patches. It also grows at an altitude of 7000 ft. on
Piute Creek. Although the buds are characteristically hairy,
or even woolly, the calyx becomes nearly glabrous at matur¬
ity. In this adult stage our plant is scarcely distinguishable
from F. douglasii, the common Meadow Foam of middle Cali¬
fornia and the Sierra Nevada foothills. But that species is
entirely glabrous, even when young.
LINACEAE. Flax Family.
Smooth plants, the leaves either opposite or alternate.
Flowers loosely clustered, regular, the petals falling early.
Represented with us by only one genus.
1. LINUM. Flax.
Glabrous herbs with sessile, narrow leaves without stipules.
Sepals and petals 5 each. Stamens 10. Styles 2 to 5, distinct.
Ovary superior, becoming a several-celled, many-seeded
capsule.
SPURGE FAMILY
150
1. L. lewfsii Pnrsh. Blue Flax. Perennial plant with sev¬
eral stems from a woody base, 1 to 2}4 ft. high. Leaves
alternate, linear, acute, entire, ^4 to 1 in. long. Corolla blue,
y2 to 1 in. across, pediceled.
The conspicuous blue flowers of this flax, borne on stiffly
erect leafy stems, may be seen in open places at nearly all
altitudes, but the species is nowhere abundant. While resem¬
bling the cultivated fla /x from which linen fiber and linseed
oil are made, it grows from a perennial instead of an annual
root. The fiber, although strong, is not present in sufficient
quantity for commercial purposes.
2. L. digynum Gray. Annual plant with erect stem simple
below, y2 to 1 ft. high. Leaves opposite, elliptic, y2 in. or less
long, the upper sometimes toothed. Corolla yellow, less
than 14 in- across, short-pediceled. — A small-flowered annual,
found in rather dry meadows of moderate altitudes, as at the
Hog Ranch and near the Yosemite.
3. L. micranthum Gray. Stem solitary, from an annual
root, freely branched above, J/2 to \y2 ft. high. Leaves linear,
obtuse, to 24 in* long. Flowers white or pinkish, numerous,
less than y in. across, slender-pediceled. — Reported from near
Yosemite Valley.
EUPHORBIACEAE. Spurge Family.
Represented with us by only two genera of homely herbs
with simple leaves and inconspicuous flowers without petals.
Ovary superior, 3 or 1-celled.
1
Capsule 1-celled; herbage densely pubescent . 1. Eremocarpus.
Capsule 3-celled; herbage glabrous . 2. Euphorbia.
1. EREMOCARPUS.
1. E. setigerus Benth. Turkey Mullein. A low branched
annual, forming leafy mats 1 or 2 ft. wide, densely stiff-
hairy throughout. Leaves alternate, or the upper opposite,
thick, ovate, y to \y2 in. long. Flowers minute; the pistillate
in the lower axils, without calyx; the staminate in terminal
clusters, with calyx. — Dry places in the foothills, reaching El
Portal and Hetch Hetchy Valley.
2. EUPHORBIA. Spurge.
Ours glabrous herbs with staminate and pistillate flowers
on the same plant, each flower surrounded by a calyx-like
involucre. Capsule slender-pediceled, 3-celled, each cell 1-
seeded.
WATER STAR WORT FAMILY
151
1. E. serpyllifolia Pers. Thyme-leaf Spurge. Stems often
reddish, repeatedly branched, forming leafy prostrate mats
3 in. to 1 ft. across, rarely ascending. Leaves oblong, nar¬
rowed to the oblique base, minutely toothed around the blunt
apex, about *4 in- long.
All species of spurge are poisonous when taken in quantity
and several of them are used medicinally. The present spe¬
cies, which grows in loose soil at altitudes of less than 5000
ft., is one of the sorts known as Golondrina, under which
name it is often used by Indians and others as an antidote
for the bite of the rattlesnake. The plant, either fresh or
dried, is bruised, steeped in wine, and applied to the wound.
But the permanganate and other modern treatments are
doubtless more efficacious.
2. E. leptocera Engelm. Stems erect, leafy, 6 to 12 in. high.
Leaves obovate or oblanceolate, obtuse, entire, 34 to 1 in.
long; floral leaves opposite or in 3’s, roundish, often united
at base. Glands of the involucre greenish yellow, crescent¬
shaped. — A foothill species, occasionally seen in the pine belt,
even as high as Mono Pass.
CALLITRICHACEAE. Water Starwort Family.
This family is represented only by an undetermined species
of the single genus, Callitriche, the Water Starwort. It is a
low, slender, aquatic herb, the submersed leaves linear and
entire, the floating ones roundish (about % in. across). The
staminate flowers bear each a single stamen; the pistillate
flowers have each a single 4-celled ovary becoming a nut-like
fruit. It grows in pools along the Tuolumne River at 10,000
ft. alt.
ANACARDIACEAE. Sumach Family.
A family represented with us by only two species, the first
of which is sometimes classified under the genus Toxicoden¬
dron and the second under the genus Schmaltzia .
1. RHUS. Sumach.
Deciduous shrubs with alternate leaves and very small
flowers. Parts of the calyx, petals, and stamens 5 each.
Ovary superior, becoming a 1-seeded berry-like fruit.
1. R. diversiloba T. & G. Poison Oak. Leaves roundish
to ovate or oblong, 1 to 4 in. long, entire or variously toothed
or lobed or more often compound, and the 3 leaflets are also
variable. Flowers greenish, in somewhat pendulous short-
BLADDER-NUT FAMILY
152
peduncled panicles, appearing with the leaves. Fruit whitish,
J4 in. broad.
The Poison Oak may be either a low shrub or a high,
climbing vine. It readily adapts itself to local conditions, but
very fortunately it has not learned to endure the rigors of
the higher altitudes and is therefore confined to the lower
end of Yosemite Valley, and to the Hetch Hetchy and the
lower foothills. Recent investigations have shown that the
poisonous properties of the Poison Ivy, a closely related east¬
ern species of Rhus, are due to a glucoside, which is carried
by a fixed oil, and there is no reason to suppose but that
our western plant is poisonous because of the same substance.
Since glucosides are easily decomposed by permanganate of
potassium, this chemical is coming into use as an antidote.
A two or three per cent solution, mixed with a little sodium
carbonate, is used as a wash with very beneficial results. Care
must of course be taken that the solution does not reach the
eyes.
2. R. trilobata Nutt. Squaw Bush. Leaves compound;
leaflets 3, ovate or elliptic, narrowed to the base, toothed or
divided, y2 to \y2 in. long. Flowers yellowish, in close spikes
about y2 in. long, appearing before the leaves. Fruit scarlet,
sticky.
Far from being poisonous, as is our other species of Rhus,
the Squaw Bush is of great service to the Indians, who util¬
ize the split stems in basketry and who prepare a refreshing
beverage by soaking the berries in water. It is a low shrub,
never climbing, and is mostly restricted to the foothills, but
also grows on warm slopes in Yosemite Valley and near the
Mariposa Grove.
STAPHYLEACEAE. Bladder-nut Family.
Shrubs with opposite pinnately compound leaves with stip¬
ules. Stamens as many as the petals (5 in ours) and alternate
with them, borne outside a large disk.
1. STAPHYLEA. Bladder-nut.
1. S. bolanderi Gray. California Bladder-nut. A loosely
branched glabrous shrub. Leaflets 3, ovate or roundish, 1 to
2l/2 in. long, finely toothed. Flowers whitish, in loose droop¬
ing clusters, the stamens and styles y to $4 in- long, exceed¬
ing the sepals and petals. Pods 1 or 2 in. long, bladdery-
inflated, each of the 3 cells with 1 to 4 globose seeds. — Dry
hillsides of the foothills, especially near El Portal; also
reported from Snow Creek.
MAPLE FAMILY
153
ACERACEAE. Maple Family.
Deciduous trees and shrubs with opposite simple leaves
palmately lobed in our species, and no stipules.
1. ACER. Maple.
Flowers small, regular, in drooping racemes or short clus¬
ters. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals five, or none. Stamens 3 to 10.
Ovary superior, 2-celled, becoming 2-winged in fruit.
1. A. macrophyllum Pursh. Big-leaf Maple. Leaves
roundish, 4 to 12 in. across, on petioles 2 to 10 in. long,
palmately parted into 5 broad divisions which are again lobed
or toothed. Wings of the dry bristly fruit 1 to lL> in. long.
The Big-leaf or Oregon Maple is a large, spreading tree
with smooth, green bark when young, becoming gray and fur¬
rowed in age. It grows in moist places of the Yellow Pine
Belt, reaching an altitude of 5500 ft. near Nevada Falls, but
it is nowhere abundant.
2. A. glabrum Torr. Sierra Maple. Leaves roundish, 1 to
3 in. across, on petioles 1 to 2^4 in. long, parted less than
midway into 3 or 5 sharply toothed lobes. Wings of the
glabrous fruit */2 to 1 in. long.
The Sierra Maple, also known as Dwarf Maple, is a slen¬
der, graceful tree or shrub, 6 to 15 or rarely even 30 ft. high.
It grows on hillsides, often forming thickets, throughout the
pine belt of the Sierra Nevada, reaching 6800 ft. alt. on the
Glacier Point short trail.
SAPINDACEAE. Buckeye Family.
Deciduous trees with opposite compound leaves and no stip¬
ules, ovary superior, 3-celled, 6-ovuled, commonly only 1
ovule maturing.
1. AESCULUS. Horse Chestnut.
1. A. californica Nutt. California Buckeye. A small
spreading tree with gray bark. Leaflets 5 to 7, all from the
summit of the petiole, oblong, acute, 3 to 5 in. long. Flowers
14 in. long, white, showy, in clusters 4 to 6 in. long. Seed
1 or 2 in. across. — A well-known tree of western California,
extending up our canons as far as El Portal and probably to
Hetch Hetchy.
RHAMNACEAE. Buckthorn Family.
Shrubs with simple leaves and small but often showy
flowers. Calyx-lobes, petals, and stamens 4 or 5 each.
Fruit fleshy, berry-like; calyx free from ovary . 1. Rhamnus.
Fruit a dry capsule; calyx adnate to base of ovary . 2. Ceanothus.
154
BUCKTHORN FAMILY
1. RHAMNUS. Buckthorn.
Leaves alternate, short-petioled. Flowers small, greenish,
in small lateral clusters. Petals small, without claws.
1. R. californica Esch. Coffee-berry. Leaves oblong,
acute, minutely toothed, 1 % to 3 in. long, glabrous or slightly
hairy (densely hairy or even silvery beneath in var. tomen-
tella B. & W.). Flowers less than ^ in- broad, the notched
petals minute. Berry black, globose or oval, in. thick,
2- seeded.
The Coffee-berry is an erect shrub 4 to 8 ft. high and may
always be known by the astringent taste of its bark, which
has the same medicinal properties as cascara sagrada ( Rham -
nus purshiana). Var. rubra Trek, is a form with slender, gla¬
brous, red twigs; small, deciduous leaves (2 in. or less long),
and obovoid fruit. The species is common in the foothills
and up to about 4500 ft., while the var. occurs at higher alti¬
tudes, even to 7000 ft.
2. R. crocea var. ilicif olia Greene. Red-berry. Leaves
elliptic or roundish, sharply toothed, J4 'to 1 in. long, glabrous,
often golden beneath. Berry bright red, ovoid, scarcely *4
in. long, 2-seeded. — A low, loose shrub which occurs spar¬
ingly around Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite.
2. CEANOTHUS. Ceanothus.
Shrubs with small but showy flowers in loose oblong clus¬
ters. Petals 5, hooded by the inflexion of the tip, long-
clawed. Stamens 5, long-exserted. Ovary subglobose (style
3- cleft), becoming dry and separating into 3 seed-bodies. —
“Mountain Lilac” is a name applied indiscriminately to the
species of Ceanothus, but since the true Lilac belongs to
another family, this name is not appropriate. “Buckbrush”
is a name often used for any of the more rigidly branched
species. The flowers of Ceanothus yield a copious, soapy
lather when rubbed in water.
Leaves opposite.
Erect shrub; flowers white; leaves entire . 1. C. cuneatus.
Prostrate shrub; flowers blue; leaves toothed . 2. C. prostratus.
Leaves alternate.
Stems low and trailing; flowers deep blue . 3. C. diversifolius.
Stems erect, 2 to 8 ft. high; flowers blue or white.
Leaves % to 1 in. long, very obtuse, pale.
Flowers white; somewhat spiny shrub . 4. C. cordulatus.
Flowers blue; not spiny . 5. C. parvifolius.
Leaves 1 to 3 in. long, green.
Leaves thin, entire . 6. C. integerrimus.
Leaves thick, toothed . 7. C.velutinus.
BUCKTHORN FAMILY 1 55
1. C. cuneatus Nutt. Wedge-leaf Ceanothus. Leaves
thick, pale, obovate or oblanceolate, wedge-shaped at base,
entire, to J4 in. long, whitish hairy beneath. Flowers
white. Capsule short-oblong, with 3 roundish knobs near
summit.
This rigidly branched shrub, with its bade, brittle foliage, is
a chief component of the chaparral of the foothill districts,
ranging up into Hetch Hetchy Valley and even reaching the
Yosemite, where it grows on warm slopes near Indian Canon.
2. C. prostratus Benth. Squaw Carpet. Mahala Mats.
Leaves thick, obovate, narrowed at base, rigidly toothed
around the blunt summit, ^2 to ^4 in- long, mostly glabrous.
Flowers blue. Capsule globose, prominently horned.
The green, leafy mats of this Ceanothus often cover slopes
of considerable size and are very decorative. It reaches its
upper limits at Chinquapin and on the ridges back of Hazel
Green (6000 ft.), where it grows with the next species. The
Indians and stockmen of Butte and Plumas counties prepare a
tea from the roots and bruised foliage which they use as a
remedy for kidney troubles and as a blood purifier.
3. C. diversifolius Kell. Leaves thin, ovate to elliptic or
obovate, finely glandular-toothed all around, to 1 r/z in. long,
softly hairy. Flowers blue. Capsule globose, each lobe
sharply ridged on the back.
The leafy stems of this species creep along the ground,
forming loose mats which are especially beautiful in May and
June when partially hidden by the blue flowers. The foliage
is much softer than that of the Squaw Carpet. It is abundant
in the lower part of the pine belt, especially from Hetch
Hetchy to the Merced Grove, Yosemite, and the Mariposa
Grove, but it is not common outside of our district.
4. C. cordulatus Kell. Snow-bush. Leaves rather thin,
pale, ovate, obtuse, minutely toothed or entire, x/z to 1 in. long,
to in. wide, 3-nerved from the base, soft-hairy at least
beneath. Flowers white. Capsule evidently lobed at top,
slightly 3-crested.
The Snow-bush is a low, flat-topped shrub with olive or
grayish branches, the rigid twigs often spine-like. Its low
stature and compact growth are the result of the heavy bur¬
den of snow which the shrubs are obliged to carry for sev¬
eral months in the year, but whether it is because of this that
the species has been called Snow-bush, or because of the
snow-like appearance when in full bloom, we are unable to
say. It forms almost impenetrable thickets at altitudes of
VINE FAMILY
156
6500 to 9000 ft., rarely descending to 4000 ft., as near Mirror
Lake, where a large-leaved form occurs.
5. C. parvifolius Trel. Leaves pale beneath, elliptic, ob¬
tuse, 3-nerved from a narrowed base, entire, *4 to in. long,
glabrous. Flowers blue, in a loose cluster 1 to 3 in. long.
Capsule nearly crestless.
This is a low shrub, rarely over 4 ft. high, with ascending
branches and pleasing light-blue flowers. It grows from the
Yosemite to Wawona and elsewhere at similar altitudes.
6. C. integerrimus H. & A. Deer-brush. Leaves thin,
green, oblong or long-ovate, obtuse, mostly 3-nerved from the
rounded base, entire, 1 to 3 in. long, lightly pubescent or be¬
coming glabrous. Flowers white, in a feathery cluster 2 to
6 in. long. Capsule inconspicuously crested.
The Deer-brush, when in bloom, is one of the most graceful
and charming shrubs of middle altitudes. It often forms
thickets covering a considerable area. The airy, plume-like
flower-clusters are borne in abundance on slender branches
6 to 12 ft. high. A remarkable form, perhaps of hybrid origin,
grows near the mouth of Indian Canon, Yosemite Valley, dis¬
tinguished by its very rigid habit, pale twigs, and broad,
prominently veined leaves. It blossoms early, being in seed
when neighboring plants of true C. integerrimus are only in
bloom.
7. C. velutinus Dough Leaves thick, green and as though
varnished above, pale and velvety beneath, ovate or broadly
elliptic, very obtuse at both ends, closely and finely toothed,
1 to 3 in. long, *4 to 2l/2 in. broad, strongly 3-nerved from the
base; petioles stout, % to y2 in. long. Flowers white, in
short clusters. Capsule deeply lobed at top, nearly crestless.
The broad, shiny leaves readily distinguish this species from
all others. It is a large, loosely branched shrub which ranges
from Kern Co. to Mt. Shasta and is therefore to be expected
in our district.
VITACEAE. Vine Family.
Woody plants with simple commonly lobed leaves. Calyx
minute, its limb often obscure.
1. VITIS. Grape.
1. V. californica Benth. California Wild Grape. Leaves
alternate, heart-shaped at base, roundish, toothed and often
lobed, 2 to 6 in. broad, densely soft-hairy at least beneath.
Flowers small, regular, greenish, in compound clusters. Petals
MALLOW FAMILY 157
and stamens 5 each. Fruit a 2-celled purple berry, edible but
with large seeds.
The Wild Grape climbs by means of its tendrils to con¬
siderable heights on the trees of Hetch Hetchy Valley and
our lower canons, where the odor of its foliage fills the air
with a delightful fragrance on warm days. In the Yosemite
Valley it occurs sparingly along the base of the north wall,
this being its uppermost limit.
MALVACEAE. Mallow Family.
Herbs, pubescent with branching hairs. Leaves alternate,
simple, palmately veined and lobed or toothed, with slender
stipules at base of petiole. Flowers regular. Calyx-lobes and
petals 5 each. Stamens numerous, united into a tube around
the pistil. Capsule breaking at maturity into several 1-seeded
parts.
Annual weeds with pale flowers . 1. Malva.
Perennials with showy flowers . 2. Sidalcea.
1. MALVA. Mallow.
Leaves rounded, long-petioled. Calyx with 3 bractlets near
base. Flowers small, whitish or rose-color. All of the 3
species to be expected are annual weeds. M. rotundifolia L.,
is known by its nearly prostrate habit. M. parvidora L., is
erect, robust, the calyx-lobes widely spreading under the
fruits (often called “cheeses”). M. pusilla Sm., is similar but
with calyx-lobes closed over the fruits.
2. SIDALCEA.
Perennial herbs with rounded toothed leaves and showy
pinkish flowers in terminal racemes or spikes. Calyx usually
without bractlets.
Flowers in an open raceme.
Stems and petioles rough with very short hairs . 1. S. asprella.
Stems and petioles smooth . . 2. S. glance scens.
Stems and petioles long-hairy . 3. S. reptans.
Flowers in a dense spike; petioles long-hairy . 4. 51. spicata.
1. S. asprella Greene. Stems 1 to 3 ft. high, rough with
short hairs. Leaves ^ to 4 in. across, the lower obtusely
toothed or lobed, the upper parted into entire or toothed
lobes. Flowers purplish, y2 to 1 in. long, distinctly pediceled,
in an open raceme. (S. montana Congdon.)
This plant with its numerous, long-petioled leaves and
several stems from a perennial root may be expected any¬
where in the Yellow Pine Belt, where it grows with the next
MALLOW FAMILY
I58
species. Many plants bear noticeably smaller flowers than
others. These smaller flowers do not produce pollen, and
therefore, if they set seed, must necessarily be cross-pollin¬
ated. Indeed, this seems to be essential even in the perfect
flowers, for here the anthers
Sid alee a asprella
shed their pollen before the
stigmas are receptive, and self-pollination is further checked
by the position of the anthers, which is at a lower level than
that of the mature stigmas. The pollen is probably trans¬
ferred through the agency of bees.
2. S. glaucescens Greene. A species very closely related
to 5. asprella and distinguished from it only by the smooth
stems and by the leaves, which are nearly or quite glabrous.
3. S. reptans Greene. Stems 1 to 3 ft. high, with long
spreading hairs as also the petioles. Leaves only % to 2 in.
across, the lower toothed or lobed, the upper more deeply
parted. Flowers deep rose-purple, about in. long. Seed-
bodies honey-combed on the back. (vS\ favosa Congdon.)
The stems of .S', reptans are reclining at base and often strike
root from the lower joints. It has been collected at the Mari¬
posa Grove and reported as not rare in high meadows, but
it is seldom collected.
4. S. spicata Greene. This species resembles S. asprella
but is very distinct in technical characters. It may best be
known by its dense spike of smaller flowers (*4 to 24 m- long)
st. john’s-wort family 159
and by the long spreading hairs on the petioles of the lower
leaves. It grows in meadowy places at 5000 to 9000 ft. alt.
GUTTIFERAE. St. John’s-wort Family.
Herbs and shrubs with opposite entire mostly sessile leaves
and no stipules. Flowers regular, the sepals and petals 4 or
5 each. Ovary free from the calyx, becoming a 1 to 7-celled
capsule.
1. HYPERICUM. St. John’s-wort.
Mostly smooth plants with dotted leaves. Stamens 15 to
numerous, frequently united into several clusters. Styles in
ours 3.
1. H. formosum HBK. Stems nearly simple, erect, to
3 ft. high. Leaves sessile, ovate or oblong, obtuse, ^ to 1 in.
long, the margins black-dotted. Flowers large, yellow, the
petals x/2 in. long.
The loose, terminal, yellow flower-clusters of this plant are
a common sight in weedy meadows and along streams at
moderate altitudes. It is widely distributed in western North
America. The flowers do not yield honey but they are never¬
theless visited by many insects for pollen. Aside from that
intentionally carried away, the insect gets his breast well
dusted with the powder and incidentally effects cross-pollina¬
tion by rubbing it against the rigidly protruding stigmas of
the next flower he visits.
2. H. anagalloides C. & S. Stems weak, leafy, seldom 6 in.
high. Leaves lanceolate to nearly orbicular, obtuse, */$ to 14
in. long. Flowers few, about in. long, yellow.
This plant forms dense, leafy mats brightly ornamented
with the small, yellow flowers. It grows in moist soil in the
Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy valleys, etc., and up to nearly
9000 ft. alt.
H. concinnum Benth., of the foothills, has flowers as large
as no. 1, but may be known by its wiry stems and woody base.
VIOLACEAE. Violet Family.
Herbs with irregular nodding flowers.
1. VIOLA. Violet.
Perennial herbs with alternate stipulate leaves and solitary
flowers on long pedicels. Sepals 5, unequal. Petals 5, unequal,
the lowest continued backward as a spur. Stamens 5. Ovary
l60 VIOLET FAMILY
free from the calyx, maturing into a 1-celled many-seeded
capsule.
Flowers white . 1. V. blanda.
Flowers blue . 2. V. oxyceras.
Flowers yellow.
Leaves Y to 1 in. wide, narrowed to the petiole . 3. V. purpurea.
Leaves 1 to 3 in. wide, broad or heart-shaped at base.
Leaves mostly cleft or parted . 4. V.lobata.
Leaves merely toothed, heart-shaped . 5. V. glabella.
1. V. blanda Willd. Sweet White Violet. Plant low and
tufted, nearly glabrous, the leaves and peduncles all from an
underground rootstock. Leaves roundish, heart-shaped at
base, Vz to V/z in. long. Flower-stalks 1 to 3 in. high, exceed¬
ing the leaves. Petals about *4 in- long, hairy, white, the
lower one dark-veined; spur short.
The White Violet, which can never be mistaken, is a mod¬
est inhabitant of cool, moist places from Hetch Hetchy,
Yosemite, and Crescent Lake to timber-line, often growing
where it is nearly hidden by grass or other plants. It is
especially fond of boggy meadows in high valleys.
2. V. oxyceras Greene. Sierran Dog Violet. Plant low
and compact or 6 in. high and spreading, glabrous or nearly
so. Leaves round-ovate, % to 2 in. long. Petals blue or vio¬
let, Y to Yz in. long, nearly equalled by the slender acute spur.
This blue violet always grows in moist places and is most
frequently found on low, damp ground where the grass is
short or sparse. It is well distributed in the Sierra Nevada,
occurring with us at such localities as the Yosemite Valley,
along the Hog Ranch Road, White Wolf, and Tuolumne
Meadows. The true Dog Violet, of which this was formerly
considered a variety, is a well known species of northern
Europe. The so-called dog violets of eastern North America
have, like ours, been shown to be distinct from the Old World
species.
3. V. purpurea Kell. Stems densely clustered, 3 to 9 in.
high, from a stout vertical root, the herbage grayish pu¬
bescent. Leaves lanceolate to oblong, coarsely toothed, 1 to
2 in. long, often purplish veined. Petals yellow, brownish on
the outside, Y in. long, the spur short and round. Ovary
and capsule globular, pubescent.
The home of this violet is the open pine forest, where its
pale foliage and light-yellow flowers may be seen forcing their
way through the thin layer of pine needles. The small-
flowered form growing in dry or exposed situations, is var.
pinetorum Greene; its peduncles are longer, its leaves nar-
LOASA FAMILY
161
rowly lanceolate, and the pubescence more dense, these
changes doubtless being due to its more arid habitat. V. nut-
tallii Pursh., has been reported. If found, it may be distin¬
guished from the above species by its ample foliage and
glabrous, oval capsule.
4. V. lobata Benth. Stems 3 to 12 in. high, from branching
rootstocks. Herbage grayish, glabrous or minutely pubescent.
Leaves very various, heart-shaped, triangular, or fan-shaped,
deeply parted (nearly entire in var. integrifolia Wats.), 1 to
5 in. wide. Petals yellow, the upper often brownish or pur¬
plish, Yi in. or less long, the spur short and round.
The peculiarly lobed leaves, bright green above but pale
beneath, distinguish this species from all others. It inhabits
open forests of the Yellow Pine Belt, always growing in fairly
dry soil. One finds it especially common along the Wawona
and Hog Ranch roads.
5. V. glabella Nutt. Smooth Yellow Violet. Stems 6 to
18 in. high, from rootstocks. Herbage green, usually glabrous.
Leaves heart-shaped, shallowly toothed, 1 to 4 in. broad.
Petals yellow, veined with brown, J4 in. long, the spur short
and rounded.
The thin, green foliage, devoid of hairy or other covering,
marks this violet as a shade-loving plant. It grows along
streams and in similarly moist places, nearly always in partial
shade, where its broad leaves are spread out in such a manner
as to receive the full benefit of the subdued light. Although
of wide general distribution it is rather rare in our district
but it has been found at Chinquapin, at Peregoys, and in the
Mariposa Grove.
LOASACEAE. Loasa Family.
Rough-hairy herbs with alternate leaves and no stipules.
Flowers regular. Petals 5. Stamens numerous, inserted with
the petals on the throat of the calyx. Capsule 1-celled, many
seeded, crowned with the persisting calyx-lobes.
1. MENTZELIA.
1. M. dispersa Wats. Stems erect, usually 12 to 18 in.
high, from an annual root. Leaves lanceolate, oblong, or the
upper ovate, toothed or entire, 1 to 3 in. long, very rough.
Flowers yellow, sessile in the axils of leaf-like bracts. Petals
less than 14 in. long. Capsule linear, to in. long.
The brittle, white-barked stems and clinging leaves best
mark this plant. It is very plentiful in warm, sandy soil but
1 62 DATISCA FAMILY
does not grow in the higher mountains. As to beauty, it is
in no wise comparable to M. aurea Baill., a large species of
the foothills, with numerous showy flowers, the golden-yellow
petals an inch or more long and vermilion at base.
DATISCACEAE. Datisca Family.
Calyx of united sepals. Corolla none. Flowers of two sorts
borne on different plants, the staminate with 8 to 12 stamens,
the pistillate with a 1-celled inferior ovary and 3 cleft styles.
1. DATISCA.
1. D. glomerata B. & W. Durango Root. Stems clustered,
erect, 2 to 4 ft. high, the whole plant glabrous. Leaves 3 to 6
in. long, nearly as broad, much divided and toothed, fern-like.
Staminate flowers in loose clusters in the leaf-axils. Pistillate
flowers in small nearly sessile clusters or scattered along the
leafy branches; capsule angular, opening at the top, many-
seeded. — Stream beds along the foothills, extending up to
5000 ft. near Wawona (and Hetch Fletchy ?).
LYTHRACEAE. Loosestrife Family.
Herbs with entire leaves and no stipules. Petals and sta¬
mens borne on the throat of the calyx. Ovary and capsule 1
to 4-celled, free from the calyx. — Represented in the foothill
and coast districts by a common Loosestrife ( Lythrum cali-
fornicum T. & G.) with cylindric calyx and purple petals, but
the only member of the family known to inhabit our region
is the following.
i. rotAla.
1. R. ramdsior Koehne. A glabrous annual, 2 to 8 in.
high, leafy to the top. Leaves tapering to the base, 24 in- or
less long. Flowers small, 1 to 3 in each leaf-axil. Calyx
globose in fruit, 8-ribbed. Petals 4, purplish. ( Ammania
humilis Michx.) — Reported as having been collected in Yo-
semite Valley by Mr. J. G. Lemmon.
ONAGRACEAE. Evening Primrose Family.
Herbs with simple leaves and complete regular flowers in
spikes or racemes or solitary. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary,
the 4 petals and 8 stamens inserted at its summit (flower-
parts in 2’s in Circaea). Ovary inferior, becoming a 2 or 4-
celled capsule (1-celled and indehiscent in Circaea) y style
single.
EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY 163
Petals 2; fruit a small 1-seeded bur . 1. Circaea.
Petals 4; fruit nearly globose, nut-like . 2. Heterogaura.
Petals 4; fruit a linear or oblong capsule.
Seeds with a tuft of long hairs at apex.
Flowers white, purple, or pink . 3. Epilobium.
Flowers (including calyx) scarlet, large . 4. Zauschneria.
Seeds naked at apex.
Flowers white or pinkish, J4 in. or less long . 5. Gayophytum.
Flowers yellow . 6. Oenothera.
Flowers purple.
Calyx-lobes reflexed or the tips united and turned to
one side.
Petals sessile . 7. Godetia.
Petals distinctly clawed . 8. Clarkia.
Calyx-lobes erect; petals lobed . 9. Boisduvalia.
1. CIRCAEA. Enchanter’s Nightshade.
1. C. pacifica A. & M. Leaves very thin, ovate, obtuse or
heart-shaped at base, acute, wavy-
toothed to nearly entire, 1 to 3 in.
long, on petioles y2 to \l/2 in. long.
Flowers minute, white, in bractless
racemes. Calyx white. Petals 2.
Stamens 2. Fruit a one-seeded mi¬
nute bur.
This delicate, erect plant is an in¬
habitant of moist, shady dells and is
so attractive that anyone who finds
it may consider himself fortunate.
It grows in the Merced Grove, in
bogs near the Happy Isles, at the
Iron Spring in Yosemite, and may be expected in similar
places where the altitude is not too great.
2. HETEROGAURA.
1. H. californica Rothr. Leaves thin, ovate-lanceolate,
nearly or quite entire, 1 or 2 in. long, on petioles *4 to in.
long. Flowers small, purple, short-pediceled in loose terminal
racemes. Petals with claws. Ovary 4-celled, maturing into
a nearly globose nut-like fruit not ks in. thick. — Shady banks
in Hetch Hetchy and other low valleys.
3. EPILOBIUM. Willow-herb.
Herbs with nearly sessile leaves and purple pink or white
flowers in racemes. Calyx-tube little prolonged beyond the
ovary, the 4 spreading lobes deciduous. Capsule linear, 4-
sided, 4-celled. Seeds numerous.
164
EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY
A. Flowers large, showy; petals in. or more long.
Petals entire; stems 1 to 3 ft. high . 1. E. angustifolium.
Petals deeply lobed; stems short . 2. E. obcordatum.
B. Flowers small; petals less than % in. long.
Slender annuals.
Leaves 1 in. or less long . 3. E. minutum.
Leaves 1 or 2 in. long . 4. E. paniculatum.
Perennials.
Leaves small, mostly 24 in. or less long.
Herbage nearly glabrous . 10. E. oregonense.
Herbage crisp-hairy . 7. E. ursinum.
Leaves larger, mostly 24 to 2 or 3 in. long.
Glabrous throughout; leaves narrowly lanceolate.. 8. E. glaberrimum.
Glabrous below; minutely hairy above.
Leaves all strictly sessile . 6. E. brevistylum.
Leaves short-petioled.
Leaves thickish, 2 or 3 in. long . 5. E. adenocaulon.
Leaves very thin, 24 to 2 in. long . 9. E. alpinum.
1. E. angustifolium L. Fire-weed. Herbage finely ashy-
pubescent above, otherwise glabrous. Leaves alternate, lance¬
olate, nearly entire, 3 to 6 in. long. Flowers many, large,
purplish lilac, in long racemes. Petals about y2 in. long,
entire. ( E . spicatum Lam. — Chamaenerion angustifolium Scop.)
The tall, leafy stems of the Fire-weed are terminated by
the long, brilliant spikes of purple flowers. It is a highly
decorative plant of meadows and stream banks and has a
wide distribution.
Epilobium angustifolium
2. E. obcordatum Gray. Rock-fringe. Herbage glabrous
and pale except the glandular-pubescent upper parts. Leaves
all opposite, broadly ovate, nearly entire, y to y. in. long,
EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY 165
rounded to very short petioles. Petals bright rose-color,
y2 to 1 in. long, deeply lobed.
Rocky slopes and ledges at the base of Mt. Hoffmann are
often brilliant with the flowers of this little plant, which
creeps along the surface, forming loose mats or streamers.
Further exploration will doubtless discover it on other of our
high peaks.
3. E. minutum Lindl. Stem scarcely branched, 6 to 18 in.
high, annual, minutely crisp-pubescent or nearly glabrous.
Leaves lanceolate, acute, obscurely few-toothed, 1 in. or less
long, mostly with smaller ones clustered in the axils. Petals
violet or pale, small, deeply cleft. — Vernal Falls and else¬
where on moist banks.
4. E. paniculatum Nutt. Stem freely branched, 1 or 2 ft.
, high, glabrous or glandular, from an annual root.
Leaves linear-lanceolate, acute, nearly entire, 1 or
2 in. long, often with smaller ones in the axils.
Petals violet. — Common in middle California, ex¬
tending into the mountains as far as Nevada Falls.
The flowers are twice as long as in no. 3 and the
seeds are also much larger.
5. E. adenocaulon Haussk. Stems stout and
erect, \y2 to 4 ft. high. Herbage glabrous
below, the buds, capsules, etc., glandular-
pubescent. Leaves elliptic to ovate-lance¬
olate, rounded to short petioles, slightly
toothed, obtuse, 2 or 3 in. long. Petals Ms
to y± in. long, rose-pink, notched at sum¬
mit. ( E . continuum Congdon.)
In the var. occidental Trel., of this spe¬
cies, the leaves are more triangular-lance¬
olate, mostly 2 in. long, those of the inflor¬
escence acute at each end. Both forms are
common in the mountains, where they in¬
habit moist meadows and stream banks,
becoming 2 to 4 ft. high. Related species which may be
found are E. watsonii Barb., marked by its softly crisp-downy
pubescence and large petals (about y2 in. long) and E. cali-
fovnicum Haussk., known by its long, thin leaves and the
spreading, non-glandular hairs on the flower-buds.
6. E. brevistylum Barb. Stems slender, erect, 6 to 18 in.
high. Herbage crisp-hairy above, mostly glabrous below.
Leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate, slightly toothed, to 2 in.
long. Petals purplish.— Rare, found along the Tioga Road;
dwarf forms look like the next.
EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY
1 66
7. E. ursinum var. subfalcatum Trel. Plant very slender,
6 to 18 in. high, crisp-hairy throughout. Leaves sessile, nar¬
rowly ovate, somewhat toothed, mostly obtuse, 54 to Y<\ in.
long. Petals white or lavender, about % in. long. — A rare
species: Hog Ranch, to Yosemite and Little Yosemite val¬
leys. Slightly hairy forms approach no. 6 but are smaller and
more slender.
8. E. glaberrimum Barb. Stems 1 to 2 ft. high. Herbage
glabrous throughout, covered with a bloom. Leaves narrowly
lanceolate, rather obtuse, entire or very obscurely few¬
toothed, 1 to 2 in. long, narrowed at base but scarcely petioled.
Petals nearly white, over % in. long, notched at summit. — A
common species of moist places, first described from speci¬
mens collected in the Yosemite Valley.
9. E. alpinum L. Plant 9 to 18 in. high, minutely crisp-
hairy among the flowers. Leaves thin, light green, broadly
elliptic, mostly obtuse, nearly entire, % to 2 in. long. Petals
white or rosy-tipped, % in. long, deeply notched. — Moist
banks at Glacier Point and probably at other high altitudes.
E. hornemanni Reich., of the northern Sierra Nevada, may
be expected; like E. alpinum but more pubescent, the petals
twice as large and violet or lilac, the leaves dark green or
purplish.
10. E. oregonense Haussk. A delicate plant, 6 to 18 in.
high, glabrous below, obscurely pubescent above. Leaves
lanceolate, almost entire, very obtuse, *4 to Ya in- long.
Flowers few, strictly erect. Petals about J4 in. long, deep
violet. Var. gracillimum Trel. has white flowers less strictly
erect ( E . pringleanum Haussk.). — Moist places, as in Yo¬
semite meadows and along the upper Tuolumne.
4. ZAUSCHNERIA.
1. Z. californica Presl. California Fuchsia. Balsamea.
Herbage gray-pubescent. Leaves lanceolate, acute, ^4 to 1^4
in. long. Flowers 1 to 1^2 in. long (above the ovary), the
funnelform calyx as well as the 2-cleft petals scarlet. Sta¬
mens exserted.
In late summer and autumn many a rocky slope is ablaze
with this scarlet-flowered, gray-foliaged perennial, the range
of which extends from the foothills to about 6500 ft. alt.
The ease with which it is grown and its high ornamental value
make it a suitable garden plant where masses of late bloom
are desired. As yet, however, it is but little known among
garden people.
EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY
167
5. GAYOPHYTUM.
Very slender erect annuals, differing from Epilobium chiefly
in having seeds naked at apex and a 2-celled capsule.
Seeds covered with short appressed hairs.
Flowers minute . 1.
Flowers larger, about % in. long . 2.
Seeds glabrous, either smooth or minutely rough¬
ened.
Stems much forked above, not very leafy;
pedicels elongated; capsule irregularly
bulging at intervals.
Flowers minute . 3.
Flowers larger, about % in. long . 4.
Stems nearly simple or branched especially
toward the base, densely leafy; pedicels
short; capsule nearly smooth.
Capsule narrowly linear, with suberect seeds. 5.
Capsule broadly oblong, flattened, with very
oblique seeds . 6.
G. lasiospermum Greene.
G. eriospermum Coville.
G. ramosissimum T. & G.
G. diffusuni T. & G.
G. caesium T. & G.
G. pumilum Wats.
The above species may be found in the Yosemite district,
but they are difficult to distinguish specifically, largely be¬
cause of the minuteness of their flowers. They are not here
described further than in the above synopsis, which is adapted
from a report of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
6. OENOTHERA. Evening Primrose.
Erect herbs with alternate leaves and yellow flowers.
Calyx-tube prolonged beyond the ovary, its 4 lobes reflexed.
Capsule 4-celled, sessile.
1. O. hookeri T. & G. Evening Primrose. Herbage con¬
spicuously pubescent. Leaves
lanceolate, mostly sessile, acute,
toothed (upper often entire),
4 to 10 in. long. Calyx-tube 1
to 2 in. long. Petals 1 to
in. long, obcordate, yellow fad¬
ing to rose. Stigma with 4
slender lobes. Capsule about 1
in. long, 4-sided.
The open, dryish meadows
of Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite,
Wawona, and other low val¬
leys are rendered brilliant in
places by the gorgeous yellow
bloom of the Evening Prim¬
rose. It is a stout biennial 3
to 6 ft. high. The flowers ap-
l68 EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY
pear in July and open only in the evening, remaining open
until the middle of the next forenoon.
2. O. strigulosa T. & G. Herbage minutely pubescent and
glandular. Leaves sessile, linear, obscurely
toothed, y2 to 1 in. long. Petals % in. long,
yellow turning red. Stigma globose. Capsule
linear, about Y in. long.
This slender annual, rarely over 18 in. high,
grows in warm, sandy soil as far up as Little
Yosemite Valley and even Merced Lake,
where it is only 4 in. high, but it normally
belongs to much lower altitudes.
7. GODETIA.
Erect annuals with alternate leaves and showy purplish
flowers in leafy racemes. Calyx with funnelform tube beyond
the ovary, its lobes united and turned to one side. Capsule
4-celled, sessile or nearly so.
1. G. dudleyana Abrams. Leaves linear to oblong, mostly
entire, inch or two long including the petiole¬
like base. Buds nodding. Petals y2 to 1 in.
long, pinkish lavender with darker dots
toward the paler base.
This Godetia is a slender annual, 8 to 18 in.
high, belonging to the lower slopes but reach¬
ing Yosemite Valley. Its delicate coloring
and dainty habit make attractive patches
along the Wawona Road, where it grows in
abundance on warm, southerly exposures.
2. G. vimmea Spach. Leaves linear to
lanceolate, entire, mostly y2 to \y2 in. long,
sessile or short-petioled. Buds
erect. Petals y2 to in. long,
purplish or crimson, with a
large purple blotch in center or
at apex, the base yellowish.
( G . williams onii Wats.)
The strikingly handsome
flowers of this slender, erect
annual (a few inches to 2 ft.
high) may be seen in half-
meadowy places, often forming
dark-purple areas. A very
leafy form with deep-crimson
petals y2 to Y in. long and
WATER MILFOIL FAMILY
169
abundant 8-ribbed capsules is the var. incerta Jepson, de¬
scribed from the Yosemite Valley. Hetch Hetchy Valley
yields the var. congdonii Jepson, a rather fall form with
loosely hairy buds, and very distinct, slender calyx-tips.
8. CLARKIA.
1. C. rhomboidea Dough Leaves alternate (or the lower
opposite), oblong to ovate, entire,
J/2 to \y2 in. long, 14 to V\ wide,
on petioles ^ to ^ in. long.
Flowers distant in terminal ra¬
cemes. Buds nodding. Calyx-
tube obconic above the ovary,
short. Petals purple, y to y in.
long, narrowed below to a broad
toothed claw. Capsule nearly ses¬
sile, 4-angled, slightly curved, 1
in. long. ( Phaeostoma rhomboidea
Nels.)
The Clarkia is a slender, erect annual with pretty purplish
flowers. Although nowhere abundant, it is widely distributed
throughout the lower part of the Yellow Pine Belt.
9. BOISDU VALIA.
Erect rigid annuals, with alternate sessile leaves and small
flowers in leafy-bracted spikes. Petals purple, obovate, 2-
lobed. Calyx-lobes erect, deciduous. Capsule 4-celled, sessile.
1. B. densiflora Wats. Plant 1 to 2 ft. high, soft-pubescent.
Leaves lanceolate, 1 to 2 in. long. Flowers in a dense spike,
each in the axil of an ovate acute bract y2 in. or so long.
Partitions of the capsule persisting on the central axis. — On
low ground of Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, etc.
2. B. stricta Greene. Similar, but leaves and bracts linear
and the flowers not crowded. Partitions of the capsule per¬
manently attached to the walls. — Hetch Hetchy Valley; per¬
haps common at low altitudes.
HALORAGIDACEAE. Water Milfoil Family.
Aquatic or marsh plants with inconspicuous flowers sessile
in the axils of leaves or bracts. Ovary inferior, the fruit 1 to
4-celled, with 1 seed in each cell.
1. HIPPURIS. Mare’s Tail.
1. H. vulgaris L. A simple-stemmed erect herb, y2 to 2
ft. high. Leaves in whorls of 6 to 12, linear, entire, acute, y
PARSLEY FAMILY
170
to in. long. Flowers minute, without petals. Stamen and
style 1 each. — In pools at the Soda Springs of the Tuolumne.
Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
UMBELLIFERAE. Parsley Family.
Herbs with usually hollow stems and alternate mostly
compound leaves, the petioles expanded at base. Flowers
small, in umbels or heads. Calyx entire or 5-toothed, the tube
wholly adherent to the 2-celled ovary, the 5 petals and 5 sta¬
mens inserted on the disk that crowns the ovary and sur¬
rounds the base of the 2 styles. Fruit of 2 seed-like bodies,
when ripe separating from each other and usually suspended
from the summit of a slender axis; each body marked with
ribs and between the ribs are commonly oil-tubes (best seen
in slices made across the fruit).
This is a large and difficult family. Since mature fruits are
needed for determining most of the species, and since these
are seldom collected by the amateur, only the more showy or
otherwise interesting ones are here described.
Flowers yellow; fruit bur-like . 1. Sanicula.
Flowers white or pinkish; fruit not bur-like.
Fruit not at all winged.
Plant tall and slender.
Roots fragrant, not tuber-like; flowers inconspicuous. 2. Osmorhiza.
Roots tuber-like; flowers showy . 3. Eulophus.
Plant 2 in. or less high; Alpine dwarf . 4. Podistera.
Fruit winged on the margins.
Flowers sessile in dense heads . 5. Selinum.
Flowers pediceled in simple or compound umbels.
Fruit oblong; leaflets linear or lanceolate . 6. Angelica.
Fruit nearly orbicular; leaflets ovate . 7. Heracleum.
1. SANICULA. Snake-root.
1. S. nevadensis Wats. A glabrous perennial, 3 to 12 in.
high, with long taproot. Leaves 1 or 2 in. long, palmately
divided, with lobed segments. Flowers yellow, in compact
clusters terminating naked peduncles from near the base.
Fruit small, bristly all over, with many oil-tubes. — Middle
altitudes; not common. 6\ nemoralis Greene, was described
from “Big Trees” and “Yosemite Valley.” It is a coarser
plant with pinnately divided leaves. Among other species to
be expected, especially toward the foothills, is S. tuberosa
Torr., with pinnately divided and finely cut leaves, the stem
from a small, globose tuber.
2. OSMORHIZA. Sweet Cicely.
1. O. nuda Torr. Common Sweet Cicely. Stems glabrous
PARSLEY FAMILY
171
above, 1 to 3 ft. high, from a perennial aromatic root. Leaves
mostly basal, pubescent, palmately twice compound, each of
the main divisions with 3 leaflets; leaflets ovate, wedge-
shaped at base, lobed and toothed, ^ to 2 in. long. Flowers
white, in loose compound umbels, the pedicels without bracts
at base. Fruit linear, nearly Y in. long, bristly on the ribs,
the oil-tubes obscure. ( Washingtonia brevipes C. & R.) — Com¬
mon in shady woods. O. brachypoda Torr. is a similar plant
and with similarly bristly-ribbed fruits, but with conspicuous
bractlets at base of pedicels. It is also common, especially
in the Yosemite Valley and near Hetch Hetchy. O. occiden-
talis Torr., our third species, is a larger plant, with mostly
larger leaves and fruits, the latter entirely glabrous.
3. EULOPHUS.
1. E. bolanderi C. & R. Glabrous perennial, 1 to 2 ft.
high, from a cluster of tuber-like roots, the nearly naked
stems bearing usually several long-peduncled compound um¬
bels of small white flowers. Leaves 3 to 6 in. long, pinnately
compound (except the uppermost bract-like ones), the
numerous segments linear-filiform; petioles enlarged toward
the base. Bracts pale, lanceolate, slenderly acute. Fruit flat¬
tened laterally, glabrous, % in. long. ( Podosciadium bolanderi
Gray.) — First described from specimens collected by Bolan-
der on the State Geological Survey, 1873, on the “Mariposa
Trail, Yosemite”; common in our district. E. parishii C. & R.,
which also occurs, has the same habit and general appear¬
ance, but the leaves are with only 3 or 4 segments, these
lanceolate or broadly linear, the very slender petioles en¬
larged only at the insertion on the stem, and the bracts few
or none.
4. PODISTERA.
1. P. nevadensis Wats. A dwarf stemless perennial, 1 or
2 in. high, minutely pubescent throughout. Leaves about Ft
in. long, pinnately parted. Flowers white or pinkish, in close
umbels. Fruit flattened laterally, elliptic-ovate, glabrous, the
ribs slender. — Known only from above timber-line on Mt.
Dana (type locality) and Mt. Warren.
5. SELINUM.
1. S. capitellatum Wats. A stout perennial, 1 to 5 ft. high,
glabrous up to the flower-cluster. Leaves 1 or 2 ft. long,
pinnately compound, the numerous toothed leaflets oblong or
lanceolate and 1 to 3 in. long. Flowers white, in dense heads,
DOGWOOD FAMILY
1 72
each head about *4 in. across and terminating the white-
woolly branch of a simple umbel. Fruit flattened, ribbed at
base, winged above. (S. validum Congdon.) — Occasional on
wet ground from Wawona and Yosemite to timber-line.
6. ANGELICA.
1. A. lineariloba Gray. Stems stout, clustered, 2 to 6 ft.
high, from a perennial base, the whole herbage glabrous.
Leaves twice compound; leaflets numerous, linear, 1 to 4 in.
long, entire, or the lower parted into 3 linear lobes. Flowers
white, in loose compound umbels destitute of bracts. Fruit
oblong, glabrous, nearly J4 in. long, with winged margins and
intermediate ribs, the oil-tubes conspicuous. — A rare plant,
first described from specimens gathered at Ostrander’s
Meadows. A. breweri Gray, our only other Angelica, has
much wider (lanceolate) leaflets, which are regularly toothed
and commonly pubescent. It grows at Hetch Hetchy, Chil-
nualna Falls, etc.
Ligusticum grayi C. & R., resembles a species of Angelica,
but its fruit is flattened from the sides instead of from the
back and front; the stems are tall and the large leaves
(chiefly basal) have many cut-toothed leaflets. Its type
locality is Ostrander’s Meadows.
7. HERACLEUM.
1. H. lanatum Michx. Cow Parsnip. A coarse perennial,
commonly 4 to 6 ft. high, almost woolly with white hairs.
Leaves with broad sheathing petioles, palmately compound;
leaflets 3, lobed and toothed, 3 to 12 in. across. Flowers
white, in large and loose compound umbels with linear bract-
lets. Fruit flat, nearly orbicular, Y> in. across, thin-winged
and with intermediate ribs. — Common in moist places of mod¬
erate altitude.
CORNACEAE. Dogwood Family.
Trees and shrubs with opposite entire exstipulate leaves.
Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, 4-lobed or entire. Petals
4, or wanting. Stamens 4. Ovary developing into a globose
1 or 2-seeded fruit (drupe).
Flowers white, in roundish clusters or heads, perfect . 1. Cornus.
Flowers in narrow spikes (aments), the staminate and pistillate
on separate plants . 2. Garrya.
1. CORNUS. Dogwood.
Deciduous shrubs and trees with perfect white flowers in
terminal heads or round-topped clusters.
DOGWOOD FAMILY
1 73
1. C. torreyi Wats. Leaves obovate or oblanceolate, acute,
on long slender petioles, lower surface pale and loosely silky-
pubescent. Flowers in a loose spreading cluster. Fruit
white; stone obovoid, in. long, acute at base, rough at
summit, ridged on the edges. — Only once collected and the
locality not known, but supposed by some to be the Yosemite
V alley.
2. C. pubescens Nutt. Creek Dogwood.
acute, pale and pubescent beneath, 2 to 5
in. long, on petioles y to 1 in. long. Flowers
in a loose cluster 1 or 2 in. broad. Fruit
white, subglobose; stone mostly oblique,
with furrowed edges, the sides ridged.
This red-stemmed dogwood, which be¬
comes 6 to 15 ft. high, grows along streams
and in other moist places to at least 6700 ft.
alt., often forming small thickets.
3. C. nuttallii Aud. Nuttall Dogwood.
Leaves obovate,
acute, pubescent, 3
to 5 in. long, short-
petioled. Flowers in
a compact head sur¬
rounded by a circle
of white petal-like
bracts V/z in. or
more long. Fruit
scarlet. ( Cynoxylon
nuttallii Shafer.)
The Nuttall Dog¬
wood (also called
Western, Mountain,
and Pacific Dog¬
wood), which is a
small tree with
smooth bark, is one of the most showy and attractive plants
in the mountains when in full bloom. The circle of white
bracts is 3 to 5 in. across making the resemblance of the
flower-cluster to a single flower very deceptive. It may be
seen along the road to Wawona, in the Yosemite, Hetch
Hetchy, and other low valleys, coming into bloom the latter
part of May.
Leaves ovate,
2. GARRYA. Silk Tassel Bush.
1. G. fremontii Torr. Bear Brush. Leaves light-green,
HEATH FAMILY
174
thick, rigid, ovate or oblong, entire, 1^4 to 2 in. long, on peti¬
oles to V\ in- long. Staminate flowers in cup-like bracts
of slender clustered spikes (aments), these becoming pen¬
dent and tassel-like. Pistillate flowers on separate plants,
the globose black and glabrous ovaries sessile in the bracts
of recurving spikes.
The Bear Brush, an evergreen, nearly glabrous shrub 5 to
10 ft. high, is common around Yosemite Valley and forms
thickets near the head of Nevada Falls. It also occurs at
other places of moderate altitude. G. congdonii Eastw. grows
along the new Coulterville road, but probably below our
limits. Its wavy-margined leaves are silky-pubescent be¬
neath.
^ ERICACEAE. Heath Family.
Trees, shrubs, and perennial herbs. Leaves simple, mostly
evergreen and stiff, sometimes fleshy or scale-like. Flowers
mostly regular, the parts in 5’s or 4’s. Stamens free from the
•corolla, as many or twice as many as its parts. Anthers
mostly opening by terminal holes, often with 2 horns. Ovary
1 to 10-celled, becoming a capsule or berry.
A. Petals distinct to "base (corolla choripetalous).
Flowers in terminal globose or flat-topped clusters.
Leaves toothed; stems scarcely woody . 1. Chimaphila.
Leaves entire; stems woody; shrub . 7. Ledum.
Flowers in cylindric spikes or racemes.
Ovary 5-celled . 2. Pyrola.
Ovary 1-celled; no green foliage . 3. Pleuricospora.
B. Petals united (corolla sympetalous).
Plants reddish, without green leaves.
Flowers over in. long . 4. Sarcodes.
Flowers not in. long . 5. Pterospora.
Plants with ordinary green leaves.
Stamens much exceeding corolla.
Tall shrub; flowers 1^4 to 2 in. long . 6. Rhododendron.
Low shrub; flowers not V\ in. long . 9. Bryantiius.
Stamens shorter than corolla.
Ovary free from calyx.
Flowers open bowl-shaped; low shrubs.
Leaves to 1 in. long, opposite . 8. Kai.mia.
Leaves J/s in. long, scale-like, 4-ranked . 10. Cassiope.
Flowers cylindric, in racemes; tall shrub . 11. Leucothoe.
Flowers jug-shaped, narrowed at orifice; stems
red . 12. Arctostaphylos.
Ovary adherent to calyx . 13. Vaccinium.
1. CHIMAPHILA. Pipsissewa.
Low evergreen perennials, scarcely woody, with thick
shining leaves scattered along the short stems. Flowers
HEATH FAMILY
175
flesh-color, waxy, few, on terminal peduncles longer than the
leaves. Stamens 10, their filaments thick and hairy in the
middle. Capsule 5-lobed, splitting downward.
1. C. umbellata Nutt. Prince’s Pine. Four to 12 in. high.
Leaves oblong or oblanceolate, narrowed to the base, sharply
toothed, \l 2/2 to iy2 in. long. — Big Oak Flat Road; rare.
2. C. menziesii Spreng. Menzies Pipsissewa. Mostly
smaller, 3 to 8 in. high. Leaves ovate or broadly lanceolate,
iy in. or less long, less deeply toothed. — Occurs sparingly
both north and south of us.
r
2. PYROLA. WlNTERGREEN. SHIN-LEAF.
Low perennial herbs, the leaves either evergreen and all
basal or white and scale-like (somewhat scattered in P. se-
cunda). Flowers in a raceme on a naked or scaly stalk. Sta¬
mens 10. Fruit a 5-celled 5-lobed capsule, splitting upward.
Plants with ordinary green leaves at base.
Style straight, capped by a broad stigma.
Corolla longer than style . 1. P. minor.
Corolla shorter than style . 2. P. secunda.
Style much curved, with narrow stigma.
Leaves orbicular, green, not white-veined . 3. P. asarifolia.
Leaves ovate or elliptic, white-veined . 4. P. picta.
Leaves obovate or spatulate, whole surface pale . 5. P. pallida.
Plants reddish, with small scale-like leaves . 6. P.aphylla.
1. P. minor L. Leaves roundish, very minutely toothed,
l/2 to 1 in. long, on mostly shorter petioles. Flowers crowded,
nodding, the stalk 4 to 8 in. high. Corolla nearly globose,
about y in. across, white or rose-color. Style straight, short
and included. — Branching and leafy at base. Rare, being
known with us only from Little Yosemite Valley, but extend¬
ing to Arctic regions.
2. P. secunda L. Leaves scattered, ovate, minutely
toothed, the blade 1 to \y2 in. long and exceeding the petiole.
Flowers all turned to one side, scarcely nodding, the stalk
2 to 10 in. high. Corolla barely y in. across, greenish white,
the petals oval. Style straight, long-exserted.
This little Pyrola with its somewhat scattered, bright-green
leaves is an inhabitant of damp places as along lake borders
and streams, where it forms small colonies. It grows in
damp meadows near Glacier Point, in the Tuolumne Canon,
and elsewhere in our region. Perhaps the best example of its
colonies may be seen on the shores of Gilmore Lake, in the
Tahoe country, where for a number of yards it has taken
possession of the shore.
176
HEATH FAMILY
3. P. asarifolia var. incarnata Fernald. Leaves orbicular
or nearly so, thick, shining, entire, 1^2 to 3 in. across, rounded
to a winged petiole lp2 to 3 in. long. Flowering stalk 6 to
18 in. high, the many flowers pendent and scaly-bracted. Cor¬
olla Y-2, in. across, rose-color, the petals obovate, obtuse.
Style much curved, exserted. ( P . rotundifolia bract eata Gray.)
The large, roundish leaves of this species often cover the
ground in shaded and moist places. It grows near Upper
Chilnualna Falls, near Mirror Lake, at Rosaco’s, etc., but it
is more plentiful around Tahoe.
4. P. pfcta Sm. White-veined Shin-leaf. Leaves thick,
firm, ovate to elliptic, mostly entire, 1 to 2^2 in. long (petiole
much shorter), pale beneath, dark green above but veined
with white. Flowers nodding, the whole stalk 6 to 15 in.
high. Corolla nearly in. across, greenish, exceeded by the
much curved style.
The basal cluster of shining green leaves veined or marbled
with white, best mark this shin-leaf. It grows here and there
in Yellow Pine forests, usually forcing its way through a
carpet of pine needles.
5. P. pallida Greene. Pale Shin-leaf. Leaves tough, very
pale on both sides, usually broadest above the middle. Other¬
wise like P. picta, with which it grows.
6. P. aphylla Sm. Leaves all reduced to a few colorless
or reddish scales. Flower-stalk reddish, 6 to 12 in. high,
bearing a dense raceme of nodding flowers each in. across.
Petals thick, obovate, very obtuse, dull white or reddish.
Style nearly straight, exserted, pointing downward.
HEATH FAMILY
177
The naked, reddish stalks of this species usually grow up
through a bed of pine needles, each stem supporting a cylin-
dric cluster of thickish flowers. They may be expected any¬
where in the Yellow Pine Belt but the species is nowhere
abundant.
3. PLEURICOSPORA.
1. P. fimbriolata Gray. Stalks erect, simple, stout and
fleshy, 3 to 8 in. high. Scales (reduced leaves) ovate, acute,
overlapping, white or brownish. Flowers in a dense raceme
(about 1 in. thick), each in the axil of a lanceolate fringed
bract. Petals 4 or 5, whitish, not united, barely 14 in. long,
fringed. Stamens 8 or 10. Ovary 1-celled.
This peculiar, thick-set saprophyte was found pushing itself
up through the carpet of decaying pine and Sequoia leaves
in the Mariposa Grove and near Wawona. It is reported from
the Pohono Trail.
4. SARCODES.
1. S. sanguinea Torr. Snow Plant. Stem erect, simple,
stout and fleshy, 9 to 18 in. high, often 1 in. or more thick at
base, bearing reddish scales instead of leaves and a thick
raceme of fleshy red flowers. Lower scales ovate, the upper
strap-shaped, all glandular and with rough edges. Corolla
red, to in. long, deeply 5-cleft into pointed lobes. Sta¬
mens 10. Ovary 5-lobed, becoming a 5-celled many-seeded
capsule surrounded by the persistent calyx.
The Snow Plant is one of the most popular plants in the
mountains, where it occurs rather sparingly in the Yellow
Pine Belt. It sends its thick, bright-red stalks up through
carpets of pine needles after the snow has melted, but not
through the snow, as many suppose. The Park authorities
have forbidden the destruction of this plant and have imposed
a severe penalty for the non-observance of the regulation.
5. PTEROSPORA.
1. P. andromedea Nutt. Pine-drops. Stem erect, simple,
fleshy but rather slender, 1 to 4 ft. high, to ^4 in. thick at
base, very sticky, the leaves reduced to reddish-brown scales.
Flowers pendent in a narrow raceme, dense at first. Corolla
white, scarcely y \ in. long, shortly 5-toothed. Stamens 10.
Ovary 5-lobed, many-seeded.
As indicated by its name, this highly interesting plant is
an inhabitant of the pine woods, where its reddish-brown
stalks shoot up straight as an arrow, or are only rarely curved
I78 HEATH FAMILY
to one side to avoid some obstruction. It is much more
slender than the Snow Plant, the herbage is not of so bright
a color, and the stalks are usually taller.
Allotropa virgata T. & G., is similar in appearance to Ptero-
spora but smaller; calyx of 5 roundish sepals; corolla lack¬
ing. — Tahoe, Kings River.
t
6. RHODODENDRON. Azalea.
1. R. occidentale Gray. Azalea. Shrub 2 to 10 ft. high,
loosely branched. Leaves alternate, entire, mostly clustered
near the ends of the twigs, narrowly obovate, tipped with a
sharp gland, 1 to 3 in. long, somewhat pubescent. Flowers
clustered. Corolla \y2 to 3 in. long, with funnelform tube
and recurved acute oblong lobes, either white or shading into
rose-color, with a yellow stripe on upper lobe, much exceeded
by the long stamens and style.
In June and July the sweet fragrance of the Azalea adds
another pleasure to the trails where they follow a river bank
or lead through swampy places. The bushes, white with
bloom, may frequently be seen leaning out over a stream,
now and again dipping their beautiful clusters into the water.
The range extends from our lower limits to altitudes of
7500 ft., as near Glacier Point and on Clouds Rest. The
true azaleas, of which this is one, differ from the true rhodo¬
dendrons in having deciduous leaves, but no good botanical
distinction can be made between them.
7. LEDUM. Labrador Tea.
1. L. glandulosum Nutt. Shrub rigid, 2 to 6 ft. high.
Leaves alternate, densely clustered, entire, oblong to narrow-
oval, flat, 34 t° 1/4 in- long, glabrous, pale beneath. Flowers
crowded, in a rounded terminal cluster. Corolla white, nearly
y2 in. across, the oval petals distinct or nearly so and widely
spreading, shorter than the stamens.
This is an evergreen shrub of moist places and is not un¬
common in the higher mountains. It was locally noted as
follows: Eagle Peak Meadows, Clouds Rest Trail, Snow
Flat, Lake Tenaya, Vogelsang Pass, Mt. Lyell. The bruised
foliage imparts a pleasing fragrance due to a resin which it
contains. The plant is said to be poisonous.
8. KALMIA. American Laurel.
1. K. polifolia var. microphylla Hall. Pale Laurel. Shrub
spreading, 2 to 6 in. high. Leaves opposite (rarely in 3’s),
HEATH FAMILY
179
nearly sessile, oblong or nearly linear, the edges strongly
rolled backward, Lt to Y\ in. long, glabrous, pale beneath.
Flowers in a simple terminal cluster, on pedicels longer than
the leaves. Corolla bowl-shaped, Y to in. across, lilac-
purple, longer than the stamens. ( K . glauca microphylla
Hook.)
The smooth foliage and the bright showy flowers of the
Pale Laurel are very attractive along creeks and moist
meadows near timber-line, but it is one of our most poison¬
ous plants. In the Rocky Mts., where it is more plentiful,
many sheep and cattle are lost each year by eating it.
9. BRYANTHUS.
1. B. breweri Gray. Leafy stems 6 to 12 in. high, erect
from a prostrate branching base. Leaves alternate but much
crowded, linear, entire, with thickened or recurved margins,
obtuse, % to 54 in. long, glabrous. Flowers in head-like ter¬
minal clusters, the glandular pedicels slightly exceeding the
leaves. Corolla rose-purple, cup-shaped, deeply lobed, 3/$ in.
across, the stamens and style conspicuously protruding.
( Phyllodoce breweri Heller.)
The Bryanthus, often called “Heather,” because of its simi¬
larity to the true heather of Europe, grows on gravelly slopes,
moist banks, and grassy places at high altitudes. There are
patches of it on Clouds Rest, among the summit rocks. The
narrow, thickly set leaves standing out all around the stem
like the bristles of a bottle-brush, and the showy clusters of
red flowers with their conspicuously protruding stamens, are
characters which at once distinguish this interesting plant.
Cassiope
Bryanthus
10. CASSIOPE.
1. C. mertensiana Don. Stems rigid and ascending, 1 ft.
or less high, densely leafy. Leaves closely overlapping in 4
i8o
HEATH FAMILY
rows, thick, boat-shaped, only about x/s in. long, glabrous.
Flowers nodding on erect naked pedicels from the upper
leaf-axils. Corolla white or rose-color, cup-shaped, about Ft
in. across.
It is always a pleasure to come across the bell-like flowers
of the Cassiope, or White Heather, as it is sometimes called,
for aside from its own charm, it is ever a good omen of
charming places. It grows only along ridges and rocky
ledges near timber-line where everything is clean and invit¬
ing. The peculiar, thick leaves, closely set and overlapping
each other, completely clothe the tough, perennial stems,
which freely branch below to form tangled beds, often of con¬
siderable extent.
11. LEUCOTHOE.
1. L. davisiae Torr. Evergreen leafy shrub, 3 to 5 ft. high,
nearly glabrous. Leaves alternate, short-petioled, oblong,
minutely toothed, \x/z to 3 in. long, to 1 in. wide. Flowers
pendulous, in clustered terminal racemes 2 to 6 in. long.
Corolla cylindric, 5-toothed, slightly oval, *4 in. long, dull
white, completely enclosing the stamens. — Moist places above
5000 ft. alt., not common : Merced Grove, Signal Peak, and
near Chinquapin.
12. ARCTOSTAPHYLOS. Manzanita.
Evergreen shrubs with crooked branches, the red bark very
smooth. Leaves alternate, entire or toothed. Corolla pink¬
ish, urn-shaped, 5-toothed. Stamens 10, included. Fruit of
several stony nutlets surrounded by a soft pulp, called a
berry. ( U va-ursi. )
Stems prostrate . 1. A. nevadensis
Stems erect.
Whole plant glabrous; leaves green . . . 2. A. patula.
Plant pubescent, at least the petioles and inflorescence.
Leaves pale, rigid . 3. A.mariposa.
Leaves green . 4. A. tomentosa.
1. A. nevadensis Gray. Dwarf Manzanita. Leaves gla¬
brous, oval or oblanceolate, sharply tipped, 1*4 in. or less
long, *4 to 24 in. broad, mostly erect. Flowers few, in small
clusters. Berry smooth, reddish.
The trailing or creeping stems of the Dwarf Manzanita are
found covering banks and forming loose mats in the high
mountains. It ranges from Gin Flat (7000 ft.) and Glacier
Point to timber-line on Clouds Rest and the High Sierra
Nevada.
HEATH FAMILY l8l
2. A. patula Greene. Green Manzanita. Leaves green
and glabrous, oval to orbicular, obtuse,
broad at base, 1 to 2 in. long, Y to 2 in.
broad, spreading or pendulous. Flowers
deep pink, Y in. long, in rounded ter¬
minal clusters. Berry smooth, fleshy,
over Y in- across. ( A . pungens platy-
phylla Gray.)
The stems of this Manzanita are
commonly 4 to 6 ft. high and branched
to make spreading shrubs. It forms
much of the chaparral on slopes around
the Yosemite Valley, ranging from
about 4500 to at least 9000 ft. alt. and is
widely distributed in the Sierra Nevada. The ripening ber¬
ries are pleasingly acid, the taste being similar to that of
green apples. It is said that they are much sought by bears,
and chipmunks are very fond of the seeds.
3. A. mariposa Dudley. Leaves pale gray, rough-pubes¬
cent (petioles and twigs stiff-hairy), ovate to broadly oblong,
obtuse but with a short point, 1 to ll/2 in. long, Y to 1/4
in. broad, mostly erect. Flowers in flat-topped clusters.
Berry scarcely Y± in- broad, soon dry and mealy.
The desiccated foothill slopes form the natural habitat of
this species, but it also ranges well up into the Yellow Pine
Belt on warm exposures, reaching Yosemite Valley and ex¬
tending up southward slopes to about 6000 ft. alt. The shrubs
are erect, commonly 3 to 5 ft. high, and with spreading
branches.
4. A. tomentosa Dougl. Hairy Manzanita. Similar to
A. mariposa but leaves green and nearly smooth, either erect
or loosely spreading. Berry larger, Y in- across. — Hetch
Hetchy and the lower foothills.
*
13. VACCINIUM. Blueberry. Cranberry. Bilberry.
Shrubs, ours all small and confined to high altitudes. Calyx-
tube adherent to the ovary, which becomes a 4 to 5-celled
many-seeded berry crowned with the short calyx-teeth.
Corolla in our species rose-color, ovate or globose. Stamens
8 or 10, included in the corolla-tube.
1. V. occidentale Gray. Sierra Bilberry. Stems 1 or 2 ft.
high, the twigs densely leafy. Leay.es glabrous, oval or oblan-
ceolate, entire, Y to Y in. long. Flowers 2 to 4 or solitary in
the leaf-axils, from distinct scaly buds. Calyx-limb deeply
PRIMROSE FAMILY
182
4 or 5-parted. Corolla mostly 4-lobed. Berry scarcely Y in.
across, blackish blue, with a bloom. — Mostly at 5000 to 8000
ft., not so common as in the Tahoe district.
2. V. caespitosum var. cuneifdlium Nutt. Dwarf Bilberry.
Stems a few in. to 1 ft. high. Leaves broad above, somewhat
wedge-shaped, with rounded apex, mostly finely toothed, Y
to 1 in. long. Flowers solitary. Calyx-limb only slightly
lobed. Corollas mostly 5-lobed. Berry blue, with a bloom,
sweet. — Dark Hole and Crescent Lake to the summits; com¬
mon in subalpine meadows.
V. myrtillus var. microphyllum Hook., is a low plant which
may be known, if found, by its sharply angled green branches
and very small toothed leaves. V. ovalifolium Sm., has simi¬
larly angled branches but it is a large shrub (4 to 8 ft.) with
leaves 1 or 2 in. long. It may occur at moderate altitudes.
PRIMULACEAE. Primrose Family.
Herbs with simple undivided leaves. Flowers regular, the
parts usually in 5’s. Stamens on tube or base of corolla
opposite the lobes. Ovary free from calyx (in ours), 1-celled,
with a single style, becoming a capsule.
Leaves all crowded near the base.
Stamens short, included in the corolla-tube.
Corolla in. long, open at throat . 1. Primula.
Corolla minute, narrowed at throat . 2. Androsace.
Stamens much exserted . 3. Dodecatheon
Leaves all in a terminal cluster . 4. Trientalis.
1. PRIMULA. Primrose.
1. P. suffrutescens Gray. Sierra Primrose. Leaves crowd¬
ed on creeping stems, thick, narrowly
wedge-shaped, toothed at apex, Y to 1^2
in. long. Flowers in a loose umbel ter¬
minating a naked stalk 1 to 4 in. high. Cor¬
olla Yz to Y\ in. long, red-purple, the 5
spreading lobes deeply notched.
The Sierra Primrose inhabits gravelly
mountain-tops and ridges, where its bright
flowers form pleasing groups, often in the
shelter of granite rocks. It grows on
Clouds Rest, Mt. Hoffmann, Mt. Dana, and
other high peaks.
2. ANDROSACE.
1. A. septentrionalis var. subulifera Gray. A dwarf annual
PRIMROSE FAMILY
183
with lanceolate nearly entire leaves {x/t in. or less long) all
huddled at base. Stems several, erect, *4 to 2 in. high, each
bearing 1 to several minute terminal flowers. Calyx sharply
5-toothed to the middle, % in. long, equalling the white cor¬
olla. — Common only in the Rocky Mts. and the far north.
Discovered in 1909 between Mt. Dana and Mt. Gibbs by
Professor W. L. Jepson.
3. DODECATHEON. Shooting -STAR.
Perennial herbs with naked stalks bearing at summit an
umbel of several showy flowers. Corolla 4 or 5-parted, the
long and narrow divisions turned back over the short tube
and thick throat. Stamens as many as corolla-lobes, pointing
straight forward, inserted on the throat, the short flat fila¬
ments united, or entirely wanting in our species. Style long.
Related to the cultivated Cyclamen.
1. D. jeffreyi Van Houtte. Leaves oblanceolate, acutish,
entire or slightly toothed, narrowed to a sheathing base, 2 to
15 in. long. Stem naked, 5 to 18 in. high, finely pubescent
above where it bears a bracted cluster of 5 to 15 nodding
flowers, each on a pedicel ^ to 3 in. long. Corolla-segments
mostly 4, 24 to 1 in. long, rose-pink, pale or yellowish toward
base, closely reflexed and exposing a purple ring of the
throat. Stamens 4, anthers reddish purple.
Dodecatheon jeffreyi
Dodecatheon jeffreyi redolens
The Shooting-stars are most attractive as one comes upon
them in the wet mountain meadows, standing straight like
pink soldiers. There is a fine meadow back from Glacier
Point, just off the Chinquapin Road, that has been entirely
taken over by Shooting-stars and the white Marsh Marigold.
It also grows at Hog Ranch, Snow Flat, Eagle Peak
OLIVE FAMILY
184
Meadows, Yosemite Valley, and thence nearly to timber-line.
At high altitudes one may expect the large var. redolens Hall,
characterized by a stronger fragrance of the herbage, the 5
corolla-segments less closely reflexed, thus including the
lower part of stamens and capsule in the cup-like corolla-tube
and not exposing the purple ring of the corolla. The two
forms are well distinguished in the accompanying figures.
A decidedly different plant as to general appearance also
grows at high altitudes (technically known as D. jeffreyi
forma pygmaeum Hall). This is only 4 to 8 in. high, with
thicker leaves only 1 to lj/2 in. long. Its whole appearance
is that of a starved plant, or one which has only a short
growing period. At Snow Flat, where it grades into the
usual form, the smallest plants always grow in poor soil,
either sandy or where decaying vegetation has made the soil
acid.
2. D. alpinum Greene. Similar to no. 1 but smaller in all
its parts and perfectly glabrous throughout. Leaves strap¬
shaped, acutish, 1 to 5 in. long. Corolla-segments to $4
in. long.
Notwithstanding its specific name, this shooting-star is not
strictly Alpine, for it grows most plentifully in moist meadows
throughout the Upper Coniferous Belt. At high altitudes
the plants are smaller and resemble the pygmy form of no. 1,
but are always distinguished by the entire absence of glands
or hairs on the branches of the flower-cluster. When timber-
line is reached an extremely small form is encountered, the
stalks only 2 to 6 in. high and the leaves only ^4 to 1^2 in.
long. This is technically known as forma nanum Hall, and
was first described from specimens gathered on Mt. Dana at
11,000 ft. alt.
4. TRIENTALIS.
1. T. europaea var. latifolia Torr. Star-flower. Stems 3
to 6 in. high, with only a terminal whorl of 4 to 6 leaves
which subtend a cluster of dainty slender-pediceled roseate
flowers. Leaves obovate, 1 to 3 in. long, y to 2 in. broad.
Corolla wheel-shaped, deeply 5 to 7-parted, 14 to in. across.
— Shaded places, chiefly of the Coast Ranges, but also found
in the vicinity of Crockers.
OLEACEAE. Olive Family.
Trees and shrubs, ours with opposite pinnately compound
leaves. Flowers small, each with a 4-cleft calyx, the corolla
sometimes wanting. Stamens mostly 2. Ovary 2-celled,
GENTIAN FAMILY 185
becoming a mostly 1-celled 1-seeded fruit with a long wing
from the end.
1. FRAXINUS. Ash.
Two species of Ash grow at El Portal and elsewhere so
near the Park boundary that they should perhaps be included.
The Oregon Ash (F. oregona Nutt.) is a fair-sized tree, with
leaves 6 to 12 in. long, each with 5 to 7 oblong or oval leaflets
2 to 5 in. long, the flowers without corollas. The Flowering
Ash (F. dipetala H. & A.) is a large, rounded shrub, 5 to 15
ft. high, with leaves 3 to 6 in. long, each with 3 to 9 leaflets
1 or 2 in. long, each flower with 2 white petals.
GENTIANACEAE. Gentian Family.
Glabrous herbs with opposite entire sessile leaves and no
stipules. Flowers regular, conspicuous. Stamens inserted on
the tube of the corolla, as many as its lobes and alternate with
them. Ovary 1-celled, with a single style, the seeds numerous.
Leaves simple, entire, sessile.
Flowers pink; slender annual . 1. Erythraea.
Flowers bluish or greenish.
Stems not 2 ft. high . 2. Gentiana.
Stems 3 to 5 ft. high; petals with fringed glands . 3. Frasera.
Leaves compound, long-stalked; marsh plant . 4. Menyanthes.
1. ERYTHRAEA. Canchalagua.
1. E. venusta Gray. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, acute, ^4
in. or less long. Calyx-lobes slenderly linear, parted nearly
to base. Corolla with very short narrow tube, the spreading
oval deep-pink lobes Fs or ^2 in. long. Anthers exserted
from the tube, becoming spirally twisted.
The Canchalagua is a slender annual, 3 to 12 in. high, the
single stem branching only above, where it bears a loose,
showy cluster of bright-pink flowers with yellow centers. It
is common in the foothills, extending into the mountains as
far as Wawona, Yosemite, and Hetch Hetchy valleys and
Rancheria Mt. (5500 ft.). Settlers use it in the treatment of
malaria and other fevers.
2. GENTIANA. Gentian.
Erect herbs with showy flowers. Corolla funnelform.
Style very short or none; stigma of two spreading lobes.
Calyx naked; slender annuals.
Flower solitary, 1 in. long.
Seeds rough . 1. G. detonsa.
Seeds smooth . 2. G. simplex.
Flowers many, in. long . 3. G. amarella.
GENTIAN FAMILY
1 86
Calyx surrounded by leaf-like bracts; perennials.
Plant dwarf, 1 to 5 in. high . 4. G. newberryi.
Plant robust, 5 to 15 in. high . . . 5. G. calycosa.
1. G. detonsa Rottb. Plant 3 to 15 in. high, the stem sim¬
ple, or branched below, with 2 to 6 pairs of lanceolate leaves
(54 to 1 in. long) and terminated by a single erect flower.
Pedicel much exceeding the leaves. Corolla sky-blue, 1 to 2
in. long, deeply 4 or 5-lobed; lobes rounded, often minutely
toothed. Seeds oval, rough with minute projecting scales.
( G . serrata holopetala Gray.)
The famous Fringed Gentian of the Eastern United States
is a close relative of this plant, differing mainly in having the
corolla-lobes strongly fringed around the summit. Our spe¬
cies occurs throughout the Sierra Nevada in meadowy and
grassy places, ranging from the altitude of the Yosemite to
Tuolumne Meadows. Except by its seeds, it can scarcely be
distinguished from the next.
2. G. simplex Gray. Like no. 1, but the stem always sim¬
ple, the flowers 34 to 1/4 in- l°n&> and the seeds smooth but
longitudinally lined. — In similar places, and the two species
often mistaken for each other in the absence of seeds.
3. G. amarella var. acuta Hook. Plant 6 to 18 in. high,
erect, leafy up through the flower-clusters. Leaves lanceolate
or oblong, 54 to 154 in. long. Corolla mostly blue, about 54
in. long, with 5 oblong lobes. — A widely distributed species,
found at Tuolumne Meadows (and Tahoe).
4. G. newberryi Gray. Plant 1 to 3 in. high (rarely 5 in.).
Stems several, decumbent at base, with crowded spatulate or
oblong leaves and a single terminal flower. Peduncle very
short or none. Corolla pale blue, white within, greenish dotted,
about 154 in. long; lobes ovate, sharply pointed, connected by
a transparent 2 or 3-cleft membrane. — Near Glacier Point and
perhaps elsewhere at high altitudes.
5. G. calycosa Griseb. Stems simple, 5 to 15 in. high, leafy
to summit, with one or several erect terminal flowers. Leaves
ovate or roundish, 34 to 154 in. long. Pedicels much shorter
than leaves. Corolla blue, green-dotted, about 154 in. long,
its ovate lobes connected by a bluish membrane with several
slender teeth. — Reported from near Sentinel Dome; more
common around Lake Tahoe.
3. FRASERA.
1. F. speciosa Dough Leaves opposite or in whorls of 4
or 6, ovate or oblong, the upper narrower, acute, 5 to 10 in.
DOGBANE FAMILY
187
long, nerved. Calyx of 4 narrow acute sepals. Corolla-lobes 4,
spreading, greenish white and dark-dotted, oval, acute, in.
long, each with a pair of large long-fringed glands. Stamens
4, shorter than the lobes. ( Szveertia radiata O. Ktze.)
This is a straight, robust, perennial herb, 3 to 5 ft. high,
the unbranched leafy stalk bearing a long cluster of numerous
greenish flowers on pedicels 1 or 2 in. long. It grows at
Glacier Point, in Little Yosemite Valley, at Tuolumne
Meadows, etc., but it is nowhere common.
4. MENYANTHES. Buckbean.
1. M. trifoliata L. Leaves long-petioled, with 3 oval or
oblong leaflets each V/z to 3j4 in. long. Corolla short-funnel-
form, 5-cleft, white or rosy, the upper surface white-bearded,
' nearly Vz in. long.
The muddy bottom of Lost Lake, in Little Yosemite Valley,
is full of the creeping rootstocks of the Buckbean, which lifts
its leaves above the surface of the shallow water in great
abundance. It has been reported also from Crescent Lake
and doubtless occurs elsewhere in our district.
APOCYNACEAE. Dogbane Family.
Ours perennial herbs with milky juice and entire opposite
leaves. Flowers regular, the parts in 5’s except the pistils,
which are 2. Stamens on the corolla, alternate with its lobes,
anthers grouped around the stigma. Pods 2, the seeds with a
tuft of silky hairs at one end.
1. APOCYNUM. Indian Hemp.
1. A. androsemaefdlium var. pumilum Gray. Small Dog¬
bane. Plant low (6 to 15 in.), the many branches widely
spreading. Leaves dark green, ovate or roundish, with broad
base, Y\ to 1 x/z in. long, short-petioled. Flowers solitary in
the upper leaf-axils and in short terminal clusters. Corolla
pinkish white, nearly *4 in- long, the lobes somewhat spread¬
ing. Pods 2 to 7 in. long, slender-cylindric, pointed. — Widely
scattered in open pine forests, occurring in a variety of forms.
2. A. cannabinum L. Indian Hemp. Plant taller (2 to 4 ft.),
with fewer and less spreading branches. Leaves pale green,
narrowly ovate to lanceolate, V/z to 3 in. long, sessile or short-
petioled. Corolla greenish white, l/s in. long, the lobes
ascending. ( A . breweri Greene, a broad-leaved form from the
Yosemite.)
Mr. Charles R. Dodge, of the U. S. Department of Agri¬
culture, reports that the fiber prepared from the stems of
MILKWEED FAMILY
1 88
this plant by the Indians is fine, long, and tenacious, and when
well treated is creamy white and remarkably soft. It is used
in making twine, fish lines, small baskets, and similar articles,
especially by the Pai Utes of Nevada. The plant grows in
moist places at moderate altitudes and is very common in the
lower part of Yosemite Valley.
Cycladenia humilis Benth., is to be expected on gravelly
ridges. It is a broad-leaved dwarf with showy, rose-purple
flowers 24 in. long.
ASCLEPIADACEAE. Milkweed Family.
Herbs, with milky juice, the leaves opposite or in whorls.
Calyx and corolla 5-parted (divisions reflexed in ours). In
our single genus the 5 stamens are on the base of corolla, the
filaments united into a tube fused above with the styles and
bearing on the back a circle of 5 hoods each often with an in¬
curved horn. Fruit 1 or 2 large pods with numerous seeds,
each seed with a silky tuft of hairs at apex.
1. ASCLEPIAS. Milkweed.
Erect perennial herbs, branched only at base, leafy to the
top. Flowers pediceled, in simple stalked clusters (umbels)
from between the upper leaves.
MILKWEED FAMILY
189
1. A. speciosa Torr. Showy Milkweed. Stem stout, 1*4
to 5 ft. high, stiffly erect, woolly-pubescent except when old.
Leaves oval to ovate or oblong, 3 to 8 in. long, petioled.
Petals pink or reddish purple. Hoods with conspicuous horns
(34 im long) much exceeding the central disk. Pod woolly,
soft-spiny toward the apex.
The stems of this milkweed, which is plentiful in the
Yosemite and other of our valleys, yield a strong, white
fiber, much used by the Indians, who call it Hook-ken. The
Hupas prize also the milky juice, which they boil down and
use as a chewing-gum. The herbage is very poisonous to
animals. It does not cause so much trouble to stockmen,
however, as A. eriocarpa Benth., a species of lower altitudes
which may be known by its more oblong leaves and white
flowers.
2. A. cordifolia Jepson. Purple Milkweed. Stems 1 34 to
3 ft. high, the whole plant entirely glabrous and more or less
purplish. Leaves ovate, acute, 234 to 6 in. long, \/2 to 4 in.
wide, sessile by a heart-shaped base. Petals dark reddish pur¬
ple. Hoods purplish, without horns. Pod glabrous, smooth,
long-pointed. {Gomphocarpus cordifolius Benth.)
The smooth and clean-looking foliage of this plant is a com¬
mon sight on the gravelly and rocky slopes around Yosemite
Valley. It doubtless grows throughout the lower part of the
Yellow Pine Belt. Although we have no direct evidence, it is
probable that this species is poisonous to live-stock in the
same manner as the next.
3. A. mexicana Cav. Narrow-leaf Milkweed. Stems usu¬
ally 2 or 3 ft. high, the plant entirely glabrous and green.
Leaves 3 or more in a whorl, narrowly lanceolate, acute, 2 *4
to 6 in. long, 34 to V\ m. wide, narrow at base. Flowers
Asclepias mexicana
MORNING-GLORY FAMILY
190
small, greenish white or purplish. Horns slender, exserted
from the hoods. Pod smooth, glabrous.
The Narrow-leaf Milkweed is a foothill species, but has
been found as far up as Mirror Lake. It is much dreaded by
sheepmen on hot days when they are obliged to drive their
flocks over dry districts where there is little other vegetation
and no water. Under these conditions the sheep are tempted
to eat the milkweed, which contains an active poison and
causes many deaths. This is sometimes prevented by cutting
the plants down a few days before the sheep are driven
through, the object being to dry the herbage and so render it
less tempting.
CONVOLVULACEAE. Morning-glory Family.
Chiefly trailing or twining herbs, with alternate leaves or
leafless. Flowers regular. Stamens 5, on the corolla-tube
and alternating with its 5 lobes. Ovary 2-celled, becoming a
globose 2 to 6-seeded capsule.
Leafy plants with conspicuous flowers . 1. Convolvulus.
Leafless twining herb with small flowers . 2. Cuscuta.
1. CONVOLVULUS. Morning-glory.
1. C. villosus Gray. Leaves petioled, triangular or heart-
shaped, 1 to 2 Li in. across, velvety with a dense white pu¬
bescence. Flowers pediceled, from the leaf-axils, the calyx
with a pair of broad bracts at base. Corolla creamy white,
funnel form, 1 to V/2 in. long, not lobed. (C. malacophyllus
Greene.)
The trailing, leafy stems of this plant are commonly Yz to
2 ft. long, and may be seen in open pine forests at middle
altitudes.
2. CUSCUTA. Dodder. Love-vine.
1. C. californica Choisy. Stems twining, pale, leafless.
Flowers in loose clusters, very small. Corolla nearly globose,
with 5 slender acute lobes.
The thread-like, orange-colored stems of this dodder en¬
twine themselves about grasses and other low plants, upon
which they are parasitic, although the seeds germinate in the
ground. It is abundant in low valleys. Other species are
doubtless present but not yet detected.
POLEMONIACEAE. Gilia Family.
Herbs and low shrubs with mostly regular flowers. Calyx
and corolla 5-lobed. Stamens 5, inserted on the tube or throat.
GILIA FAMILY I9I
Capsule 3-celled and style 3-parted, or cells and style-branches
only 2 in some Navarretias.
Leaves pinnately compound, the leaflets entire; corolla
bluish, bell-shaped or short-funnelform . 1. Polemonium.
Leaves simple, often finely cut or deeply lobed.
Tube of corolla constricted below the spreading lobes; two
stamens regularly inserted lower down than the other
three; perennials with opposite entire leaves . 2. Phlox.
Tube of corolla not constricted below the lobes; stamens
often unequally inserted but not in two sets.
Calyx-lobes equal; flowers pediceled (pedicels very short
in some species) . 3. Gilia.
Calyx-lobes unequal; flowers strictly sessile in heads
with spinose bracts . 4. Navarretia.
1. POLEMONIUM. Greek Valerian.
Perennials with alternate pinnately compound leaves, the
leaflets entire. Corolla bell-shaped or short-funnelform, with
very short tube. Stamens equally inserted near summit of
tube, but often of unequal length.
Corolla-lobes about equalling the tube.
Stem solitary, 2 to 4 ft. tall . 1. P. occidentale.
Stems numerous, 9 in. or less high . 2. P. pulcherrimum.
Corolla-lobes much shorter than tube . 3. P. eximimn.
1. P. occidentale Greene. Leaves 3 to 12 in. long; leaflets
9 to 25, narrowly lanceolate to ovate, Y to 1^4 in. long. Cor¬
olla blue, Yz in. long, much exceeded by the style. (P. coeru-
leum of Bot. Calif.)
The stem of this species is strictly erect from a perennial
root, the upper portion bearing numerous deep-blue flowers
in small clusters. It grows in wet places but is known in our
district only from Yosemite Valley and Mono Pass.
2. P. pulcherrimum Plook. Leaves 2 to 5 in. long; leaflets
7 to 19, oval or elliptic, % to Y in. long. Corolla blue or vio¬
let, about Y in. long, the style slightly exserted. (P. humile
pulchellum Gray.)
In this Polemonium the bright flowers are borne on the
branching summits of leafy stems only 4 to 8 in. high, which
rise from a creeping, perennial base. It is found in moist or
shaded places at 6000 to 10,000 ft. alt., and is especially com¬
mon along Snow Creek and at Lake Tenaya.
3. P. eximium Greene. Leaves 1 to 4 in. long; leaflets 15
to numerous, crowded, elliptic, about Y in- long. Corolla
deep blue, p2 to Y in. long, the roundish lobes nearly Yt in-
across, exceeding the style. (P. confertum, of Bot. Calif.)
The peculiar worm-like leaves with numerous small, divided
GILIA FAMILY
192
leaflets, at once mark this interesting Alpine plant. The leaves
are crowded toward the thick, perennial base, the flowering
stalks (2 to 8 in. high) being comparatively naked. The flowers
are in terminal, head-like clusters. The species grows only
among granite rocks above timber-line but here it is common,
from one end of the Sierra Nevada to the other, amid sur¬
roundings such as shown in the illustration.
2. PHLOX.
Low perennials with opposite and sessile entire leaves.
Corolla with a long slender tube and abruptly spreading
limb (salverform). Stamens included, very unequally in¬
serted in the tube of the corolla in two sets. Capsule with but
1 seed in each cell.
Leaves 1 or 2 in. long; corolla-lobes usually notched . 1. P. speciosa.
Leaves in. or less long; corolla-lobes entire.
Leaves lA to in. long . 2. P. douglasii.
Leaves not in. long; calyx glandular . 3. P. caespitosa.
1. P. speciosa Pursh. Leaves not crowded, 1 to 2y2 in.
long, linear-lanceolate, acute. Flowers in loose clusters, the
naked calyx (and stems) glandular-hairy. Corolla rose-pink,
y2 in. across, the lobes deeply notched or sometimes entire,
the tube y2 in. long.
This is one of the most showy and pleasing plants of the
lower part of the pine belt. The loosely branched, woody
stems are 6 to 18 in. high and bear a great profusion of dainty,
pinkish flowers. The species is not common except in the
neighborhood of Crockers and in Tuolumne Co. Our form,
marked by the glandular calyx with teeth shorter than the
tube, was once called P. occidentalis Dur.
2. P. douglasii Hook. Leaves densely crowded, y to y in.
long, nearly awl-shaped, sharply pointed.
Flowers terminal on short branches, the
calyx crisp-hairy and nearly hidden by the
upper leaves. Corolla bluish purple, lilac,
or nearly white, 3A to y in. across, the tube
{y2 in. long) exceeding the calyx, the lobes
entire.
The very leafy stems of this Phlox creep
along the ground, forming dense, green
mats, thickly dotted with beautiful flowers
on erect branchlets. It grows on gravelly slopes and sum¬
mits above 6000 ft. alt. The comparatively loose form with
longer leaves is the var, diffusa Gray.
GILIA FAMILY
193
3. P. caespitosa subsp. muscoides Brand. Moss-Phlox.
Somewhat like P. douglasii but still more compact and moss¬
like, the stems only 1 or 2 in. high and completely hid¬
den by the dense foliage. Leaves not in- long. Calyx
glandular. Corolla more exserted. — Alpine Zone only, as at
Mono Pass and Mt. Dana.
3. GILIA.
Annuals and perennials (some low shrubs). Corolla tubu-
lar-funnelform or salverform (i. e., with cylindric tube and
spreading lobes). Stamens equally or unequally inserted
(this best seen by holding a flower up to the light).
A. Leaves all, or at least the upper, alternate.
Flowers salmon-color, mostly in terminal bracted heads.
Corolla 3 or 4 times as long as calyx .
Corolla not twice as long as calyx .
Flowers not salmon-color.
Corolla inconspicuous; seeds 1 to 3 in each capsule.
Leaves all sessile and entire .
Lower leaves petioled, often lobed .
Corolla showy; seeds 6 to numerous.
Leaves entire, or palmately parted into entire leaf¬
like lobes.
Flowers on slender naked pedicels . . .
Flowers sessile among rigid needle-like leaves;
woody perennial .
Leaves pinnately lobed.
Flowers pale, in dense heads .
Flowers red, scattered .
1. G. grandMora.
2. G. linearis.
3. G. gracilis.
4. G. gilioides.
5. G. leptalea.
8. G. pungens.
6. G. achilleaefolia.
7. G. aggregata.
B. Leaves all opposite or apparently whorled.
(Delicate erect annuals, except no. 15.)
Corolla less than in. long, broadly funnelform, the
tube not exserted from the calyx.
Stem pubescent . 9. G. filipes.
Stem glabrous . 10. G. harknessii.
Corolla J4 in. or more long, salverform with narrow
tube long-exserted except in no. 14.
Stamens exserted from the corolla-tube; flowers in
bracted clusters.
Flowers a little longer than the bracts.
Corolla purple; annual .
Corolla white; perennial .
Flowers twice as long as the bracts.
Corolla nearly glabrous, not 1 in. long.
Corolla pubescent, 1 in. or more long. .
Stamens included; flowers white, large, in
scattered .
11. G. ciliata.
15. G. nuttallii.
12. G. bicolor.
13. G. androsacea.
pairs or
14. G. dichotoma.
1. G. grandiflora Gray. Collomia. Stem simple, 1 or 2
ft. high, leafy to the. top. Leaves sessile, linear or lanceolate,
entire. Flowers mostly in a terminal head surrounded by
GILIA FAMILY
194
broad bracts. Corolla buff or salmon-color, narrow-funnel-
form, 1 in. long. Stamens unequally inserted. Seeds 1 to 3
in the capsule. ( Collomia grcmdiflora Dougl.)
The erect, leafy stems of this annual, each bearing a ter¬
minal head of showy flowers, is a familiar sight around Yo-
semite Valley and from Wawona to Hetch Hetchy. The
species grows in warm situations, blossoming in summer. In
Germany, where it is cultivated, the stems are often much
branched.
2. G. linearis Nutt. Similar to no. 1 but smaller, the
corolla only about y2 in. long and not twice as long as the
calyx. — Mariposa Grove.
G. tinctoria Kell., is a similar but branching plant with
purplish corolla and stamens equally inserted. It occurs north
of our limits.
3. G. gracilis Hook. Stem simple, or branched above,
annual, 3 to 9 in. high. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, entire
(the lower opposite, upper alternate). Flowers scattered.
Corolla purple, with yellow throat, salverform, % to ^ in.
long, scarcely exceeding the calyx. Stamens unequally in¬
serted. — Widely distributed at middle altitudes, occurring in
a variety of forms.
4. G. gilioides Greene. Stem loosely branched, annual, 6
to 18 in. high, pubescent. Leaves lanceolate, partly entire
but some toothed or even parted into broad lobes. Corolla
blue-purple, salverform, y to in. long, twice as long as
calyx but very narrow and not showy. Stamens equally
inserted or nearly so. — Very common. Var. benthamiana
Brand, has leaves mostly with linear or lanceolate segments.
Var. greeneana Brand, has oval or oblong leaf-segments. Var.
integrifolia Brand, has entire leaves.
5. G. leptalea Greene. A slender erect annual, 2 to 20 in.
high, with many fine ascending branchlets,
nearly glabrous. Leaves linear, entire, to
2 in. long. Flowers numerous, scattered, on
naked pedicels. Corolla magenta, the dull-
white throat with blue markings, the tube yel¬
low, funnelform, y2 in. long, much exceeding
calyx. Capsule 9 to 15-seeded. — Abundant at
middle altitudes and in a small form to 9000
ft. alt., but not conspicuous until midsummer.
G. capillaris Kell., may occur. It resembles
a low form of G. leptalea but the pale or nearly
white corolla is more tubular and inconspicuous, scarcely
GILIA FAMILY 1 95
in. long. G. subalpina Greene, is a diminutive form of high
altitudes, with never more than 6 ovules.
6. G. achilleaefolia Benth. Blue Gilia. An erect annual,
9 to 18 in. high, with few branches, nearly glabrous. Leaves
pinnately divided into linear mostly toothed lobes. Flowers
in dense terminal heads without bracts. Corolla pale blue or
white, ^8 in. long, much exceeding calyx, the lobes broadly
oblong. — From the foothills to Wawona, Yosemite, etc. G.
capitata Dough, a similar species but with linear-lanceolate
corolla-lobes, may be found.
7. G. aggregata Spreng. Scarlet Gilia. Stems numerous,
V/z to 4 ft. high, from a branched biennial base, pubescent.
Leaves pinnately parted into narrowly linear divisions. Cor¬
olla reddish or scarlet, 1 to 1 J4 in. long, the lanceolate lobes
(red-dotted on a yellowish ground) recurved. Stamens pro¬
truding, inserted in the notches between the lobes. Var.
bridgesii Gray., has broader calyx-teeth and leaf-lobes and
stamens sometimes included.
This is the most showy of all our gilias. The brilliant
flowers are borne in loose panicles 1 ft. long and when occupy¬
ing an area to the exclusion of other species the mass effect
is very striking. It inhabits loose or gravelly soil at 6000 to
9000 ft. alt., as in Illilouette Valley, along the Pohono trail,
near Snow Creek (6600 ft.), Crane Flat, and Rancheria Mt.
extending to Washington, Nebraska and Mexico.
8. G. pungens Hook. Stems many, from a woody base,
1 ft. or less high, very leafy to the top. Leaves parted to the
base into rigid and needle-like sharp-pointed lobes Yz in. or
so long, each lobe resembling an entire leaf, with shorter ones
GILIA FAMILY
I96
in the axils. Corolla white (or tinged with rose), about 1 in.
long, the flaring lobes roundish and obtuse. Stamens not
protruding.
This Gilia forms loose mats on summits and along ledges
at more than middle altitudes. It resembles Phlox, but the
corolla gradually expands from a narrow tube to the spread¬
ing limb (funnelform), while in Phlox the limb is abruptly
spreading (salverform) . Var. hookeri Gray, is a form with
fewer but more rigid leaves.
9. G. filipes Benth. Stems 2 to 6 in. high, pubescent, often
branched, the few flowers on thread-like pedicels from the
upper axils. Leaves *4 in- or less long, parted into 3 to 7 nar¬
row pointed lobes. Corolla tV in. long, flaring from base to the
rounded lobes (broad-funnelform, without tube), lilac, with
yellow throat, much exceeding the calyx. ( G . pusilla calif or-
nica Gray. Linanthus filipes Greene.) — Along the lower part
of the pine belt.
10. G. harknessii Curran. Stems 3 to 12 in. high, glabrous,
simple below, the flowers on naked thread-like pedicels.
Leaves % to >4 in. long, palmately parted into 3 to 5 very
narrow lobes, thus appearing whorled. Corolla minute, white
or purplish. Capsule only 3-seeded. ( Linanthus harknessii
Greene.) — Yosemite Valley; Tuolumne Meadows.
11. G. ciliata Benth. Stem 3 to 12 in. high, short-hairy, the
flowers nearly sessile in terminal heads surrounded by leaf¬
like bracts parted into linear sharp-pointed lobes. Leaves Bt
to 1 in. long, parted into 5 to 7 narrow rigid lobes. Bracts
larger, with stiff white hairs. Corolla to 24 in. long, tubular,
with small round lobes, rose-purple with yellow throat. ( Li¬
nanthus ciliatus Greene.) — Not rare up to about 7500 ft. alt. and
in a depauperate form to 9000 ft. Our specimens seem all to
belong to var. neglecta Brand, distinguished by its simple
stem 6 in. or less high and by the variegated corolla-lobes.
12. G. bicolor Brand. Similar to small forms of G. ciliata
but known by the very slender corolla-tube two or three
times as long as the bracts (which are less hairy). ( Linanthus
bicolor Greene.) — Found at Crockers and at 7500 ft. alt. on
Indian Creek; perhaps not rare.
13. G. androsacea var. montana Brand. Also similar to
G. ciliata but often tall and the flowers much more showy, 1
to 1^2 in. long, the tube purplish and pubescent, the throat
yellowish, the large lobes white tinged with violet. ( Linanthus
montanus Greene.) — At 4500 ft. alt. near Crockers and at 6500
ft. near the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne.
PHACELIA FAMILY
197
14. G. dichotoma Benth. Evening Snow. Stems branching,
6 to 18 in. high, glabrous, some flowers nearly sessile in the
upper axils, some long-pediceled, all leafy-bracted. Leaves
entire or parted into thread-like lobes, ^ to 1 in. long. Cor¬
olla about 1 in. long, white, the large rounded lobes often
brownish near margin and as long as the tube. ( Linanthus
dichotomus Benth.) — A foothill species found as far up as
Wawona.
15. G. nuttallii Gray. Stems numerous, 6 to 12 in. high,
from a woody perennial base, leafy up through the flower-
clusters. Leaves opposite, *4 to 1 in. long, parted to the base
into 3 to 7 linear lobes. Corolla about *4 in. long, white, the
stamens scarcely exceeding its throat. — Whole length of the
Sierra Nevada but not yet found in the Yosemite National
Park.
4. NAVARRETIA.
1. N. divaricata Greene. A slender rigid branching annual,
5 in. or less high and about as broad. Leaves few, 1 in. or
less long, mostly entire. Flowers in small heads, surrounded
by rigid spiny bracts. Corolla minute, shorter than the calyx,
purplish, longer than the stamens and style. ( Gilia divaricata
Torr.) — Widely distributed up to 8200 ft. alt.
Other Navarretias may be expected in clay soil at low
altitudes, especially N. intertexta Hook., known by its pin-
nately parted leaves with spine-like lobes, and its pearly-white
flowers in dense heads surrounded by woolly, spiny-lobed
bracts. N. leucocephala Benth., is similar but with soft, green
leaves and yellowish flowers.
HYDROPHYLLACEAE. Phacelia Family.
Herbs and shrubs with regular flowers. Stamens 5, inserted
near base of corolla, alternate with its 5 lobes. Styles 1 or 2.
Fruit a 1 or nearly 2-celled capsule with several to numerous
seeds.
Style 2-cleft at apex; herbs, some slightly woody at base.
Leaves (including petiole) 6 to 12 in. long; flower-
clusters head-like, not coiled . 1. Hydrophyllum.
Leaves smaller.
Flowers solitary or clustered on leaf-bearing stems.
Calyx with 5 reflexed tooth-like appendages from i!
between the lobes; ovary and capsule l-celled.2. Nemophila.
Calyx without appendages; 'ovary and capsule
apparently 2-celled.
Leaves all opposite and to 1 in. wide; per¬
ennial . 3. Draperia.
198
PHACELIA FAMILY
Leaves mostly alternate, the only opposite-leaved
species being delicate annuals with leaves
not Ya. in. wide . 4. Phacelia.
Flowers solitary on naked stems, the leaves being
all basal (and entire) . 5. Hesperochiron.
Styles 2, distinct to base; shrubby plants . 6. Eriodictyon.
1. HYDROPHYLLUM. Waterleaf.
1. H. occidental Gray. Stems 1 or 2 ft. high, from a per¬
ennial base, rough-hairy. Leaves alternate, 6 to 12 in. long
including petiole, with 7 to 15 oblong and mostly cleft lobes.
Flowers in head-like clusters on peduncles mostly longer than
the leaves. Corolla bluish, bell-shaped, nearly y2 in. long.
Stamens and style long-exserted. Ovary 1-celled, 1 to
4-seeded.
This Waterleaf has been found near Wawona and at
Crockers but is common only farther north. It scarcely dif¬
fers from some Phacelias, save in the ovary, but may usually
be known by the larger, apparently compound leaves. H.
capitatum Dough, of the northern Sierra Nevada, is a smaller
plant with peduncles much shorter than the leaves.
2. NEMOPHILA.
Low annuals with at least the lower leaves opposite.
Flowers in racemes (not coiled) or solitary. Calyx with a
reflexed appendage from between each pair of teeth. Stamens
not exserted. Style 2-cleft. Capsule 1-celled.
Flowers large, Y& to \y2 in. across.
Corolla white, each lobe with a purple spot at tip . 1. N. maculata.
Corolla bluish . 2. N. mensiesii.
Flowers small, in. or less across.
Leaves all opposite, wedge-shaped, shallowly lobed or
entire . 3. N. humilis.
Leaves often alternate above, the lower ones deeply lobed. 4. N. exilis.
1. N. maculata Benth. Spotted Nemophila. Stems spread¬
ing, 3 to 12 in. long. Leaves all opposite, ^ to 2 in. long,
deeply and often doubly lobed or the upper ones entire, taper¬
ing to the base. Pedicels slightly surpassing the leaves. Cor¬
olla Ys to \y2 in. across, white, purple-dotted and usually with
a purple spot at tip of each lobe.— Common in meadows along
the Hog Ranch Road and in the foothills. In the var. concolor
Brand, the corolla-lobes lack the purple spot.
2. N. menziesii H. & A. Baby-blue-eyes. Stems 4 to 12 in.
long. Leaves mostly opposite, y2 to 3 in. long, deeply divided
into 5 to 9 ovate or roundish often lobed divisions. Pedicels
much surpassing the leaves. Corolla y2 to 1 in. across, blue,
PHACELIA FAMILY
199
veined with deeper blue or purple, lighter and often dotted
toward the center. — A foothill and valley species, reaching
Wawona and Yosemite Valley.
3. N. humilis Eastw. Stems spreading, 2 to 8 in. long.
Leaves all opposite, *4 to \y2 in. long, entire or with few
entire lobes, tapering to the base. Pedicels about as long as
the leaves. Corolla scarcely in. across, white, often purple-
dotted but without a purple spot at tip of each lobe. — Hog
Ranch Road and Hazel Green to 8000 ft. alt., but not common.
4. N. exilis Eastw. Stems slender and weak, 3 in. to 2 ft.
long. Leaves y2 to 2 in. long, the lower deeply lobed, the
upper less lobed or entire, mostly petioled. Pedicels mostly
much longer than the leaves. Corolla *4 to Y in. across,
white. — Our most common Nemophila, abundant in the Yo¬
semite and throughout the lower part of the Yellow Pine Belt.
N. sepulta Parish, may be found. It has pinnately lobed
leaves, the upper longer than the pedicels, and very small
white flowers (often bluish without).
3. DRAPERIA.
1. D. systyla Torr. Draperia. Stems 1*4 ft. or less high,
from a spreading perennial base. Leaves all opposite, silky-
hairy, ovate, entire, 1 to 2 in. long, petioled. Flowers crowded
on the coiled branches of a naked peduncle. Corolla purplish,
about ^4 in. long, funnelform. Stamens unequal, not exserted.
We here adopt the generic name, Draperia, to also serve
as a common name for this plant, since no other has been pro¬
posed. The genus was named in honor of Professor John
William Draper, of New York, a chemist and historian.
D. systyla is the only species, but it occurs in two forms. The
first is broad-leaved and grows plentifully on banks through¬
out the Yellow Pine Belt of the Sierra Nevada. The second
(var. minor Brand) has leaves only y to y in. wide and more
wedge-shaped at the base. It has been collected in Yosemite
Valley.
4. PHACELIA.
Herbs with bluish or white flowers in coiled spikes or
racemes. Calyx 5-lobed nearly to the base. Style 2-cleft.
Capsule with 2 seed-bearing portions which nearly meet in the
middle. Seed-coats pitted or netted. The species are here
arranged according to habit, as a matter of convenience. It
is doubtful if the usual classification based on the number of seeds
is a natural one.
200
PHACELIA FAMILY
A. Stamens scarcely if at all exceeding1 the corolla; low annuals.
Seeds 4 or fewer in each capsule.
Leaves mostly near summit, opposite . 1. P.racemosa.
Leaves basal and scattered, some alternate . 2. P. humilis.
Seeds 8 to 20 in each capsule.
Flowers not A in. long; pedicels evident . 3. P. curvipes.
Flowers over J4 in. long; pedicels very short . 4. P.menziesii.
B. Stamens much longer than the corolla.
Leaves gray-hairy, the upper ones entire or merely
toothed.
Stems sparsely leafy; ovules 4 . 5. P. magellanica.
Stems leafy to the top; ovules 6 to 12 . 6. P. hydrophylloides.
Stems leafy; ovules 12 to 16; leaves mostly entire. 4. P. mensiesii.
l eaves bright green, all deeply lobed.
Perennial, with spreading stems . 7. P. ramosissima.
Annual, with erect stem . 8. P. tanacetifolia.
1. P. racemosa Brandegee. A delicate erect annual, nearly
naked up to the branching flower-cluster, 2 to 9 in. high,
glandular-pubescent only above. Leaves linear-lanceolate,
entire, to 2 in. long. Flowers blue, % in. long, pedicels
shorter than calyx. Seeds 4. (P. namatoides Gray.) — A rare
species, found at Glacier Point.
2. P. humilis T. & G. Stems simple or branched, leafy,
3 to 9 in. high, whole plant with short spreading hairs. Leaves
alternate (lower rarely opposite), narrowly lanceolate, entire,
1^4 in. or less long. Pedicels all shorter than calyx, the
latter with linear lobe^s. Corolla indigo-blue, scarcely % in.
long, the stamens a little longer. Seeds only 4 in each cap¬
sule. — Yosemite Valley (summit of El Capitan, Nevada
Falls), Alder Cr., Stubblefield Canon, etc.; probably through¬
out our district.
P. eisenii Brandegee, may occur. It is like P. humilis, but
with slender pedicels longer than the calyx and 2 distinct
styles. P. purpusii Brandegee, is also similar, but known by
its broad, almost obovate calyx-lobes. It grows in the foot¬
hills, perhaps reaching Yosemite Valley.
3. P. curvipes var. yosemitana Brand. Stems simple or
commonly much branched, 3 to 12 in. high, rough-pubescent,
usually purplish. Leaves oval or oblanceolate, entire, the
blade % to 1 in. long, often equalled by the slender petiole.
Lower pedicels as long as calyx. Corolla violet or blue, under
B i in. long, the stamens usually shorter. Seeds about 16 to
20, 3-angled, the capsule shorter than the enlarged spatulate
calyx-lobes.
This Phacelia has doubtless come to us from the south,
since the species is common in the drier parts of the southern
Sierra Nevada. These southern plants are scarcely if at all
PHACELIA FAMILY
201
glandular, while our Yosemite variety, which has been
named and described only within the present year, is densely
glandular above, especially on the pedicels, etc. Its type
locality is at 5300 ft. alt. along the new Tenaya Trail, but it
also grows elsewhere around the Yosemite Valley in warm,
gravelly soil.
P. vallicola Congdon, which grows at Hites Cove and El
Portal, is similar to no. 3 and with similarly small flowers but
these are nearly sessile and the leaves are broader (elliptic to
obovate). It also resembles P. purpusii, mentioned under no.
2, but the capsules bear many more seeds and the filaments
are perfectly smooth.
4. P. menziesii Torr. Stems simple below, leafy, 3 to 12
in. high, pubescent. Leaves linear or lanceolate, entire or
some deeply lobed, 1 to 3 in. long. Pedicels very short, the
flower-clusters therefore dense. Corolla bright violet or
white, more than *4 in- long, about equalling the stamens.
Calyx-lobes linear. Seeds 12 to 16 (or fewer by abortion). —
Yosemite Valley; common in northern California.
5. P. magellanica Coville. Stems J4 to 2 ft. high, strictly
erect from a branching woody base, stiff-hairy. Leaves
mostly at base, rough-hairy, 1 to 6 in. long, lanceolate or
ovate, entire, or often lobed or the lower even with distinct
leaflets. Flowers in lateral and terminal coiled clusters. Cor¬
olla whitish or pale blue, about *4 in- long. Capsule 4-seeded.
(P. circinnata Jacq. f.)
In this Phacelia we have one of the most common and at
the same time one of the most variable species that occurs
within our limits. It ranges from the foothills to regions
above timber-line. Many of the forms have been described
as distinct species, but these have been recently reduced to
forms by Dr. A. Brand, a German botanist. According to his
views, the genuine P. magellanica is restricted to South
America, while all of our forms come under the subspecies
barbata, and although they grade insensibly into each other
they may usually be segregated according to the following
synopsis, in which f. is the abbreviation for “form.” Not all
of these have been found in the Yosemite National Park,
but they all occur in the Sierra Nevada and so are to be
expected.
Plant very low, forming mats . . 1. f . compacta.
Plant taller, not forming mats.
Leaves all entire (with very few exceptions).
Stems low, 4 to- 8 in. high; root perennial.
Foliage silvery, shining . 2. f. alpina.
202
PHACELIA FAMILY
Foliage gray with stiff hairs (an Alpine form) ... 3. f. frigida.
Stems tall, mostly 1 or 2 ft. high; root often biennial. 4. f. griseophylla.
Leaves all or at least some of them deeply lobed.
Lower leaves with a single pair of lobes at base, or
some entire, the upper leaves mostly entire.
Leaves 4-nerved . 5. f. egena.
Leaves 8-nerved . 6. f. heterophylla.
Lower leaves deeply parted into several or many
lobes.
Basal leaves long-petioled.
Segments shortly acute . 7. f. calif ornica.
Segments long-acuminate; plant mostly white-
hairy . 8. f. bernardina.
Basal leaves short-petioled.
Flower-cluster short, loose . 9. f. patula.
Flower-cluster long (1 ft. or more), dense . 10. f. virgata.
P. imbricata var. condensata Brand, has been accredited to
the Yosemite. It is like large forms of P. magellanica with
lower leaves lobed at base, but the calyces are much enlarged
in fruit and closely overlapping, the broadly ovate outer seg¬
ment larger than the others, the margins all stiffly hairy.
6. P. hydrophylloides Torr. Stems a foot or two long,
ascending from creeping woody rootstocks, short-hairy, leafy
to the top. Leaves silky-hairy, ovate, 1 or 2 in. long (exclu¬
sive of the long petiole), cut-toothed or the lower deeply
lobed. Flowers in dense terminal clusters. Corolla violet or
whitish, in- long. Capsule 6 to 8-seeded. — Glacier Point,
Matterhorn Canon, and elsewhere, especially in fir forests.
7. P. ramosissima Dough Stems spreading, 1 to 3 ft. high,
from a woody base, minutely pubescent, leafy. Leaves ob¬
scurely hairy, 1 y2 to 4 in. long, parted into 5 to 9 oblong
deeply toothed divisions or the upper simply lobed. Flowers
in dense coiled clusters. Corolla dull white, about % in. long.
Capsule 4-seeded. — Widely distributed but nowhere common;
Little Yosemite, Ledge Trail, Crane Flat, etc. Our form,
marked by its spreading or almost reclining habit, is tech¬
nically distinguished as forma decumbens Brand ( Phacelia de-
cumbens Greene).
8. P. tanacetifolia Benth. Stems to 2 ft. high, erect,
from an annual taproot, sparsely stiff-hairy or glabrous, leafy
to the top. Leaves green, obscurely pubescent, finely dis¬
sected into lobed divisions. Flowers in dense coiled clusters.
Corolla light blue or violet, in. long. Capsule 4-seeded. —
Foothills, also warm, sandy soil near Bridal Veil Falls. P.
distans Benth., is a related species with internal appendages
of corolla free at tip, instead of attached all the way up, as in
P. tanacetifolia. It may reach our lower borders.
BORAGE FAMILY
203
5. HESPEROCHIRON.
Dwarf stemless perennials, 3 in. or less high, with leaves all
in a basal tuft. Flowers on simple naked stalks shorter than
the leaves. Stamens not exserted. Capsule 1-celled, 15 to 20-
seeded.
1. H. californicus Wats. Leaves entire, elliptic, obtuse,
narrowed to a petiole, the whole 1 to 3 in. long. Corolla nearly
white, about in. long, cup-shaped, with distinct tube equal¬
ling the lobes. — A rare plant, found in the Yosemite Valley.
Ours is the var. benthamianus Brand, distinguished by its gla¬
brous peduncles.
2. H. pumilus Porter. Similar but with very shallow cor¬
olla-tube much shorter than the spreading lobes. — Moist soil
at Glacier Point and near Vernal Falls; occurs in the Sierra
Nevada at higher altitudes than no. 1. Our form has been
recently classified as var. vestitus f. hirtella Brand, because of
the pubescent upper surface of the leaves and the spreading
hairs of the peduncles.
6. ERIODICTYON.
1. E. calif ornicum Greene. Yerba Santa. Leaves alter¬
nate, thick, oblong or lanceolate, tapering to a short petiole,
toothed or wavy-margined, 2 to 6 in. long. Flowers borne on
coiled branches of a terminal panicle. Corolla white or pale
blue, narrow-funnelform, about */2 in. long, longer than the
stamens. Ovary nearly 2-celled, 4-valved, the two styles dis¬
tinct. ( E . glutinosum Benth.)
Yerba Santa is a branched shrub, 2 to 6 ft. high, with
glutinous leaves which emit a pleasant odor when crushed.
They are often chewed and smoked like tobacco or made into
a thick syrup which is used as a remedy for colds and sore
throat. The shrub is abundant in the foothills and grows
on warm slopes to at least 5000 ft. alt.
E. lobbii Greene, has been reported from near Yosemite.
It is a creeping, woolly shrub with narrow, entire leaves 2}4
in. or less long.
BORAGINACEAE. Borage Family.
Herbs with entire alternate leaves, or a few rarely opposite,
the flowers regular and mostly borne in 1-sided coiled spikes
or racemes. Stamens 5, inserted on the tube of the 5-lobed
corolla. Ovary superior, deeply 4-lobed (as in Labiatae), each
lobe becoming a seed-like nutlet, the single style rising from
BORAGE FAMILY
204
the center between them, sometimes only 1 or 2 of the nutlets
maturing.
A. Flowers pink, tolue, or violet.
Surface of nutlets prickly.
Nutlets spreading, prickly all over; below 6000 ft. alt. ..1. Cynoglossum.
Nutlets erect . 2. Lappula.
Surface of nutlets not prickly . 7. Mertensia.
B. Flowers white.
Annuals of moderate altitudes.
Nutlets attached to a low-conical central base.
Flowers nearly naked . 3. Allocarya.
Flowers leafy-bracted . 4. Plagiobothrys.
Nutlets attached to a slender columnar central axis.... 5. Cryptanthe.
Perennial of high summits . 6. Oreocarya.
C. Flowers yellow.
Perennial of high summits . 6. Oreocarya.
Annual of low altitudes . 8. Amsinckia.
1. CYNOGLOSSUM. Hound’s Tongue.
1. C. occidentale Gray. Stems several, leafy, 9 to 18 in.
high, from a perennial base, rough-hairy. Leaves lanceolate
to ovate, 3 to 6 in. long, the upper closely sessile. Corolla
violet or blue, the tube longer than the calyx, with rounded
lobes. Nutlets nearly globular, *4 in> long, prickly. — Occa¬
sional in pine woods at moderate altitudes.
2. LAPPULA.
Ours leafy-stemmed perennials with bluish or rarely white
flowers. Corolla with closed throat. Nutlets armed with
prickles, forming burs.
1. L. nervosa Greene. Stems erect, 1 or 2 ft. high, smooth
and usually glabrous above. Leaves oblong, the upper closely
sessile, 1 to 6 in. long, green but rough-hairy. Flowers loosely
panicled. Corolla blue with a white ring in throat, becoming
purplish, in. across, the tube surpassing the calyx. Nutlets
prickly all over the back as well as on the margins. ( Echino -
spermum nervosum Kell.) — High altitudes: Rancheria Mt.,
Glacier Point, Clouds Rest, etc.
2. L. velutina Piper. Similar to no. 1, but the herbage
smooth and velvety with a close pu¬
bescence and the flowers much
larger, the corolla about ^2 in. across;
nutlets prickly on backs and mar¬
gins. — Rather common in the Sierra
Nevada at moderate altitudes.
3. L. floribunda Greene. Herbage gray, the stems as well
BORAGE FAMILY
205
as leaves closely pubescent. Corolla almost wheel-shaped,
its tube being shorter than the calyx, often pink. Nutlets
prickl}' on the margins, but their backs without prickles.
Otherwise as' no. 1. — Clouds Rest at 8700 ft. alt., Merced
Lake, etc.
L. californica Piper, of the northern Sierra Nevada, has
small, wheel-shaped, white corollas and nutlets prickly all
over the backs and margins. It may be expected in our
district.
3. ALLOCARYA.
1. A. stipitata Greene. A low annual, branching from the
base. Leaves nearly linear, 1 to 2 in.
long. Corolla white, with yellow throat,
not 54 *n- across, the flowers nearly ses¬
sile in racemes. Nutlets with flat back,
rough. — Moist ground in Yosemite Val¬
ley, etc.
4. PLAGIOBOTHRYS.
Pop-corn Flower.
1. P. torreyi Gray. Annual, with
many branches from the base, 1 to 6 in. AUocarya Plagiobcthry s
high, soft-hairy. Basal leaves clustered, oblanceolate, about
54 in. long; upper leaves oblong, extending into the flower-
clusters. Corolla white, very small. Nutlets smooth and
shining but ridged crosswise, broadly ovate, attached by the
middle of the hollowed ventral face. — Common, even up to
7500 ft. alt. The herbage of this plant imparts a violet stain to
paper.
5. CRYPTANTHE.
Erect annuals. Flowers mostly sessile, small, white, with
closed yellow throat. Nutlets 1 to 4, never wrinkled, the
inner face with a groove from apex to the scar near the base
and often continued beyond as a fork; nutlet attached to the
slender central column from the scar half-way or wholly to
the apex along the groove. ( Eritrichium . Krynitzkia.) — A dif¬
ficult genus, the species distinguished chiefly by the nutlets.
“Forget-me-not” is a name commonly applied to Cryptanthe
and also to several kinds of Lappula, but the true forget-me-
nots are all European species of Myosotis, much cultivated
as ornamental plants. It would seem that the generic name,
Cryptanthe, were euphonious enough to be adopted also as the
common name for these dainty West American flowers.
206
BORAGE FAMILY
Surface of nutlets smooth and shining.
Nutlets 1 or 2, narrow, slenderly pointed . 1. C.Haccida.
Nutlets 4, ovate, merely acute.
Groove near edge of nutlet . 2. C. afhnis.
Groove in middle of nutlet . 3. C.torreyana.
Surface of nutlets rough.
Calyx much longer than the nutlets . 4. C. ambigua.
Calyx little longer than the nutlets . 5. C. muriculata.
1. C. flaccida Greene. Stems to 2 ft. high, grayish pu¬
bescent. Leaves linear, 1 in. or less long. Flowers about
Y in. across, in coiled spikes. Calyx bearded at base. Nut¬
lets smooth, ovate-lanceolate, nearly cylindric, with beak-like
summit, the groove enlarged at base but not forked. ( Kry -
nitzkia oxycarya Gray.) — Mariposa Grove, Wawona Meadows,
Yosemite Valley, thence to the foothills.
2. C. affinis Greene. Similar, but the leaves wider (ob¬
long) and often 2 in. long. Nutlets attached in pairs, smooth,
ovate, merely acute, the slender groove nearer one edge than
the other, not enlarged or forked at base. (C. geminata
Greene.) — A common species in the Yellow Pine Belt.
3. C. torreyana Greene. Similar to no. 1 and with similarly
narrow leaves. Calyx bristly. Nutlets ovate, smooth and
shining, merely acute, the groove in the middle and forked
at base. — Common at moderate altitudes.
4. C. ambigua Greene. Habit, foliage, and flowers as in
no. 1. Nutlets gray, rough with minute scattered knobs, ovate,
pointed, the edges rounded, the groove narrowly forked at
base, about one-third the length of the calyx. — Plentiful in the
Yosemite Valley, etc.
5. C. muriculata Gray. A coarse rough-hairy annual, 1 or
2 ft. high. Leaves numerous, linear, 1 or 2 in. long. Nutlets
very rough, ovate, with sharp edges, the groove and its fork
mostly closed, becoming nearly as long as the bristly calyx. —
This, the most robust and bristly of all our species, grows on
warm hillsides up to 5500 ft. alt.
6. OREOCARYA.
1. O. nubigena Greene. Stems numerous, erect, 1 ft. or
less high, from a perennial base, the whole plant bristly.
Leaves oblanceolate, 1 in. or so long. Flowers in dense
clusters. Corolla tubular, with spreading lobes (salverform),
%. in. across. Nutlets ovate, smooth or slightly wrinkled.
The type locality of this rare plant is the summit of Clouds
Rest, where it was collected in 1889 by V. K. Chesnut and
E. R. Drew. It has been found also on a few of the other
MINT FAMILY
207
high peaks. The flowers are yellow, or perhaps white with
a yellow center. Further specimens, especially in fruit, are
much desired.
7. MERTENSIA.
1. M. sibfrica Don. Stems erect, leafy, 1 to 5 ft. high, from
a perennial base. Stem-leaves
oblong or ovate, acute, 2)4 to
6 in. long, 24 to 1^4 in. wide;
the lower long-petioled, larger.
Flowers light blue, tubular,
with distinct white crests in
the opening, about *4 in. long.
Nutlets dull, wrinkled or rough-
ish when dry.
This Mertensia is one of
the handsomest blue-flowered
plants to be found in the high mountains, where it grows
along brooks and in other moist places. It is remarkably
smooth for a Borage, being almost devoid of pubescence.
The flowers, which are pink in bud, are borne in showy,
terminal clusters, some nodding, some erect, often with con¬
spicuously protruding styles. It is sometimes called “Moun¬
tain Bluebell,” but the true bluebells are all campanulas.
8. AMSINCKIA.
1. A. spectabilis F. & M. An erect annual, simple below,
54 to 2 ft. high, bristly-hairy. Leaves lanceolate, 1 to 3 in.
long. Flowers showy, yellow, in coiled spikes. Corolla about
J4 in. long, funnelform. Nutlets ovate, rough.
The species of Amsinckia all have rather showy, yellow or
orange-colored flowers, very different from those of other
members of this family. Although the herbage is very harsh
to the touch, it is much relished by browsing animals. Our
single species was found in warm soil near El Capitan Bridge,
where it was doubtless introduced, since it normally belongs
to lower altitudes.
LABIATAE. Mint Family.
Aromatic herbs or low shrubs with square stems and oppo¬
site leaves. Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 4, or the upper pair
sometimes wanting or without anthers, inserted on the
corolla-tube. Ovary superior, 4-lobed around the central
2-cleft style, each lobe becoming a seed-like nutlet (as in
Boraginaceae).
208
MINT FAMILY
A. Calyx regular and its teeth nearly equal.
Corolla nearly regular, the lobes being alike.
Flower-clusters in the leaf-axils.
Stamens long-exserted, much curved . 1. Trichostema.
Stamens straight . 10. Mentha.
Flowers in terminal heads . 8. Monardella.
Corolla decidedly 2-lipped.
Flowers in whorls, pale.
Corolla with upper lip concave, hood-like . 6. Stachys.
Corolla-lobes all flattish . 9. Koellia.
Flowers in a dense spike, lavender; herb . 3. Agastache.
Flowers in a leafy raceme, white; shrub . 7. Sphacele.
B. Calyx 2-lipped or its teeth very unequal.
Flowers in a dense spike; perennial; leaves nearly entire. 4. Prunella.
Flowers in whorls; annual; leaves lobed . 5. Salvia.
Flowers solitary in the leaf-axils . 2. Scutellaria.
1. TRICHOSTEMA. Blue -CURLS.
1. T. oblongum Gray. A leafy annual, 18 in. or less high,
soft-pubescent. Leaves oblong, obtuse, entire, to V/2 in.
long. Flowers blue, in small lateral clusters. Corolla ex-
serted, curved, the lobes nearly alike. Stamens 4, long-
exserted and curved. — Half-grassy places in the foothills and
up to at least 4500 ft. Immediately known by the turpentine¬
like odor of its herbage.
2. SCUTELLARIA. Skull-cap.
Ours perennial herbs with flowers solitary or in pairs in
the upper leaf-axils. Calyx with 2 short entire lips, the upper
with a hood-like projection. Corolla with long-exserted tube
and beak-like upper lip, the lower lip seemingly 1-lobed.
Stamens 4, all perfect and parallel.
1. S. angustifolia Pursh. Plant 4 to 12 in. high, nearly
glabrous. Leaves narrowly
oblong, narrowed to the base
(except the lower), entire, ^2
to \]/A in. long, the upper ones
smaller. Flowers bluish vio¬
let, ^ to 1 in. long, in the
axils of shorter leaves.
This skull-cap is of fre¬
quent occurrence at middle
altitudes throughout the Si¬
erra Nevada, often growing
in small beds modestly orna¬
mented by the many blue flowers. Mrs. Alice Merritt David¬
son, who observed this plant in southern California, reports
MINT FAMILY
209
that the flowers are assiduously visited by bees. According
to this writer, the head of the bee must be thrust well down
into the throat of the corolla, and “the bee’s back is dusted
with pollen from the anthers, which are included in the fold
of the upper lip. The stigmas are similarly situated. Since
the clusters have only from one to three flowers expanded at
one time, much of the pollination is of one plant with
another.” Two related species which may also be found are
the following: S. antirrhinoides Benth., of the foothills, is
very similar, but with broader leaves obtuse at base, the
corolla shorter and broader. S', calif ornica Gray, is also simi¬
lar but with whitish flowers longer than their leaves, which
are acute at base.
2. S. bolanderi Gray. Plant 9 to 18 in. high, pubescent.
Leaves numerous, ovate-oblong, very obtuse, sessile by a
broad base, 24 to ^Va in- long, only the upper ones entire.
Flowers whitish, *4 to 24 in- long, shorter than their sub¬
tending leaves.
This species was first collected by H. N. Bolander, of the
State Geological Survey, at “Clark’s Meadows, Mariposa Co.,
in patches.” These meadows occupy the Wawona Valley,
where we found the plant growing in moist soil. It occurs
mostly at lower altitudes from Plumas Co. to southern Cali¬
fornia.
3. S. tuberosa Benth. Plant only 6 in. or less high, soft-
hairy, the roots producing tuber-like thickenings. Leaves
ovate or roundish, few-toothed to entire, ^4 to 24 in* long.
Flowers violet or blue, *4 to 24 in- long. —
Little Crane Creek and lower altitudes.
3. AGASTACHE. Giant Hyssop.
1. A. urticifolia O. Ktz. Stems 3 to 5
ft. high, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves
ovate, toothed, 1 to 3 in. long, petioled.
Flowers crowded in terminal spikes 2 to
6 in. long. Calyx-tube green, teeth lav¬
ender. Corolla white, the upper lip 2-
lobed, nearly erect, the lower spreading.
Stamens 4, the exserted anthers lavender,
the filaments white. ( Lophanthus urtici-
folius Benth.)
Many a meadow border is gaily
adorned with the showy, lavender-and-
white flowers of this tall perennial. The
210
MINT FAMILY
dense, cylindric clusters are borne on widely spreading
branches several feet from the ground. The species is re¬
stricted to moderate altitudes and is especially abundant in
Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy valleys.
4. PRUNELLA. Self-heal. Heal-all.
1. P. vulgaris L. Stems 4 to 12 in. high, from a perennial
base, often pubescent, terminated by a series of leafy-bracted
whorls of 6 flowers each. Leaves oblong or ovate, obscurely
toothed, 1 to 3 in. long, tapering to a petiole. Corolla pinkish,
the tube slightly exserted from the purplish calyx; upper lip
erect, beak-like, entire; middle lobe of lower lip pendent.
Stamens 4. — Common in low, meadowy places.
5. SALVIA. Sage.
1. S. columbariae Benth. Chia. Annual, 4 to 18 in. high,
the flowers in 1 or 2 dense prickly whorls
subtended by roundish sharp-tipped bracts.
Leaves mostly basal, petioled, much lobed,
rough. Corolla blue, little exceeding the
prickly-tipped calyx, very irregular.
Chia is the Spanish name of this
plant, which grows on a few warm slopes
along our lower limits, reaching the bor¬
ders of Yosemite Valley. In the foothills
and in southern California, where it is
much more plentiful, the Indians still
gather its seeds by knocking the old
flower-heads with a stick and catching the
seeds in a flat basket as they are thrown
out. After they have been parched and ground the seeds are
added to wheat flour and the whole mass is pounded up
together. This dark-looking meal, or “pinole,” is baked into
small cakes or loaves, which have a pleasant, nutty flavor.
Chia is one of the most important and famous of the Indian
plants.
6. STACHYS. Hedge Nettle.
Flowers in close whorls of an interrupted spike. Calyx
equally 5-toothed. Corolla with cylindric tube; upper lip
erect; lower lip spreading, its middle lobe largest.
1. S. albens Gray. White Hedge Nettle. A perennial
herb, 1 to 4 ft. high, leafy and white-woolly to the top.
Leaves broadly oblong or ovate, obtuse or heart-shaped at
base, toothed, \l/2 to 4 in. long beyond the petiole, the
MINT FAMILY
21 1
upper ones sessile. Flowers white, reddish veined, ^ to Yz in.
long. Stamens protruding. — Common along streams and in
boggy places; known by its rank, leafy growth and abundance
of soft, white wool.
2. S. ajugoides Benth. Similar to no. 1, but only \y2 ft.
or less high, the woolly hairs less abundant and the herbage
therefore greener. Leaves 1 to 2Yz in. long, acute or obtuse
at base. Flowers less crowded. — Yosemite Valley to the
foothills.
Marrubium vulgare L., the common Hoarhound, may be
introduced around settlements. It is a perennial herb, the
stems coated with matted white hairs. Its flowers are small
and white, in dense whorls, the calyx with hooked teeth.
7. SPHACELE. Pitcher Sage.
1. S. calycina Benth. A low shrub with ovate toothed
leaves 2 to 4 in. long. Flowers white, over 1 in. long, in leafy
racemes. Calyx becoming inflated in age. — Near El Portal
and in the lower canons.
8. MONARDRXLA.
Fragrant herbs with flowers in bracted heads terminating
long peduncles. Calyx tubular, with 5 nearly equal teeth.
Corolla with upper lip erect, 2-cleft, the lower lip 3-parted.
Stamens 4, unequal, protruding. ( Madronella .)
1. M. lanceolata Gray. Western Pennyroyal. Erect an¬
nual, Yz to 2 ft. high. Leaves few, linear-oblong, entire, 1 to
2 Yi. in. long. Heads 1 in. across, reddish violet.
One is attracted to this annual mint by the beautiful, red-
Monardella lanceolata
Monardella odoratissima
212
MINT FAMILY
dish flower-heads, which stand out on nearly naked branches.
The fragrance being likewise delightful, it seems a pity to
designate this altogether charming plant by the opprobrious
name of “Mustang Mint,” by which it is sometimes known.
It grows in abundance in loose, warm soil, but not at high
altitudes.
M. candicans Benth., is a foothill annual with nearly white
flowers, the bracts white-edged.
2. M. odoratissima Benth. Mountain Pennyroyal. Stems
many, tough, 9 to 18 in. high, from a creeping perennial base.
Leaves ovate, entire, ^4 to 1*4 in. long, on petioles *4 in. or
less long, grayish hairy. Heads 1 in. across, surrounded by
thin purplish bracts. Flowers dull white.
The leafy, perennial stems of the Mountain Pennyroyal
grow in low or depressed clumps on many of our dry slopes
in the pine forests, but the flower-heads terminate erect
shoots. The aromatic leaves, gathered preferably from old
plants, are sometimes used as a substitute for tea. This
beverage is seemingly of some value as a remedy for colic
and as a blood purifier.
3. M. sheltonii Torr. Stems woody at base, as in M. odora¬
tissima, of which this is perhaps only a form. Leaves oblong.
Bracts green and leaf-like in texture. — Also of the open pine
forests.
9. KOELLIA. Mountain Mint.
1. K. californica O. Ktze. Stem erect, 2 to 4 ft. high, per¬
ennial. Leaves stiff, broadly lanceolate, toothed (rounded
base and slender apex entire), 2 to 3*4 in. long, sessile.
Flowers white, in. dense leafy-bracted whorls. Calyx-teeth
woolly. Corolla with notched flattish upper lip and 3-lobed
lower lip. Stamens 4, exserted, unequal. ( Pycnanthemum
calif ornicum Torr.) — A stiff, gray herb of weedy meadows in
the Yosemite and similar valleys.
10. MENTHA. Mint.
1. M. canadensis L. Stems
mostly simple, 1 to 3 ft. long,
from a perennial base, leafy to
the top. Leaves broadly lan¬
ceolate, sharply toothed, 1*4 to
2 in. long, petioled. Flowers
small, pink, in dense whorls in
the leaf-axils, the corolla nearly
NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 213
regular, shorter than the 4 stamens. — Common in meadows;
the herbage pleasingly odorous.
M. spicata L., the well-known Spearmint, has escaped from
gardens at Crockers and other resorts. Its flower-clusters
are in terminal spikes and the small flowers are nearly
regular.
SOLANACEAE. Nightshade Family.
Herbs (rarely shrubs) with alternate leaves and regular
flowers. Corolla 5-lobed. Stamens 5, on the corolla. Fruit a
2-celled many-seeded capsule or berry.
Corolla wheel-shaped; fruit a berry . L Solanum.
Corolla tubular; fruit a capsule . 2. Nicotiana.
1. SOLANUM. Nightshade.
1. S. xanti Gray. Stems several, 1 to 3 ft. high, spreading,
from a perennial root, sticky-pubescent. Leaves ovate or
oblong, Y* to 1^2 in. long, entire. Flowers in loose clusters.
Corolla blue, saucer-shaped, Y2 to across. Berry light
green, the size of a cherry.
This nightshade occurs sparingly up to 6500 ft. or more. It
is easily recognized by the yellow anthers standing together
in the center of the blue, angularly lobed corolla, which has a
circle of green spots at base. The Black Nightshade (S. nig¬
rum L.), with small, white flowers and black berries may
occur in our district. The herbage and unripe berries of both
species are poisonous.
2. NICOTIANA. Tobacco.
1. N. attenuata Torr. Stems erect, 1 to 3 ft. high, from
an annual root, sticky-pubescent. Leaves lanceolate or nearly
linear, the lower ovate, tapering to a slender apex, narrowed
to the petiole, entire, 2 to 4 in. long. Flowers in loose clus¬
ters. Corolla dull white, tubular, with narrow spreading limb,
1 to 1 Y* in. long. Stamens included. — To be expected in warm,
sandy soil.
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Figwort Family.
Herbs or low shrubs. Corolla irregular, sometimes ob¬
scurely so, 2 lobes constituting the upper lip, which is some¬
times beak-like, 3 lobes the lower lip (corolla with only 4
lobes in Veronica). Stamens 4 or 5 (2 in Veronica), the fifth,
when present, devoid of anther or much reduced. Ovary 2-
celled; style 1, undivided.
214
FIGWORT FAMILY
A. Leaves opposite, or the upper sometimes alternate.
Stamens with anthers 4; corolla tubular to funnelform
or two-lipped.
Plant annual; stamens 4.
Corolla 2-lipped, the middle lobe of lower lip folded
lengthwise and enclosing the stamens and style. 1. Collinsia.
Corolla 2-lipped or nearly regular, the lower lip not
folded.
Flowers not blue; all 4 stamens with anthers.... 4. Mimulus.
Flowers pale blue; 2 stamens without anthers... 5. Ilysanthes.
Plant perennial; stamens 5, but only 4 with anthers.
Corolla globose; 4 lobes erect, 1 reflexed; sterile
stamen adhering to upper side of corolla . 2. Scrophularia.
Corolla tubular or bell-shaped or funnelform, often
2-lipped; sterile stamen free from corolla ex¬
cept at base . 3. Pentstemon.
Stamens 2; corolla nearly wheel-shaped . 6. Veronica.
B. Leaves alternate; stamens 4, all with anthers; corolla 2-lipped,
the upper lip enclosing1 the stamens and style.
Leaves either entire or with narrow entire sharp-pointed
lobes.
a. Corolla with upper lip much longer than the min¬
utely 3-toothed lower-lip; stems 1 foot or more
high; perennials; bracts and calyx-lobes reddish. 7. Castilleja.
b. Corolla with upper lip much longer than the broad
inflated 3-saccate lower lip; stems 1 ft. or less
high (annuals except O. pilosus ) . 8. Orthocarpus.
c. Corolla-lips about equal; stems 1 ft. or more high;
annuals; bracts and calyx green . 9. Cordylanthus.
Leaves much dissected into short lobes, feather-like;
perennials; calyx green . 10. Pedicularis.
Verbascum thapsus L., the Common Mullein, will probably be found in
low valleys. It is a coarse, woolly herb, 3 to 6 ft. high, with yellow, nearly
regular flowers in a dense spike 1 ft. or more long.
1. COLLINSIA.
Annuals with opposite simple leaves and blue purplish or
lilac flowers which are mostly borne in successive whorls.
Corolla irregular somewhat as in the Pea Family. Fifth
stamen reduced to a minute gland at base of corolla-tube.
Seeds 4 to 12.
Flowers almost sessile, in dense whorls; calyx glandular. .. 1. C. tinctoria.
Flowers slender-pediceled.
Plant glabrous . 2. C. parviilora.
Plant glandular above.
Flowers J4 in. long . 3. C. torreyi.
Flowers smaller . 4. C. wrightii.
1. C. tinctoria Hartweg. Erect, y2 to 2 ft. high, very glan¬
dular above, imparting a brown stain, the flowers nearly
sessile in successive dense whorls. Leaves broadly lanceo¬
late, sessile by a broad base, V/z to 2y2 in. long, y to 1 in.
FIGWORT FAMILY
215
broad, coarsely toothed. Corolla to ^ in. long, lilac or
nearly white, with broad pale-yellow throat and purple mark¬
ings.' — Warm places from Wawona to Yosemite and Hetch
Hetchy. C. stricta Greene, found at Wawona and in Calaveras
Co., is perhaps a var. of this, or a diseased form. It has
smaller leaves and flowers, the upper lip of the corolla with
short segments which are reflexed and laid one against the
other.
2. C. parviflora Dougl. Small-flowered Collinsia. Stem
slender and weak, a few inches to 2 ft. long, glabrous; the
flowers in pairs or whorls of 3, or solitary, on spreading pedi¬
cels K to 1 in. long. Leaves spatulate to narrowly lanceolate,
IK in. or less long, about K in. wide, entire or nearly so.
Calyx-lobes sharp-pointed. Corolla white and blue, scarcely
exceeding the calyx. — In moist soil of Yosemite and other
low valleys.
3. C. torreyi Gray. Stem 6 in. or less high, with spreading
branches above the erect simple base,' viscid-glandular above,
the slender-pediceled flowers in successive whorls of 3 to 6.
Leaves linear-lanceolate, narrow at base, entire, seldom over
2 in. long. Calyx-lobes short, obtuse. Corolla deep blue, fully
K in. long, much exceeding the calyx. — Common in the pine
belt; the type locality given as “Mariposa Big Tree Grove
and near Donner Lake.”
4. C. wrightii Wats. Similar but smaller. Calyx-lobes
acute. Corolla blue, the upper lip yellowish. — Glacier Point
and Tuolumne Meadows.
2. SCROPHULARIA. Figwort.
1. S. californica Cham. A perennial herb, 3 to 6 ft. high,
the flowers in a long loose panicle. Leaves petioled, opposite,
ovate, toothed, the blade 2 to 5 in. long. Corolla dull red,
nearly globose, K in* across. — Canon sides at low altitudes.
3. PENTSTEMON.
Leafy perennials with showy flowers in terminal panicles.
Leaves opposite. Corolla tubular or funnelform or bell¬
shaped. Anther-bearing stamens 4, the fifth sterile but con¬
spicuous.
A. Flowers red or crimson.
Leaves broad, mostly toothed; anthers woolly . 1. P. menziesii.
Leaves narrow, entire; anthers not woolly . 2. P. bridgesii.
B. Flowers bluish, purple, or yellowish, never red.
Anthers densely woolly; dwarf Alpine plant: var .david-
sonii of . . 1. P. menziesii.
2l6
FIGWORT FAMILY
Anthers not woolly.
Corolla pale, pink-striped . ....3. P.breviiiorus.
Corolla blue or purplish.
Flowers in dense whorls or heads; sterile filament hairy . 4. P. confertus.
Flowers more scattered, in open racemes or panicles;
sterile filament glabrous.
Inflorescence and calyx glandular.
Corolla 1 in. long . 5. P. laetus.
Corolla to 2/s in. long . 6. P. roezli.
Inflorescence and calyx glabrous . 7. P. azureus.
1. P. menziesii Hook. Pride of the Mountains. Stems
numerous, woody below, 1 ft. or
less high. Leaves ovate, finely
toothed or entire, y2 to \ in. long,
% to J/2 in. wide, the upper ones
smaller. Corolla 1 in. long, slightly
2- lipped; upper lip 2-cleft; lower lip
3- lobed. Anthers densely woolly.
In the Yosemite National Park
are found two seemingly distinct
forms of this variable species. The
first is a bushy plant with bright-
red flowers and is very common on
rocky ledges up to altitudes of
9000 to 10,000 ft. It is known as
var. newberryi Gray. The second form is found only above
timber-line, where it is recognized by its small size, com¬
monly 4 in. or less high, the small and rounded entire leaves,
and the large, purple corolla, often 1 to 1%. in. long. This is
the var. davidsonii Piper. It was first named Pentstemon
davidsonii Greene, in honor of the late Professor George
Davidson, who gathered the original specimens on Mt. Con-
ness, at an altitude of 12,300 ft., in 1890. More recent collec¬
tions, especially in Washington, have shown it to be only
an Alpine form of P. menziesii , which, in its typical condition,
is a bushy plant with bluish flowers and does not occur in our
district.
2. P. bridgesii Gray. Stems many, woody below, slender,
2 ft. or more high, blooming from about the middle. Leaves
lanceolate, 1 to 2 in. long, less than y2 in. wide, the upper
much smaller. Corolla scarlet, 1 in. long, narrowly funnel-
form; upper lip straight, 2-lobed; lower lip 3-parted and re¬
curved. Sterile filament glabrous.
Hummingbirds are frequently seen hovering over the
patches of this Pentstemon, attracted by the red flowers
which stand out in loose, airy clusters. While gathering nec-
FIG WORT FAMILY
217
tar, these birds unconsciously transfer pollen from one plant
to another, thus insuring a cross-pollination of the flowers.
The nectar is secreted at the bottom of a long and narrow
corolla-tube and is therefore inaccessible to most or perhaps
to all insects, while the hummingbird has no difficulty in reach¬
ing it with his long beak, which soon becomes so covered
with pollen as to appear gilded. The species occurs at such
places as Yosemite Valley (Union Point and Ledge Trail),
Rancheria Mt., and Matterhorn Canon.
Pentstemon bridgesii
Pentstemon breviiiorus
3. P. breviflorus Lindl. Stems often 3 to 6 ft. high, with
numerous slender branches, each terminating in a loose
oblong panicle of yellowish flowers. Leaves lanceolate to
linear, 1 in. or more long, % in. wide, minutely toothed.
Corolla Yl to 24 *n- flesh-color, pink-striped within;
upper lip arched, hairy; lower lip recurved. Sterile filament
glabrous.
This species forms loose, rounded clumps on talus slopes
and in other rocky places below about 6000 ft. alt. The In¬
dians utilize the tough, flexuous stems by weaving them into
large baskets used for the storing of food.
4. P. confertus Dougl. Stems simple and erect, 3 in. to 2
ft. high, from leafy tufts, terminating in a series of dense
floral whorls, or these reduced to a single head-like cluster.
Leaves lanceolate or oblong, entire, 1 to 4 in. long, about
% to in. wide, the lower petioled, upper sessile. Corolla
blue, in. or less long, tubular, slightly 2-lipped; lower lip
bearded within. Sterile filament hairy along one side.
The extent to which this Pentstemon responds to changes
in environment is remarkable. The original form, from
Oregon and the Rocky Mts., is yellow-flowered. In our
form the flowers are always bluish, a character which in¬
duced Dr. Gray to give it the unwieldy but expressive varietal
name of caeruleo-purpureus. In good soil at low altitudes, as
2l8
FIGWORT FAMILY
on the floor of Yosemite Valley, the stems are tall, often
2 ft. or more high, and with 3 to 5 dense, floral whorls well
Pentstemon confertus. — The inflorescence of the common form and an
entire plant of the Alpine form. Both figures are natural size.
separated on the central shaft. At higher altitudes, as on
Mt. Hoffmann, at 8500 ft., the plants are 7 or 8 in. high and
the flower-clusters are reduced to 2 or 3. Exceedingly dwarf
plants, only 2 or 3 in. high, and with flowers all in a single
terminal cluster, is encountered above timber-line on Mt.
Dana and Mt. Lyell, where it grows in moist soil close up
to banks of perpetual snow. In this Alpine form, some¬
times known as P. geniculatus Greene, the root-system is
longer than all of the rest of the plant. Near Mt. Whitney
we found a form 1 ft. high and with 3 whorls of flowers
neighboring with plants only 3 in. high and with a single
whorl. This variation, all within a small area, was apparently
due to the light relation, the tall ones growing in the shade,
the shortest ones only in the open meadow, while all inter¬
mediate forms were found in partial shade.
5. P. laetus Gray. Plant a foot or two high, with slender
FIGWORT FAMILY
219
erect branches ending in elonga¬
ted loose panicles. Lower leaves
spatulate; upper leaves sessile,
narrowly lanceolate, entire, Y\ to
V/2 in. long, *4 in- wide. Corolla
bluish purple, with 2 oblong
white patches on throat, 1 in.
long, inflated above a narrow
tube, lips nearly equal. Sterile
filament glabrous. — The most
common species at middle alti¬
tudes, giving brilliant color to
dry, rocky slopes; often mistaken
for P. heterophyllus Lindl., a species of the Coast Ranges.
6. P. roezli Regl. Much like no. 5 but seldom more than
1 ft. high, the shorter panicles more densely flowered, and
light-blue or violet corolla only y2 to 2/z in. long. — Yosemite
Valley. Rare.
7. P. azureus Benth. Azure Pentstemon. Plant 9 in. to
2 ft. high, with many stiffly erect branches from a creeping
woody base. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, Yz to 1%. in.
long, entire, acute. Corolla azure-blue, about 1 in. long,
dilating above the short tube to a broad throat, the lips about
equal. Sterile filament glabrous. — Rare: White Wolf; Yo¬
semite Valley in a narrow-leaved form (var. angustissimus
Gray) ; the opposite extreme is var. jaffrayanus Gray, a form
with broader leaves, the lower spatulate, the upper ovate or
oblong, % to Y> in. wide, obtuse or almost heart-shaped at the
broad base.
4. MIMULUS. Monkey-flower.
Annual or perennial herbs with showy yellow red or pur¬
plish flowers. Calyx prismatic, 5-angled and 5-toothed (in
one species deeply 5-parted). Corolla 2-lipped, obscurely so
in some species. Stamens 4, with no rudiment of a fifth.
o
A. Flowers yellow (upper lip purple in M. angustatus).
Leaves basal; flowers nearly sessile, half yellow, half
purple . 18. M. angustatus.
Leaves all near the base; flowers solitary, terminating
the naked erect pedicel . 1. M. primuloides.
Leaves scattered; flowers in bracted racemes, panicles,
or whorls.
Plant glabrous or nearly so.
Leaves ovate, merely toothed . 2. M. luteus.
Leaves lanceolate, pinnately parted into small lobes. 3. M. laciniatus.
220
FIGWORT FAMILY
Plant plainly pubescent.
Leaves 54 to 1 in. wide, mostly toothed.
Flowers Y to 1 in. long (at least over 54 in.)
Herbage slimy . 4.
Herbage not slimy . 5.
Flowers 54 in. or less long.
Pedicels erect; herbage slimy . 6.
Pedicels reflexed in fruit; not slimy . 7.
Leaves not 54 in. wide, entire (faintly toothed in
no. 8).
Calyx deeply parted; flowers about Y\ in. long,
slender-pediceled . 19.
Calyx merely toothed; flowers about Y\ in. long.
Flowers long-pediceled . 8.
Flowers nearly sessile . 14.
M. moschatus.
M. moniliformis.
M. Horibundus.
M. geniculatus.
M. exilis.
M. bicolor.
M. mephiticus.
B. Flowers red, pink, crimson, or scarlet.
Corolla about 54 in. long, inconspicuous . 13. M. breweri.
Corolla mostly over 54 in. long, much longer than calyx.
Pedicels much longer than calyx (except sometimes the
upper).
Plant robust, 1 to 3 ft. high; flowers 1 Yi to 2 in. long.
Stamens exserted from the corolla-tube; flowers
scarlet . 9. M. cardinalis.
Stamens included; flowers pink . 10. M. lewisii.
Plant slender, 1 in. to 1 ft. high; flowers 54 to Y
in. long. (See also no. 12.) . 11. M. palmeri.
Pedicels shorter than calyx or almost none.
Plant low (3 to 12 in.); flowers 54 to Y in. long.
Herbage perfectly glabrous . 12. M. acutidens.
Herbage pubescent.
Calyx scarcely oblique at orifice, i. e., the teeth
nearly equal . . . IS. M. nanus.
Calyx more oblique at orifice . 16. M. torreyi.
Plant tall (6 to 24 in.); flowers ^ to 1 in. long;
calyx very oblique . 17. M. bolanderi.
1. M. primuloides Benth. Perennial by stolons, 1 to 6 in.
high, the showy solitary flowers borne on slender erect pedi¬
cels emerging from a basal cluster of leaves. Leaves elliptic,
wedge-shaped, or obovate, usually toothed, either clothed
with glistening white hairs or nearly glabrous. Corolla
bright yellow, 54 to 1 in. long, the lobes alike.
In moist situations at moderate altitude this Mimulus is
quite tall and bears leaves for a distance of several inches up
the stem. More commonly, however, the leaves are all in a
basal rosette. In the Tuolumne and other high meadows one
meets with a very depressed, moss-like form, the leaves only
54 to 54 in. long and densely covered on the upper surface
with long, white hairs. This has been named M. pilosellus
Greene. The two forms sometimes grow near each other
and intermediates occur, but it is not known whether these
FIGWORT FAMILY
221
are due to variation or whether they are hybrids between
distinct species. A third but unnamed form, with very nar¬
row, sharply toothed leaves scattered along the lower part of
tall stems, has been found in shady, grassy places in the
Yosemite Valley.
2. M. luteus L. Common Monkey-flower. Leaves ovate or
roundish, sharply toothed, 34 to 1/4 in. long, only the lower
ones petioled. Corolla bright yellow, often dotted in the
hairy throat with cinnamon, 34 in- or more long, strongly
2-lipped, the throat nearly closed. ( M . langsdorfii Don.)
This is an annual, or perennial from slender, creeping
stems, with erect, leafy stalks bearing usually several long-
pediceled showy flowers. It is often tall and robust, some¬
times very short, passing into several named varieties. M.
implexus Greene, is a form (or distinct species ?) with short
stems from many slender rootstocks, broad, rounded, thin
leaves, and flowers large for the size of the plant. It grows
in moist soil at high altitudes. M. nasutus Greene, is a variety
in which the lateral calyx-teeth turn toward the upper one,
which in fruit is twice the length of the others and beak-like.
It grows at low altitudes and the flowers vary from small to
large.
3. M. laciniatus Gray. Cut-leaf Monkey-flower. Plant
apparently annual, much branched, especially near the base,
the slender stems 6 to 18 in. high, including the loosely
flowered racemes. Leaves 1 to 2^4 in. long, petioled, lanceo¬
late in outline, irregularly cleft or pinnately parted into small
lobes. Corolla pale yellow, ^4 to 34 in* long, 2-lipped, the
lower lip hairy and often with a brown dot at throat.
The deeply lobed or parted leaves, which may always be
found on well developed plants of this monkey-flower, make it
very easy of determination. But dwarfs with merely toothed
leaves, such as are likely to occur when the soil is very shal¬
low, resemble small specimens of no. 2. It is a rare species
and is restricted to moist places, especially near the spray of
waterfalls, as in Yosemite Valley and Tenaya Canon. The
original description was drawn from specimens gathered “on
the South Fork of the Merced at Clark’s Ranch,” by Dr. Asa
Gray. This ranch is the present site of Wawona.
4. M. moschatus var. longiflorus Gray. Musk Plant.
Stems erect, 4 to 18 in. high, leafy throughout with basal
leaves crowded. Leaves more or less petioled, ovate or ellip¬
tic, sparingly toothed, 34 to 2 in. long, 34 to 1/4 in* wide.
Flowers conspicuous, usually borne in pairs on long slen-
222
FIGWORT FAMILY
der pedicels from only the upper axils. Calyx-teeth long.
Corolla bright yellow, with brown tints on throat, about 1 in.
long, much exceeding the calyx.
Although apparently an annual, this plant grows from slen¬
der, perennial rootstocks. It is white-hairy and often quite
slimy, these characters seeming to be associated with its
habit of growing only in moist, shady places. It is a com¬
mon inhabitant of the Yellow Pine Belt.
5. M. moniliformis Greene. Like M. moschatus, but not
slimy, the leaves often purplish, the rootstocks ending in
small tubers. — Exposed rocky or gravelly slopes; not rare
around the Yosemite.
6. M. floribundus Dough Stem weak, 4 to 12 in. long, leafy
to the top, white-hairy and slimy. Leaves broadly ovate,
toothed, Yz to V/z in. long. Flowers not showy, the pedicels
(short at first) from nearly all the leaf-axils. Calyx-teeth
very short. Corolla narrow, light yellow, ^ in. long. — An
annual of the foothills, reaching Yosemite Valley, etc.
7. M. geniculatus Greene. Annual, with weak stems 3 in.
to 2 ft. long, hairy but not slimy. Leaves very thin, ovate,
x/z to 1 in. long, toothed. Pedicels longer than the flowers,
deflexed in fruit. Corolla yellow, the throat brownish, Y* in-
long. — Yosemite Valley, in the shade of large rocks; Hog
Ranch; Hetch Hetchy.
8. M. bicolor Benth. Annual, 3 to 10 in. high, with erect
flowers on pedicels longer than calyx. Leaves linear-lanceo¬
late, nearly entire. Calyx with 5 sharp equal teeth, the tube
often reddish dotted. Corolla ^ in. long, golden yellow, the
upper lip usually white. — Lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada;
found at Wawona.
9. M. cardinalis Dough Scarlet Monkey-flower. Leaves
sessile, ovate or oblanceolate, all sharply toothed, 2 to 4 in.
long. Corolla scarlet, V/i to 2 in. long, decidedly 2-lipped;
upper lip erect and the lobes turned back; lower lip reflexed.
Stamens long-protruding, nearly equalling the upper lip.
In brilliancy of coloring the scarlet Mimulus has no rival.
The rich, green foliage, soft with hairs, makes a wonderful
setting for the large, velvety flowers. In swamps or by
running water at our lowest altitudes this stout, much branch¬
ing perennial may be found sometimes 4 feet high. It grows
in several places in Yosemite Valley and at Wawona.
10. M. lewisii Pursh. Pink Monkey-flower. Leaves ses¬
sile, lanceolate or nearly ovate, sometimes slightly toothed,
FIGWORT FAMILY
223
1 to 3 in. long, / to l r/4 in- wide. Flowers showy, on long
pedicels much exceeding the leaves. Corolla pink, plainly
2-lipped, but the lips similar (iy2 to 2 in. long, throat y2 to y
in. wide). Stamens shorter than corolla-tube.
Along streams and in wet places of our high mountains
this pink Mimulus replaces the scarlet species of the foothills
and low valleys. It is a robust perennial, sometimes 3 ft. high
and covered throughout with short hairs. It grows on the
slopes of Clouds Rest, at Snow Flat, at Glacier Point, etc.
11. M. palmeri Gray. Slender annual, 3 to 12 in. high,
minutely pubescent and glandular throughout. Leaves lance¬
olate to oblanceolate, sometimes toothed, y2 to 1 in. long,
usually less than y in. wide. Lower pedicels long, spreading
or even deflexed. Corolla nearly y in. long, scarcely 2-lipped,
lobes spreading, red, with yellow marks near the throat.
The delicate, bright-red flowers, each on a slender pedicel,
best mark this species, which has been found from Hetch
Hetchy to Crockers and Moss Creek. Our form, differing
from typical specimens in its lanceolate, acute calyx-teeth,
is sometimes known as M. biolettii Eastw. Another form,
which has been described as M. ftlicaulis Wats., is very much
dwarfed, being only 1 to 4 in. high. Its calyx-teeth are very
acute and the corolla is marked with purple as well as yellow
in the throat and tube. It was described from specimens
collected on Snow Creek by J. W. Congdon, and has not since
been found.
12. M. acutidens Greene. Slender branching annual.
Leaves ovate, mostly toothed, y to y in. long. Pedicels
erect, the lower becoming longer than the calyx. Corolla J4
in. long, rose-color (or yellow). — Alder Creek trail, 5500 ft.
alt., to the foothills. Known by its smooth, glabrous herbage
and broad calyx appearing as though cut off at the top.
13. M. breweri Coville. A delicate annual, seldom 6 in.
high, with usually simple stem, decidedly glandular. Leaves
linear or lanceolate, entire or nearly so, y to y in. long.
Pedicels ascending. Calyx truncate at summit, with short
sharp teeth. Corolla rose-color, slightly exserted, y in. long.
Capsule with seed-bearing walls (placentae) united below the
middle. — Rather common throughout the Sierra Nevada. M.
rubellus Gray, may be distinguished, if found, by its scarcely
glandular herbage, blunt calyx-teeth, and placentae separate
to base.
14. M. mephfticus Greene. Plant 2 to 6 in. high, annual,
with nearly sessile flowers in most of the leaf-axils and in
FIGWORT FAMILY
224
small terminal clusters. Herbage viscid-pubescent and
strongly scented. Leaves broadly oblong to nearly linear,
entire or obscurely toothed, tapering to the base. Calyx
papery between the green ribs, with 5 broadly lanceolate
acutish teeth. Corolla well exserted, 24 to 24 in. long, with
very narrow tube and widely spreading limb, which is some¬
what 2-lipped, yellow, the throat often with reddish lines and
dots.
It was in 1884 that Mrs. Brandegee and Mr. Hutchings
collected the plants which first made this species known.
Their specimens were gathered on the southward slopes of
Clouds Rest. It is now known to grow, in a dwarf form,
on the very summit of that peak, while sandy flats in Little
Yosemite Valley are covered with its yellow bloom. It also
occurs on Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Tamarack Flat, Snow
Creek, etc., extending down the Sierra Nevada as far as
Tulare Co.
15. M. nanus H. & A. Differs from M. mephiticus in its
rose-purple corolla, 24 to 24 in- long, and in the calyx-teeth,
which are one-fourth or one-third as long as the tube. As
compared with M. torreyi this is a stouter plant, with more
branched and leafier stems, the leaves broader. — Mt. Dana
and southward at high altitudes.
16. M. torreyi Gray. Stems 3 in. to 1 ft. high, viscid
throughout. Lower leaves rhomboid or oblanceolate, nar¬
rowed to a short petiole; upper leaves narrower, to 1 in.
long, all entire. Calyx oblique, the two lower teeth being
shorter than the upper. Corolla pink-purple, y2 to 24 in. long,
broadly funnelform, 2-lipped.
This is a slender annual, usually with divergent branches
and numerous showy flowers in nearly sessile pairs. It is
frequently found in open places at moderate altitudes, rang¬
ing up to Little Yosemite Valley where it forms red carpets
on the valley floor.
M. leptaleus Gray, is to be expected. It is a small species
with small flowers nearly sessile in the axils of spatulate
leaves; calyx oblique; corolla crimson, Y\ to x/2 in. long, the
tube narrow.
17. M. bolanderi Gray. Leaves oblong, narrowed to both
ends, 24 to 2 in. long, entire or toothed. Calyx 24 to 24 in.
long, very oblique. Corolla reddish purple, an oblong area
on lower lip white and reddish dotted, 24 to 1 in. long, cylin-
dric, evidently 2-lipped.
The erect, leafy, very viscid stems are characteristic of this
FIG WORT FAMILY
225
striking annual, which grows on warm, gravelly slopes in
Yosemite Valley (Indian Canon), at Wawona, and elsewhere
at moderate altitudes. It is more common in the foothills.
18. M. angustatus Gray. Leaves densely clustered at base,
linear, 1 in. or less long, entire, hairy, hiding the calyx of the
nearly sessile flowers. Corolla I54 to ll/2 in. long, with
slender tube and funnelform throat; upper lip purple, lower
lip golden yellow and purple-dotted. ( Eunanus pulchellus
Drew.)
The pygmy plants which represent this species are only
2 or 3 in. high, and most of this height is due to the slender
flowers, which grow even from the lowest leaf-axils. They
are found in meadows from Lake Eleanor and the Hog
Ranch Road to Yosemite.
19. M. exilis Durand. Annual leafy plant with small
flowers on long pedicels from all but the lower leaf-axils,
softly villous throughout, 3 in. to 1 ft. high. Leaves oblong
or lanceolate, entire, sessile, the larger 1 to 1 54 in. long.
Calyx deeply cleft into 5 unequal lanceolate lobes. Corolla
small, its lobes nearly equal, yellow, each of the lower lobes
often with a brown spot. — Gravelly soil in Yosemite Valley
and below.
5. ILYSANTHES. False Pimpernel.
1. I. anagallidea Rob. A smooth erect annual, 3 to 9 in.
high. Leaves sessile, ovate or oblong, 54 to 34 in. long. Pedi¬
cels spreading, longer than the leaves. Corolla pale blue or
“purplish,” scarcely 54 in- l°ng. — Wet places in Bridal Veil
Meadows; of wide distribution.
6. VERONICA. Speedwell.
Annual and perennial herbs of meadows and moist places,
with white, pale-blue, or purplish small flowers. Leaves
mostly opposite, the upper sometimes alternate. Corolla
rotate, with very short tube and 4 lobes, one of them smaller
than the others. Stamens only 2.
Flowers in loose racemes which spring from the axils of
opposite leaves; perennials.
Leaves short-petioled, ovate or oblong, obtuse at each end.l. V. americana.
Leaves sessile, narrowly lanceolate, tapering to each end. 2. V. scutellata.
Flowers in simple terminal racemes, each flower from the
axil of a bract.
Stems several, from perennial rootstocks; leaves ovate
or roundish.
Capsule obscurely notched at summit. . 3. V. alpina .
226 FIGWORT FAMILY
Capsule plainly notched (obcordate), broader at sum¬
mit . 4. V. serpyllifolia.
Stem solitary, annual; leaves narrow, oblong or linear. 5. V. peregrina.
1. V. americana Schw. American Brooklime. Stems
creeping at base and rooting from the lower joints, usually
branching and 1 to 3 ft. long, the whole plant glabrous.
Leaves ovate or broadly oblong, often toothed, ^ to 2 in.
long, from nearly Yz to Y in. broad. Flowers bluish, in loose
spreading racemes. Capsule orbicular, many-seeded. — Grows
in shallow water.
2. V. scutellata L. Marsh Speedwell. Stems slender,
mostly erect, connected by creeping stolons, 3 in. to 1 ft.
high, the whole plant glabrous. Leaves numerous, lanceolate
or narrower, nearly entire, 24 to 2 in. long (much exceeding
the internodes), less than Y in. wide. Flowers pale blue, in
slender flexuous racemes. Capsule pendulous on a slender
pedicel, flat, deeply notched at apex, several-seeded. — Yo-
semite Valley and northward.
3. V. alpina L. Alpine Speedwell. Stems usually erect,
from slender creeping rootstocks, 6 to 12 in. high, simple,
hairy. Leaves sessile, ovate to oblong, shallowly toothed or
entire, to 1J4 in. long. Raceme dense when young, the
pedicels then shorter than calyx. Corolla blue or violet. —
A common species. Yosemite and Little Yosemite valleys,
Lake Tenaya, etc.
4. V. serpyllifolia L. Thyme-leaf Speedwell. Stems
creeping and branching at base, becoming 3 to 9 in. high,
glabrous or obscurely pubescent. Lower leaves short-peti-
oled, upper sessile, roundish, nearly or quite entire, 24 in- or
less long. Pedicels longer than calyx. Corolla bluish, or pale
with blue stripes. — Widely distributed.
5. V. peregrina L. Neckweed. Stem simple or nearly so,
3 to 12 in. high, glabrous or somewhat glandular. Leaves
thick, the lowest pair petioled and broad; the others sessile,
oblong to linear or spatulate, mostly alternate and entire,
about Y> in. long. Pedicels shorter than the calyx which is
exceeded by the leaf-like bracts. Capsule orbicular, obscurely
notched. — Yosemite Valley, Hog Ranch, etc.
7. CASTILLEJA. Painted Cup.
Perennial herbs with alternate sessile leaves passing above
into reddish bracts of the showy terminal spike. Calyx tubu¬
lar, flattened, cleft before and behind, the lobes either entire
or again cleft. Corolla tubular; upper lip much elongated
FIGWORT FAMILY 2.2J
and beak-like, enclosing the 4 stamens and single style; lower
lip short and very small, not inflated, with 3 small teeth.
Plant tall (1 to 4 ft.); beak of corolla equaling or longer
than the tube.
Herbage very pubescent throughout; leaves mostly lobed. 1. C. parviflora.
Herbage nearly glabrous; leaves mostly entire . 2. C. miniata.
Plant low (9 in. or less) ; beak of corolla much shorter i
than the tube.
Leaves lanceolate or broader, the upper divided into
spreading lobes, distinctly 3-nerved; flowers dull
red . 3. C. breweri.
Leaves linear-lanceolate, attenuate, mostly entire, all but
the lowest 1-nerved; flowers crimson . 4. C. culbertsonii.
1. C. parviflora Bong. Indian Paint Brush. Stems erect
or ascending, 1 to 2 ft. high, the whole plant rough-pubescent.
Leaves linear to oblong, entire to pinnately parted into nar¬
row lobes, 1 to 2 Yt. in. long. Corolla about 1 in. long, the
lower lip not protruding from the calyx, the beak about
equalling the tube. — An inhabitant of dry places, especially
on hillsides in the open forest. A common form with entire
leaves is C. pinetorum Fernald; another, with leaves parted
into 3 lobes, is C. trifidum Greene, but all forms of leaves may
be found on a single plant.
2. C. miniata Dough Stems erect, 2 to 4 ft. high, or less
at high altitudes, with large red terminal spikes; the stem
and leaves glabrous or minutely pubescent, the inflorescence
with longer hairs. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate,
acuminate, entire, 1 to 3 in. long. Corolla 1 to V/2 in. long,
curved, the lower lip protruding from the calyx, the beak
longer than the tube. ( C . montana Congdon.)
While admiring the brilliant, red flower-clusters of Castilleja,
borne proudly erect on leafy stems, one little suspects the
robbery that is being perpetrated by the plant through the
sucking organs developed on its roots. These attach them¬
selves to the underground parts of other plants, which are
thus brought under tribute. But the Castilleja is not entirely
a robber, for it has a well developed root system of its own
and also a good supply of green foliage capable of assimi¬
lating carbon dioxide for itself. Apparently all species of
the genus are partially parasitic. C. miniata is the most
showy of all and also the most common in our district, where
it grows in meadows and other moist places, from the foot¬
hills nearly to timber-line.
3. C. breweri Fernald. Stems clustered on a thick woody
root, whole plant conspicuously soft-hairy and glandular.
Leaves coarse; the lower lanceolate and entire; the upper
228
FIGWORT FAMILY
broad, plainly 3-nerved, many with 3 lobes. Spike dull red,
2J4 in. or less long, the corolla J4 to 1 in. long. — In rather
dry soil, from Clouds Rest to our eastern borders, the original
specimens from Mt. Dana at 10,000 to 11,000 ft. alt.
4. C. culbertsonii Greene. Stems several, very slender,
attached by a delicate curved or horizontal base to the com¬
mon deep-seated taproot, whole plant minutely hairy and
viscid. Leaves thin, erect, mostly entire, the lower lanceo¬
late, 1-nerved or obscurely 3-nerved; upper leaves linear,
tapering to a fine point, 1-nerved, rarely with a sharp tooth;
the bracts broader and 3-cleft. Spike crimson, 2^4 in. or less
long, the corolla l/2 to Y im long- — In moist meadows and
along streams: meadows near summit of Clouds Rest; Lake
Tenaya; Tuolumne Meadows; etc.
8. ORTHOCARPUS. Owl’s Clover.
Low herbs with entire or slenderly parted leaves passing
above into bracts of the dense brush-like spike. Calyx 2-
cleft, the divisions again cleft or parted. Corolla with slen¬
der tube; upper lip beak-like, a little longer and much nar¬
rower than the inflated and 3-lobed lower one.
1. O. pilosus Wats. Plant 1 ft. or so high, with many leafy
stems from a strong perennial root, soft-villous or pilose
throughout. Leaves parted into many linear lobes. Bracts
and calyx yellowish. — Gravelly ridges and summits above
6000 ft. alt.
2. O. lacerus Benth. Plant 3 to 10 in. high, usually with
one simple erect stem, short-hirsute, viscid above. Leaves
or their lobes narrowly linear, *4 to lj4 in. long. Bracts pale,
deeply cut into narrow lobes. Corolla bright yellow, about
J4 in. long. — Common in grassy places, especially at low
altitudes.
3. O. linearilobus Benth. Much like O. lacerus but often
larger, the leaves sometimes 2 1/2 in. long. Corolla nearly Y
in. long, white or purplish. — Restricted to moderate altitudes.
4. O. imbricatus Benth. Stem simple, erect, 6 to 15 in.
high, minutely pubescent. Leaves linear, entire or lobed, 24
to 2 in. long. Bracts broad, obtuse, entire, partly purple,
closely overlapping. Corolla purplish, J4 in. long. — Rancheria
Mt. and above.
5. O. purpurascens Benth. Owl’s Clover. Annual, erect,
6 to 12 in. high, very pubescent. Leaves parted into many
thread-like segments. Bracts broad at base, cleft into nar-
BROOM-RAPE FAMILY
22 9
rowly linear lobes, the upper with crimson or purple tips.
Corolla crimson, 1 to 1% in. long, the upper lip densely hairy
on the back. — Abundant in the foothills, reaching Wawona.
9. CORDYLA'NTHUS. Bird’s Beak.
1. C. tenuis Gray. Herbage somewhat pubescent and often
glandular. Leaves linear, entire, ^ to 1 in. long. Corolla
about in. long, short-hairy, almost equally 2-lipped, the
end of lower lip and the tube greenish yellow, intermediate
parts reddish striped, back of upper lip suffused with dull red.
This is a slender, erect, branching annual, 1 to 2 ft. high,
with dull-colored corollas nearly concealed by the green,
2-parted calyx. It is a late bloomer and is common through¬
out the drier parts of the Yellow Pine Belt.
10. PEDICULARIS. Lousewort.
Perennial herbs with simple stems, finely cut leaves and
dense terminal spikes of irregular flowers. Leaves alternate.
Corolla with cylindric tube, conspicuously 2-lipped.
1. P. groenlandica Retz. Long-beaked Pedicularis. Stems
12 to 18 in. high, leafy below. Leaves lanceolate in outline,
finely divided and feather-like. Flowering spike cylindric,
dense, 2 to 6 in. long, Y to 1 in. wide, glabrous. Corolla rose-
red; upper lip hooded, continued into a conspicuous curved
slender beak % in. or more long. — Moist and grassy places at
considerable altitudes.
2. P. attollens Gray. Elephant Heads. Similar to no. 1
but often smaller, more slender. Flowering spike 14 in. or
less wide, densely clothed with white hairs. Beak of corolla
short, abruptly upturned.
Meadows and other moist places form the natural home of
this peculiar plant. It is common throughout the mountains
in such situations, but does not range so high as no. 1, from
which it may be distinguished by the dense, white-woolly
spike. The leaves are chiefly basal, spreading out as a rosette
from the center of which rises the nearly naked flowering
stalk.
3. P. semibarbata Gray. Plant short, mostly 4 to 6 in. high,
much branched from the base. Leaves in a rosette, surround¬
ing the short sessile spikes, these 1 to 2 in. wide. Corolla
yellowish, upper lip hooded but not continued into a beak.
Restricted to the drier parts of fir and other forests.
OROBANCHACEAE. Broom-rape Family.
Root-parasitic herbs with yellowish alternate scales in place
BLADDERWORT FAMILY
230
of leaves. Flowers in the axils of scales or on long peduncles.
Corolla tubular, 2-lipped, withering-persistent. Stamens 4.
Ovary 2-celled, the capsule many-seeded.
1. OROBANCHE. Broom -RAPE.
Brownish or whitish plants, our species often described
under Aphyllon.
1. O. uniflora L. One-flowered Cancer-root. Stem scaly,
short, mostly subterranean, bearing few erect peduncles 3
in. to 1 ft. or so high, each terminated by a solitary dull-
yellow but violet-tinged flower. Calyx-lobes mostly longer
than tube, attenuate. Corolla % to 1 in. long, somewhat
curved, its lobes obovate. — Grows attached to the roots of
shrubs, etc., but not common.
2. O. fasciculata Nutt. Stem usually more exserted from
the ground, bearing numerous
fascicled peduncles, the flower-
clusters therefore more compact.
Calyx-lobes not longer than the
tube. Corolla dull yellow, rarely
purplish, its lobes oblong. — Rare;
found in Yosemite Valley.
LENTIBULARIACEAE.
Bladderwort Family.
Small herbs with a 2-lipped
calyx and a 2-lipped corolla
spurred at base. Stamens 2.
Ovary free from the calyx, be¬
coming a 1-celled several-seeded
capsule.
1. UTRICULARIA. Bladderwort.
1. U. vulgaris L. A slender aquatic, the leaves with hair¬
like divisions and bearing many small bladders which float the
plant at time of flowering. Flowers borne on long naked
stalks which rise above the water. Corolla yellow, ^2 to
in. across, closed. — In quiet ponds at Eagle Peak Meadows,
Little Yosemite Valley, and Tuolumne Meadows. Widely
distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
PLANTAGINACEAE. Plantain Family.
Chiefly stemless herbs with regular flowers in spikes.
Corolla membranous, 4-lobed.
MADDER FAMILY
23I
1. PLANTAGO. Plantain. Ribwort.
Leaves ribbed. Calyx of 4 dry sepals. Stamens 4 or 2,
some with weak exserted filaments. Capsule 2-celled, with 1
to several ovules in each cell, the top falling off like a lid.
1. P. major L. Common Plantain. A glabrous perennial
with leaves all at base of an erect flower-stalk. Leaf-blades
roundish or ovate, entire or toothed, 2 to 6 in. long, abruptly
narrowed to broad petioles nearly as long. Spike narrow,
5 to 6 in. long, on a stalk 6 to 18 in. high. — Low ground at
Yosemite Valley, Crockers, etc. The var. asiatica Dene., has
upright leaves tapering to slender petioles, and erect flower-stalks.
2. P. lanceolata L. English Plantain. Ribwort. A some¬
what pubescent perennial, with leaves all at base. Leaf-
blades lanceolate, acute, 2 to 8 in. long, entire or slightly
toothed, tapering to a petiole. Spike dense, thick, l/2 to 2 in.
long, on a stalk 4 to 12 in. high. — A naturalized European
weed; common in low valleys.
3. P. patagonica Jacq. A silky-pubescent annual, 3 to 6 in.
high. Leaves basal, linear to oblanceolate, \]/2 to 5 in. long
including the narrowed petiole-like base, less than in. wide.
Spike thick, almost head-like, *4 to V\ in- long. — A common
species of wide distribution which probably occurs on dry
hillsides along our lower borders.
RUBIACEAE. Madder Family.
Herbaceous or slightly woody plants with simple entire
sessile leaves and small regular flowers with both stamens
and pistil. Calyx adherent to the ovary, its teeth minute or
none. Stamens 3 to 5, alternating with the lobes of the
corolla, inserted on its tube or throat. Ovary inferior.
Leaves opposite; corolla funnelform or salverform . 1. Kelloggia.
Leaves in whorls of 3 to 8; corolla rotate . 2. Galium.
1. KELLOGGIA.
1. K. galioides Torr. Slender erect perennial from
creeping rootstocks, a foot or so high, often profusely branch¬
ing at base. Leaves lanceolate, entire, usually 1 in. long.
Flowers in panicles terminating the branches, the spreading
pedicels 24 to 1^4 in. long in fruit. Corolla pinkish, to %
in. long, funnelform, with spreading lobes. Fruit dry, cov¬
ered with hooked bristles, separating at maturity into two
parts.
Kelloggia is a smooth, leafy perennial, frequently encoun¬
tered in the pine forests. It is often mistaken for a species
MADDER FAMILY
232
of Galium but the larger, funnelform corollas readily dis¬
tinguish it. The genus, which contains but the single species,
was named in honor of Dr. Albert Kellogg, a botanist and
early member of the California Academy of Sciences.
2. GALIUM. Bedstraw. Cleavers.
Branching plants, often with rough stems which are en¬
circled at the joints by whorls of narrow leaves. Corolla
rotate, its lobes sharply pointed. Style 2-cleft. Ovary 2-
celled, 2-lobed, developing into a dry or fleshy fruit, some¬
times bur-like.
A. Fruit dry.
Leaves without bristle-like tips, mostly 4 in each circle
(varying to 6 in G. trifidum and to 3 or 2 in G.
bifolium).
Fruit short-hairy; leaves about Yz in. long; smooth
slender annual under 6 in . 1.
Fruit smooth, glabrous; pedicels shorter than leaves;
smooth slender matted perennial under 6 in . 2.
Fruit smooth, glabrous; pedicels longer than leaves;
rough slender perennial, 6 in. to 2 ft. long . 3.
Leaves with short bristle-like tips, 6 to 8 in each circle;
stems 1 ft. or more long.
Fruit rough with short hairs or merely granular . 4.
Fruit bristly with long hooked hairs.
Perennial; leaves mostly 6 in each circle . 5.
Coarse annual; leaves mostly 7 or 8 to each circle.. 6.
G. bifolium.
G. brandegei.
G. trifidum.
G. asperrimum.
G. tridorum.
G. aparine.
B. Fruit fleshy, berry-like; leaves 4 in each circle; perennials.
Stems and leaves grayish with short stiff hairs . 7. G. pubens.
Stems and leaves rough, especially on edges, but green.
Leaves % in. or less wide . 8. G. bolanderi.
Leaves Y\ to in. wide . 9. G. subscabridum.
1. G. bifolium Wats. A very slender annual, 2 to 6 in.
high, smooth and glabrous. Leaves narrow, the upper ones
apparently only opposite, the larger fully J/2 in. long. Fruits
rough with short hairs, recurved on the slender scattered
pedicels. — Snow Creek at 6500 ft. alt.; common in the Sierra
Nevada.
2. G. brandegei Gray. A delicate perennial, 2 to 6 in. high,
growing in dense mats, smooth and glabrous or nearly so.
Leaves many, small, seldom over *4 in. long. Fruits
smooth, on scattered pedicels which are shorter than the
leaves. — A rare Rocky Mt. species, to which specimens from
Ostranders, near Yosemite, have been referred.
3. G. trifidum var. pacificum Wiegand. Perennial from
slender rootstocks; the weak stems usually 1 ft. or more
HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY
233
long and intertangled, rough on the angles. Leaves linear,
Va to M in- long- Fruits smooth, on recurved pedicels which
mostly exceed the leaves. — Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy, etc.
4. G. asperrimum Gray. Stems long and weak, very rough.
Leaves linear to elliptic, y to In. long. Flowers numer¬
ous, in repeatedly forked clusters. Fruits rough with short
hairs. — Perhaps common: Mariposa Grove, Snow Creek,
Yosemite Valley, Mt. Dana.
5. G. triflorum Michx. Sweet-scented Bedstraw. Stem
weak, a foot or two long, moderately rough. Leaves broadly
elliptic or oblong, y± to \l/2 in. long. Flowers on long 3-
forked peduncles. Fruits bristly, the hairs nearly as long as
the body of the fruit. — Damp, shady places in the Yosemite
Valley, etc.
6. G. aparine L. Cleavers. Goose Grass. Weak reclining
annual, 1 to 4 ft. long, hispid on the angles of the stems and
on the edges and midribs of the leaves. Leaves linear to
oblong, y2 to 2 in. long. Fruit dry and covered with stiff
hooked hairs. — Common at low altitudes.
7. G. pubens Gray. Stems herbaceous or woody, stiff,
1 or 2 ft. long, the whole herbage grayish with a short stiff
pubescence. Leaves oblong or oval, acute, y to Y in. long.
Berry short-hairy, juicy, probably purple or black. — Plentiful
in rocky places at middle altitudes.
8. G. bolanderi Gray. Stems somewhat woody and stiff,
1 or 2 ft. long, roughish. Leaves linear or narrowly lanceo¬
late, acute, seldom over y2 in. long, ^ in- or less wide. Berry
glabrous, juicy, white when fresh, drying black. — Very com¬
mon on rocky ledges and talus slopes.
9. G. subscabridum Wight. Like G. bolanderi except that
the leaves are broadly lanceolate to oval, the main ones y2 to
y in. long, % to Y in. or more wide. — Known only from
Wawona and from Fresno Co.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE. Honeysuckle Family.
Shrubby plants with opposite leaves and no stipules. Sta¬
mens as many as the lobes of the corolla (4 or 5) and alter¬
nate with them, inserted on the tube or base. Ovary inferior,
ripening into a fleshy berry-like fruit; style 1.
Leaves pinnately compound; corolla nearly rotate . 1. Sambucus.
Leaves simple; corolla tubular to bell-shaped.
Corolla regular . 2. Symphoricarpos.
Corolla more or less irregular, swollen at base on one
side . . 3". Lonicera.
234
HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY
1. SAMBUCUS. Elder.
Shrubs and trees with rank odor when bruised, pinnately
compound leaves, and numerous small flowers in compound
clusters. Calyx-lobes minute or obsolete. Corolla open,
regular, the limb 5-cleft. Stamens 5. Stigmas 3. Fruit juicy,
berry-like, containing 3 seed-like nutlets.
1. S. racemosa L. Red Elderberry. Herbage green and
nearly glabrous. Leaflets 5 (or 7), lanceolate, narrowed
above to slender tips, sharply toothed, 2^4 to 5 in. long, the
two sides nearly even at base. Flowers fragrant, pale yel¬
low, in pyramidal or dome-shaped clusters 1^4 to 3 in. wide.
Fruit bright red.
With us the Red Elderberry is a low shrub, the numerous
stems being only 2 to 4 ft. high. It is plentiful around Lake
Tenaya and in other moist situations from about 7000 ft. alt.
to timber-line.
2. S. canadensis var. mexicana Sarg. Herbage soft with a
short pale pubescence. Leaflets 5 to 9, lanceolate, acute,
evenly toothed, 2 to 4 in. long, one side continued farther
down the stalk than the other. Flowers fragrant, pale yellow,
in flat-topped clusters 3 in. to a foot wide. Fruit unknown.
(S. velutina D. & H.)
This elderberry is almost a tree, commonly growing to a
height of 10 to 15 ft. and with a distinct trunk. Its dis¬
tinguishing marks are its broad, flat-topped flower-clusters,
its very pubescent herbage, and the white pith (brown in
no. 1). It grows in Yosemite Valley and is perhaps rather
common in the warmer parts of our district.
S. glauca Nutt., the common Blue Elderberry of the foot¬
hills, may reach our borders. It is known by its perfectly
glabrous herbage. The flower-clusters are flat-topped.
2. SYMPHORXCARPOS. Snowberry.
Low shrubs with oval or roundish short-petioled simple
leaves. Flowers white, tinged with rose-color, in small clus¬
ters. Calyx-teeth short. Corolla bell-shaped, 4 or 5-lobed,
with 4 or 5 stamens inserted in the throat. Fruit a 4-celled,
2-seeded berry.
Short-flowered, the corolla as broad as long.
Leaves nearly glabrous . 1. S. racemosus.
Leaves densely soft-pubescent . 2. 5. mollis.
Long-flowered, the cylindric corolla much longer than
broad.
Nutlets of fruit round at base . 3. 5. rotundifolius.
Nutlets pointed at base . . . 4. 5. oredphilus.
HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 235
1. S. racemdsus Michx. A much-branched shrub, 3 or 4
ft. high. Leaves loundish, y to 1^4 in. long, entire or
toothed or lobed, glabrous, or barely pubescent beneath.
Corolla cup-shaped, not % in. long.— Low altitudes; reported
from Yosemite Valley.
2. S. mollis Nutt. A low shrub, rarely 2 ft. high. Leaves
oval or round, Y to y in* long, entire or with few teeth,
velvety-pubescent. Corolla shallowly cup-shaped, % to
nearly 14 in. long, lobed nearly to the middle— Foothills up
to at least 8400 ft. alt. (above Muir Gorge); a common
species.
3. S. rotundifolius Gray. Shrub, commonly 3 or 4 ft. higih.
Leaves orbicular to elliptic, Y to 1 in. long, entire or lobed,
minutely pubescent or becoming glabrous. Corolla nearly
tubular, over *4 in. long, the lobes one-half or one-third the
length of the tube. Nutlets of fruit obtuse at both ends. —
Sierra Nevada north and south of us; hence to be expected
within the Park boundaries.
4. S. oreophilus Gray. A twiggy shrub, 3 to 5 ft. high.
Leaves thinner than in no. 3, elliptic or rarely ovate, V2 to
1 in. long, commonly glabrous. Corolla narrow, the lobes
only one-fourth the length of the tube. Nutlets of fruit
pointed at base. — The common species in the high mountains.
3. LONICERA. Honeysuckle.
Shrubs and twining woody vines with normally entire
leaves. Calyx-tube ovoid or globose, with 5 short teeth or
truncate. Stamens 5. Style slender.
Leaves all distinct; flowers 2 or 3 on each peduncle.
Flowers yellow, with narrowly linear bracts . 1. L. coerulea.
Flowers yellow, with ovate leaf-like bracts . 2. L. involucrata.
Flowers nearly black, naked . 3. L. conjugialis.
Upper leaves united in pairs; flowers sessile, yellow . 4. L. interrupta.
1. L. coerulea L. Stems 1 or 2 ft. high, erect. Leaves
thick, veiny beneath, oblong-elliptic, £4 to 1^2 in. long.
Peduncles much shorter than the cluster of 2 or 3 flowers
which is subtended by linear or narrower bracts. Corolla
Yz in. long, pale yellow, nearly regular. Berry black, with a
blue bloom. — Reported from Crescent Lake.
2. L. involucrata Banks. Twinberry. A leafy shrub, 2 to
10 ft. high. Leaves ovate or oblong, acute or more abruptly
contracted to apex, 1 y2 to 5 in. long, short-petioled. Peduncle
y2 to 2 in. long, with a pair of leafy bracts beneath the cluster
VALERIAN FAMILY
236
of 2 or 3 flowers. Corolla yellowish, y2 to in. long, with
short erect nearly equal lobes. Berries dark purple, shorter
than the enlarged bracts.
This yellow-flowered twinberry occurs both in the Sierra
Nevada and Coast Range mountains, ascending the former
to 8000 ft. alt. It grows at the following places: Pohono
Trail, Yosemite Valley, Clouds Rest, Conness Creek, Tu¬
olumne Meadows, Vogelsang Pass, and Rodgers Lake.
3. L. conjugialis Kell. Dwarf Twinberry. A slender leafy
shrub, a foot or two high. Leaves thin, ovate or oval, acute,
short-petioled, \y2 to 3 in. long, ^ to 2 in. wide. Peduncles y2
to 1 in. long, bearing usually 2 flowers with united ovaries,
the bracts not evident. Corolla about y*, in. long, dull purple,
strongly 2-lipped, the throat very hairy. Stamens protruding.
Berry red.
The nearly black flowers, borne mostly in pairs on the
summit of a naked stalk, mark this twinberry as distinct from
all other plants. It inhabits moist banks from the Mariposa
Grove and Yosemite Valley to Mt. Lyell Meadows and Smed-
berg Lake, being most common above 7000 ft. alt.
4. L. interrupta Benth. Chaparral Honeysuckle. Leaves
roundish or broadly oblong, pale beneath, obtuse but with a
short sharp tip, Y to 1 in. long, one or two uppermost pairs
united into disks around the stem. Flowers yellow, nearly
in. long, sessile in whorls of a terminal glabrous spike.
Corolla strongly 2-lipped, glabrous.
The flexuous stems of this shrub, or vine, for it is often
inclined to climb and twine, are 3 to 6 ft. long. It grows in
warm places of the Yellow Pine Belt. In Yosemite Valley is
found a very pubescent form which seems to connect the
species with L. hispidula Dough, the common honeysuckle of
the north.
VALERIANACEAE. Valerian Family.
Herbs with opposite leaves and no stipules. Calyx-tube
adherent to the ovary. Corolla tubular, 5-lobed. Stamens 1
to 3, distinct. Fruit not opening, 1 or 3-celled, always 1-
seeded.
Upper leaves lobed or parted; perennial . 1. Valeriana.
Leaves all entire . 2. Valerianella.
*
1. VALERIANA. Valerian.
1. V. sylvatica Banks. Stems erect, from perennial root¬
stocks, 1 or 2 ft. high, with a flat terminal cluster of white
or roseate flowers. Lower leaves oblanceolate, entire or
BLUEBELL FAMILY
237
toothed, 1 to 3 in. long; upper leaves deeply parted into
several lanceolate or oblong lobes. Flowers nearly Y\ in.
long. Calyx-lobes becoming feathery in fruit. Stamens 3,
exceeding the corolla. Fruit seed-like, flattish. (V. calif or-
nica Heller.) — Occasional in meadows above 5000 ft. alt.:
Glacier Point, Snow Flat, Benson Pass, etc.
2. VALERIANELLA.
1. V. congesta Lindl. Stem erect, from an annual root,
6 to 18 in. high, with a terminal cylindric cluster of rose-
colored flowers. Leaves sessile, oblong, obtuse, entire, 1 or 2
in. long. Flowers irregular, spurred, scarcely l/A in. long.
Calyx without lobes above the ovary. Stamens 3, shorter
than corolla. Fruit seed-like, boat-shaped, rough-hairy. —
Yosemite Valley, in a form with fruit appendaged on the
inner side, as in Plectritis davyana Jepson.
CUCURBITACEAE. Gourd Family.
Our only representatives of the Gourd Family are one or
two species of Echinocystis and these reach only our lower
borders. They are succulent herbs with simple, palmately
lobed leaves and small, greenish-white flowers. The fruit is
a large, dry bur containing several smooth seeds. The large,
often branching perennial root has given these plants the
names of “Big Root” and “Man Root,” while the Spanish-
Californians know them as “Chilicothe.”
CAMPANULACEAE. Bluebell Family.
Herbs with alternate leaves, no stipules, and regular 5-lobed
corollas. Calyx persistent, divided down to the ovary, to
which it is adherent. Stamens distinct from each other.
Style 1, provided with pollen-collecting hairs below the 2 to
5 stigmas. Ovary inferior, 2 to 5-celled, the capsule many-
seeded.
a. Capsule opening by 1 or more small window-like valves
on the side; stems stiffly erect, 1 ft. or more high.
Flowers mostly pediceled; bracts linear or inconspicu¬
ous (except the lower) . 1. Campanula.
Flowers closely sessile in the axils of ovate or roundish
bracts . 2. Specularia.
b. Capsule opening by irregular fissures along the sides;
calyx -lobes round, toothed . 3. Heterocodon.
c. Capsule opening at apex, within the calyx; calyx-lobes
linear, entire . 4. Githopsis.
238
LOBELIA FAMILY
1. CAMPANULA. Bellflower.
1. C. prenanthoides Dur. California Harebell. Perennial
plant with erect stems, leafy below but
nearly naked among the flowers, nearly
glabrous. Leaves ovate to lanceolate,
sharply toothed, tapering to the base, Y
to \y in. long. Corolla blue, cylindric
in bud, nearly y2 in. long, parted into 5
narrow lobes. Style becoming longer
than corolla. Capsule nearly globose. —
Coniferous woods along our lower bor¬
ders.
2. SPECULARIA.
Venus Looking-glass.
1. S. biflora Gray. Annual plant, either
branched from the base or simple, the
flowers scattered along the upper part of the erect stem,
which is rough on the edges. Leaves sessile, ovate, some¬
what wavy-margined, Y in. or less long. Lower flowers (self-
pollinated) inconspicuous, the upper (cross-pollinated) with
showy blue or purple corollas longer than the styles. Cap¬
sule cylindric. — Hetch Hetchy Valley.
3. HETEROCODON.
1. H. rariflorum Nutt. A delicate sparsely pubescent an¬
nual, seldom 1 ft. high, the sessile flowers mostly concealed
by the broad bracts. Leaves roundish, the broad sessile base
partly clasping, % in. across. Lower flowers (self-pollinated)
inconspicuous, the upper (cross-pollinated by insects) larger,
with pale-blue open bell-shaped corollas. Calyx-lobes ovate,
leaf-like. — Plentiful below 5000 ft. alt.
4. GITHOPSIS.
1. G. specularioides Nutt. A small annual (2 to 10 in.),
glabrous or nearly so, with rigid branches and showy blue
strictly erect flowers. Leaves linear, toothed, sessile, about *4
in. long. Calyx-lobes rigid, linear, over 1% in. long. Corolla
bell-shaped, 5-lobed, y2 to Y in. long. — Foothills, perhaps not
in our district.
LOBELIACEAE. Lobelia Family.
Low herbs with alternate leaves, no stipules, and irregular
flowers. Calyx with 5 distinct lobes or teeth, its tube adher¬
ent to the ovary. Corolla with 2 lobes in the upper lip and 3
COMPOSITE FAMILY
239
in the lower. Stamens 5, united either by their filaments or
anthers. Ovary 2-celled, with a single style, the stigma glo¬
bose and girt with a ring of hairs.
Anthers distinct but their filaments united above the middle;
flowers showy . 1. Downingia.
Anthers united into a curved tube; flowers small . 2. Nemacladus.
1. DOWNINGIA.
1. D. montana Greene. A low branching plant of muddy
places, 6 in. or so high, leafy and glabrous throughout. Leaves
linear, to F2 in. long, the upper ones much exceeded by
the pedicel-like calyx. Calyx-lobes linear, as long as corolla.
Upper lip of corolla of 2 minute lavender lobes; lower lip of
3 broad spreading lobes, white, with a broad lavender or blue
border. — Hog Ranch Road.
2. NEMACLADUS.
1. N. ramosissimus var. montanus Gray. A delicate dif¬
fusely branched annual with numerous minute flowers on long-
spreading pedicels. Basal leaves oblanceolate, toothed, those
of the branches minute (rarely *4 in* long) and entire.
Flowers about % in. long; corolla-lobes unequal, white, with
a reddish-brown blotch near the base of each and a tint of
yellow below each blotch. — Wawona to Hetch Hetchy Valley,
not common.
COMPOSITAE. Composite, or Sunflower Family.
(Including Asteraceae, Ambrosiaceae, Carduaceae, and
Cichoriaceae.)
Herbs and shrubs, or trees in some foreign genera, ours all
with flowers in heads, each head borne on the enlarged summit
of the common peduncle ( receptacle ) and surrounded by a com¬
mon involucre of separate bracts, the receptacle sometimes also
bearing scale-like or bristle-like bracts among the flowers. Cor¬
ollas either tubular and 5-toothed (or 5-lobed) or the limb
strap-shaped and toothed at apex. When both kinds are present
(e. g., the true sunflowers), the flowers with the strap-shaped
corollas occupy the margin of the head and are called ray-
flowers; the flowers with tubular corollas occupy the center and
are called disk-flowers ; such heads are said to be radiate. Heads
without strap-shaped corollas are discoid (e. g., Everlasting).
All of the flowers have strap-shaped corollas in the Chicory
Tribe. Calyx-tube united with the ovary and often continued
above it in the form of a pappus , which may consist of awns,
hairs, bristles, or scales, or it may be reduced to a mere ring.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
24O
Stamens 5, on the corolla-tube, usually themselves united into
an inner tube. Style divided into 2 branches. Ovary 1-celled,
1-ovuled, maturing into an akene, which resembles a seed and is
crowned by the pappus when that is present.
Types of Heads in Compositae. — 1. Head of Sunflower, cut vertically
(radiate). 2. Head of Cudweed, cut vertically (discoid). 3. Head as in
the Chicory Tribe (flowers all strap-shaped). — r, ray; d, disk; i, involucre
of bracts; r, receptacle; p, peduncle.
Details of Flowers in Compositae. — 1. Ray-flower of an Aster, with
pappus of bristles. 2. Disk-flower from the same head. 3. Akene of
Rigiopappus, with pappus of flattened awns. 4. Akene of Chaenactis, with
pappus of scales. 5. Akene of Dandelion, with beak and pappus of bristles.
6. A single feathery pappus-bristle of Thistle. — a, akene; c, corolla; p, pap¬
pus; r, ray; s, stigma.
Artificial Key to the Genera of Compositae.
To use this key, first determine the series (I., II., or III.) to which
the plant belongs. Then turn to the1 key for that series and run the plant
through in the ordinary manner. A synopsis of the tribes will be found
at end of key.
I. Flowers of two sorts, the outer series with rays, the central ones tubular
and toothed. Series I. Radiate Compositae, key on p. 241.
II. Flowers all alike, tubular and toothed; none with rays. Series II. Dis¬
coid Compositae, key on p. 242.
III. Flowers all with strap-shaped corolla, therefore all resembling ray-
flowers, there being no tubular and regularly toothed corollas. Series
III. Chicory Tribe, key on p. 243.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
24I
I. Radiate Compositae.
(Heads with rays.)
A. Rays blue, purple, or white.
Leaves finely cut into many small lobes; rays
white.
Heads solitary; annual . 33. Anthemis, p. 261
Heads clustered; perennial . 34. Achillaea, p. 261
Leaves entire or merely toothed or with very few
lobes, rays variously colored.
Pappus of 3 to 12 scales or awns.
Bracts very acute.
Heads small; rays white . 29. Rigiopappus, p. 259
Heads Y in. high; rays saffron-color ... .Hulsea heterochroma, p. 260
Bracts obtuse, enfolding the outer akenes. . . Hemizonia douglasii, p.258
Pappus of numerous bristles.
Plant white-woolly . 10. Corethrogyne, p. 247
Plant glabrous or hairy, not woolly.
Disk-flowers and ray-flowers both white... 11. Sericocarpus, p. 248
Disk-flowers yellow.
Bracts of the involucre in 2 or more
series, mostly unequal; style-appen¬
dages acute . 12. Aster, p. 248
Bracts in 1 or 2 series, mostly equal;
style-appendages obtuse . 13. Erigeron, p. 250
B. Rays yellow or orange-color.
Pappus of numerous slender bristles.
Bracts of the involucre unequal, in 2 or more
rows, the outer often shorter; pappus rigid.
Heads many, small (scarcely Y& in. high, in¬
cluding rays) . 4.
Heads few, larger.
Involucre-bracts very unequal, of 4 or more
lengths, the outer regularly shorter.
Akenes very pubescent . 3.
Akenes glabrous . 8.
Involucre-bracts of nearly equal length... 5.
Bracts of the involucre equal (often a few mi¬
nute outer ones at base) ; pappus soft,
hair-like.
Leaves opposite . 38.
Leaves alternate . 39.
Pappus of 2 to 12 scales or awns, or wanting.
Bracts of the involucre each enveloping or
wrapped about an outer akene, so that on
pulling off a bract the akene comes away
with it.
Outer akenes and their bracts with narrow
backs . *
Outer akenes and their bracts with broad
rounded backs.
Plant not 6 in. high . *
Plant 1 ft. or more high . 2
Soli dago, p. 245
Chrysopis, p. 245
Hazardia, p. 247
Haplopappus, p. 246
Arnica, p. 263
Senecio, p. 264
Madia, p. 257
Hemizonella, p. 258
Hemizonia, p. 258
COMPOSITE FAMILY
242
Bracts of the involucre not enfolding the outer
akenes but merely standing next to them.
Disk-flowers intermingled with conspicuous
scales or bracts.
Rays yellow, disk purplish or black.
Disk conical, 1 or 2 in. high . 19. Rudbeckia, p. 255
Disk flat . 22. Helianthus, p. 256
Rays and disk both yellow.
Pappus present, of awns or scales (usu¬
ally falling away from ripe akenes) .. .21. Wyethia, p. 256
Pappus none or very obscure.
Leaves broad; akenes 4-sided . 20. Balsamorhiza, p. 255
Leaves narrow; akenes flat . 23. Helianthella, p. 257
Disk-flowers without intervening scales or
bracts (i. e., receptacle naked).
Pappus none; leaves all opposite . 27. Whitneya, p. 259
Pappus present; upper leaves alternate.
Leaves very woolly, 1 in. or less long. .28. Eriophyllum, p. 259
Leaves scarcely woolly, usually much
longer.
Glandular; leaves toothed . 31. Hulsea, p. 260
Not glandular; leaves entire . 32. Helenium, p. 260
II. Discoid Compositae.
(Heads without rays.)
A. Flower-heads yellow.
Plant shrubby, the stems being decidedly woody.
Pappus none . 36. Artemisia, p. 261
Pappus present, of numerous bristles.
Leaves (roundish) and stems green, resinous. 6. Ericameria, p. 246
Leaves white, very narrow; tall shrub . 7. Chrysothamnus, p. 247
Leaves green; stems white-woolly; low shrub.
Haplopappus discoideus, p. 246
Plant not shrubby, the stems herbaceous.
Pappus none . 36. Artemisia, p. 261
Pappus of 4 or 5 flat scales . Chaenactis glabriuscula, p. 260
Pappus of numerous slender bristles.
Bracts of the involucre unequal.
Leaves broadly lanceolate . 3. Chrysopsis, p. 245
Leaves linear . Erigeron inornatus, p. 251
Bracts of the involucre equal.
Pappus-bristles feathery . 37. Raillardella, p. 263
Pappus-bristles simple, not feathery.
Leaves opposite, heart-shaped . Arnica discoidea, p. 263
Leaves alternate.
Pappus soft and white . 39. Senecio, p. 264
Pappus rigid . 13. Erigeron, p. 250
B. Flower-heads not yellow.
Plant not woolly in any part.
Leaves merely toothed; perennials.
Involucre not % in. high; akenes 5-angled.. 1. Eupatorium, p. 244
Involucre exceeding l/i in.; akenes 10-nerved. 2. Brickellia, p. 245
Leaves finely lobed; annual . 35. Matricaria, p. 261
COMPOSITE FAMILY
243
Plant in some part very woolly, at least when
young.
Leaves spiny-toothed; thistles . 40. Carduus, p. 267
Leaves not spiny-toothed.
Pappus of numerous slender bristles.
Central flowers lacking either stamens or
pistils.
No leaves over 54 in. wide . . . 15. Antennaria, p. 253
Lower leaves 54 in. or more wide . 16. Anaphalis, p. 254
Central flowers with both stamens and 4$ 3* II I
pistils. ? ;
Heads white or greenish yellow, nearly!|R{T.^r&! ~ 1*5 1 \
sessile . 17. Gnaphalium, p. 254
Heads lilac, on slender peduncles . 9. Lessingia, p. 247
Pappus of flat white scales (leaves lobed)...30. Chaenactis, p. 260
Pappus none.
Leaves triangular, 2 to 5 in. broad . 18. Adenocaulon, p. 255
Leaves narrower.
Depressed annual, 1 in. high . 14. Psilocarphus, p. 253
Tall perennials . 36. Artemisia, p. 261
III. Chicory Tribe.
(Rays all strap-shaped.)
a. Pappus none or very obscure . 41. Phalacroseris, p. 267
b. Pappus of scales or feathery from a scale-like
base; flowers yellow . 42. Microseris, p. 267
c. Pappus feathery (the bristles branched) ; flowers
not yellow . 43. Stephanomeria, p. 268
d. Pappus of simple bristles or hairs.
Akenes not flattened.
Heads solitary on unbranched stalks from a
leafy base.
Akenes sharp-toothed . 45. Taraxacum, p. 269
Akenes not toothed . 48. Troximon, p. 269
Heads several to numerous; stems branched
above.
Annual; white or pink-flowered; pappus
falling away . 44. Malacotiirix, p. 268
Perennials (except one yellow-flowered an¬
nual) ; pappus persistent.
Akenes narrowed above; leaves deeply
lobed . 49. Crepis, p. 270
Akenes broad at summit; leaves entire
or toothed . SO. Hieraceum, p. 271
Akenes flat; leafy-stemmed plants.
Flowers yellow; akenes not narrowed above IT T '
to a beak . 46. Sonchus, p. 269
Flowers bluish; akenes short-beaked . 47. Lactuca, p. 269
Natural Tribes of the Compositae.
The members of this large family may be grouped, so far as our species
are concerned, into ten natural divisions, or tribes. This grouping, however,
is based upon technical characters often too minute for the use of the
amateur and is here inserted only as a guide for the professional botanist.
Others will find the foregoing artificial key more useful.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
244
1. Eupatory Tribe ( Eupatorieae ). Heads discoid; the flowers all alike,
perfect, never yellow. Anthers without tails at base. Style-branches club-
shaped, obtuse. Includes our genera nos. 1 and 2.
2. Aster Tribe ( Astereae ). Heads either discoid or radiate. Disk-
flowers commonly yellow, the rays when present either the same or different
color. Anthers without tails at base. Style-branches flattened and with a
distinct terminal appendage. Leaves alternate. Receptacle naked in our
species. Includes our genera nos. 3 to 13.
3. Everlasting Tribe ( Inuleae ). Heads discoid and small (in ours).
Anthers notched at base, the lobes continued into tails. Style-branches
obtuse, without appendages. Pappus hair-like or none. Includes our genera
nos. 14, IS, 16, 17, and 18.
4. Sunflower Tribe ( Heliantheae ). Heads either discoid or radiate.
Bracts of the involucre merely subtending the outer akenes, not enfolding
them; bracts of the disk present as scales or bristles among the flowers.
Anthers not tailed. Style-branches truncate or hairy-appendaged. Pappus
never hair-like nor of bristles, sometimes none. Leaves mostly opposite or
basal. Includes our genera nos. 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23.
5. Tarweed Tribe ( Madieae ). Heads nearly always radiate. Bracts of
the involucre each embracing or enfolding an akene; bracts of the disk
often in a single circle between the ray and disk-flowers. Leaves opposite
or alternate. Otherwise as in Tribe 4. Includes our genera nos. 24, 25,
and 26.
6. Sneezeweed Tribe ( Helenieae ). Characters nearly as in Tribe 4,
but the disk without bracts among its flowers and leaves often alternate.
Includes our genera nos. 27 to 32.
7. Mayweed Tribe ( Anthemideae ). Distinguished from tribes 4, 5, and
6 by the more or less dry and papery or scaly bracts of the involucre, which
are imbricated. Akenes small, with pappus short and crown-like or none.
Herbage usually aromatic. Includes our genera nos. 33, 34, 35, and 36.
8. Groundsel Tribe ( Senecioneae ). Heads discoid or radiate, all the
flowers usually yellow. Bracts of the involucre nearly equal, not dry or
scale-like. Disk without bracts. Anthers without tails. Style-branches
truncate. Pappus of soft or rigid bristles. Includes our genera nos. 37,
38, and 39.
9. Thistle Tribe ( Cynareae ). Heads discoid. Involucre imbricated.
Disk bristly. Anthers long-tailed at base. Style-branches obtuse. Pappus
mostly of fine bristles. Leaves alternate. Includes our genus no. 40.
10. Chicory Tribe ( Cichorieae ). Corollas all strap-shaped. Anthers not
tailed. Herbage with milky juice. Leaves alternate or basal. Includes our
genera nos. 41 to 50. Key on p. 243.
1. EUPATORIUM.
1. E. occidentale Hook. Stems somewhat woody, 1 to 3 ft.
long. Leaves partly alternate, ovate, few-toothed, 1 to 2 in.
long, short-petioled. Heads pinkish, in small clusters on
leafy branchlets, the involucre very short. Akenes 5-angled;
pappus of many rough hair-like bristles. — Yosemite Valley to
timber-line. There are some splendid clumps of this plant at
the foot of the upper Yosemite Fall.
COMPOSITE FAMILY 245
2. BRICKELLIA.
Herbs and shrubs with veiny leaves. Involucre narrow, its
bracts thin, the outer successively shorter, all with parallel
nerves. Flowers whitish. Akenes with 10 longitudinal lines.
( Coleosanthus .)
1. B. californica Gray. A woody-stemmed bush, 2 to 4 ft.
high. Leaves alternate, ovate, toothed, y to 1 y2 in. long,
short-petioled. Heads 10 to 20-flowered, whitish, in a leafy
panicle. Pappus of rough hair-like bristles, becoming brown.
— In stony soil at low altitudes.
2. B. grandiflora Nutt. Stems simple below, scarcely
woody, 1 to 3 ft. high. Leaves mostly opposite, ovate,
toothed, \y2 to 3 in. long, petioled. Heads whitish, about 40-
flowered, y2 in. high, in leafless panicles. Pappus-bristles
white. — Of wide distribution; found at Mirror Lake and at
Lake Tahoe.
B. linifolia Eat., a low, brittle-stemmed desert shrub, with
narrow and entire, sessile leaves, has been reported from
Yosemite Valley, but this was undoubtedly an error, perhaps
due to the mixing of labels.
3. CHRYSOPSIS.
Perennial herbs with alternate entire leaves and medium¬
sized heads of yellow flowers. Involucre of thin narrow regu¬
larly imbricated bracts. Akenes narrowed below, very hairy;
pappus of numerous brownish bristles (and also some short
outer scales in the first species).
1. C. villosa Nutt. A leafy perennial, gray with a dense
pubescence, y2 to 1 y2 ft. high. Leaves lanceolate, entire, Y\
to 1 y2 in. long, sessile. Heads y2 in. high, including the showy
yellow rays. — A widely distributed species found above Pleas¬
ant Valley by Mr. Fred M. Reed.
2. C. breweri Gray. A leafy rough-pubescent perennial
herb, 2 to 4 ft. high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute, entire,
1 to \yA in. long, sessile. Heads wdthout rays, y2 in. high, the
linear-acute bracts much shorter. — In pine forests and on
rocky ledges at 4000 to 9000 ft. alt.
4. SOLIDAGO. Goldenrod.
Perennial herbs with alternate leaves and many small heads
of yellow flowers. Involucral bracts imbricated, thin, narrow,
without green tips. Akenes cylindric, 5 to 12-nerved; pappus
of numerous slender bristles.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
246
1. S. multiradiata var. scopulorum Gray. Stems 14 to 1 ft.
high, the terminal flower-cluster (of 5 to 20 heads) y to 2 in.
long. Leaves oblanceolate to lanceolate, mostly entire.
Heads Y in. high, including the yellow rays. — Common in
high meadows.
2. S. elongata Nutt. Stems 1 to 4 ft. high, very leafy to the
top, the dense pyramidal panicle (of very many heads) 3 to 7
in. long. Leaves lanceolate, acute, sharply toothed. Heads
(including the yellow rays) scarcely y in- long. — Common in
the Yosemite and other meadows.
S. californica var. nevadensis Gray, if found, may be known
by its very harsh, obtuse leaves. It grows in dry soil north
and east of us.
5. HAPLOPAPPUS.
Herbs and low shrubs. Heads hemispheric, in terminal clus¬
ters or solitary, the involucre in ours scarcely imbricated, the
outer bracts leaf-like. Disk yellow. Pappus of numerous dull-
white or reddish bristles. ( Aplopappus . Hoorebekia .)
1. H. apargioides Gray. A pale thick-rooted perennial
herb, 1 ft. or less high, the numerous reddish leafy stems bear¬
ing few terminal heads, loosely woolly or nearly glabrous.
Leaves narrow, acute, sharply toothed, 1 to 3 in. long, the
lower petioled, upper ones sessile. Heads y2 in. high, with
about 20 yellow rays. Akenes glabrous. — In meadows at high
altitudes.
2. H. suffruticosus Gray. A low shrub with glandular but
not woolly stems. Leaves glandular, nearly linear, entire, y2
to 1 in. long. Heads over y2 in. high, with showy yellow rays.
Akenes pubescent. ( Macronema suffruticosa Nutt.) — Gravelly
soil along the Sierran crest.
3. H. discoideus Gray. A low shrub, the branches white
with matted wool. Leaves green and glandular, spatulate,
entire, y2 to 1 in. long. Heads fully y2 in. high, without rays.
Akenes pubescent. ( H . macronema Gray. Macronema discoidea
Nutt.) — High ridges in loose soil; summit of Clouds Rest.
Often confused with Chrysothamnus bolanderi , but with broader
heads.
6. ERICAMERIA.
1. E. cuneata McCl. A low leafy shrub, glabrous but
resinous. Leaves thick, alternate, obovate, obtuse, entire,
only y to y2 in. long. Heads small, mostly in compact clus¬
ters, without rays. Akenes silky; pappus-bristles copious,
brown. — In cracks of rocks, blossoming in autumn.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
247
7. CHRYSOTHAMNUS.
1. C. nauseosus var. graveolens Piper. Rabbit-brush. A
white-woolly shrub, 2 to 5 ft. high. Leaves alternate, linear,
1-nerved, entire, to 2 in. long, sessile. Heads numerous,
small, without rays, the narrow involucre of yellowish imbri¬
cated bracts. Akenes cylindric, pubescent; pappus of soft
hairs, sordid. — A shrub of the desert borders, extending to
Yosemite Valley, Crane Creek, etc., in warm, sandy soil.
C. viscidiflorus var tortifolius Hall, may reach our eastern
borders. It is a low, rounded shrub, not woolly, the heads in
rounded, terminal clusters, the numerous green leaves wavy-
twisted.
C. bolanderi Greene, is a low, narrow-leaved shrub of the
eastern slope. Its stems are densely white-woolly, the nar¬
row, discoid heads in short, leafy racemes, and the involucral
bracts drawn to very slender tips.
8. HAZARDIA.
1. H. whitneyi Greene. A perennial herb, 1 or 2 ft. high,
leafy to the top. Leaves harsh, alternate, oblong, rigidly
toothed, 1 or 2 in. long, closely sessile. Heads few, fully 54
in. high, the involucre of acute overlapping bracts, the short
yellow rays and yellow disk both turning purplish. Akenes
glabrous; pappus reddish. — Almost throughout our district
but nowhere common.
9. LESSINGIA.
1. L. leptoclada Gray. A slender erect annual, 6 to 24 in.
high. Leaves woolly, alternate, narrowly oblong, the lower
ones tapering to the base, entire or few-toothed, 154 in. or
less long. Heads lilac, scarcely 54 in. long, mostly solitary on
nearly naked peduncles, the green-tipped bracts closely im¬
bricated. Flowers nearly alike. Pappus of rough bristles,
becoming reddish. — Abundant in low valleys. The small form
with only 3 to 5 flowers in a head is var. microcephala Gray.
10. CORETHROGYNE.
1. C. filaginifolia Nutt. Stems several, white-woolly, 154
to 3 ft. high, from a perennial base. Ledves densely woolly,
alternate, oblanceolate, obtuse, mostly entire, 1 to 254 in. long.
Heads 54 in. high, few, in a loose panicle, the erect bracts
closely imbricated. Rays purple; disk yellow. Akenes pu¬
bescent; disk-pappus of rigid reddish bristles. Rocky ledges
and walls below 5000 ft. alt., blooming late.
248 COMPOSITE FAMILY
11. SERICOCARPUS.
1. S. rigidus Lindl. Stems erect, 2 or 3 ft. high, perennial,
leafy throughout. Leaves rough, alternate, oblong, entire
(often wavy), 1 or 2 in. long. Heads in. high, in close ter¬
minal clusters, the bracts closely imbricated and with broad
green tips. Rays white, few, short. Akenes hairy; pappus
white. — A species of the Tahoe and more northern districts
but also found near Hetch Hetchy and reported from Yo-
semite Valley.
12. ASTER. Aster.
Ours all perennial herbs with alternate or basal leaves and
showy flowers. Involucre top-shaped to hemispheric, the
bracts imbricated in several ranks. Rays in 1 row, never
yellow; disk-flowers yellow. Style-branches flattened, with
acute appendages. Akenes flattened; pappus copious, of hair¬
like bristles. — A genus not well separated from Erigeron.
Leaves all basal, entire, the nearly naked stem bearing but
1 head . 1. A. andersonii.
Leaves scattered, the lower toothed; outer bracts recurved
at tip . 6. A. canescens.
Leaves scattered, entire; heads several to numerous;
bracts nearly straight.
Herbage glandular; leaves y2 to 2 in. wide . 2. A. integrifolius.
Herbage not glandular; leaves narrower.
Bracts of the involucre all loose and similar.
Plants slender, mostly 1 to 2 ft. high . 3. A. yosemitanus.
Plants rigid, mostly under 14 in. high., . 4. A. fremontii.
Bracts closely imbricated, the outer successively
shorter . 5. A. occidentalis.
1. A. andersonii Gray. Anderson Aster. Stem 6 to 18 in.
high, bearing a few reduced leaves. Basal leaves linear, en¬
tire, 2 to 7 in. long. Head solitary, terminal, 1 in. across;
bracts nearly equal, acute, reddish-margined. Rays purple.
In the Eagle Peak Meadows and in similar places above the
Yellow Pine Belt we find this Aster raising its beautiful, pur¬
ple heads above the grasses and other low plants. Its own
leaves imitate those of grass in appearance but are all borne
near the ground, the solitary head being on a nearly naked
stalk.
2. A. integrifolius Nutt. A coarse rigid plant, the reddish
leafy stems bearing racemes or panicles of large heads.
Leaves entire, large (2 to 10 in. long, to 2 in. wide), the
lower petioled, upper sessile and clasping. Heads nearly 1
in. across; bracts green, linear. Rays 15 to 25, bluish purple.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
249
— Chilnualna Creek, Yosemite Valley (and Hetch Hetchy ?)
to Tuolumne Meadows.
3. A. yosemitanus Greene. Yosemite Aster. Stems very
slender and leafy up to the numerous heads, 1 to 2 ft. high
(sometimes dwarfed). Leaves ascending, entire, linear, acute,
2 to 4 in. long, closely sessile. Heads in leafy panicles, to
Va in- wide; bracts nearly equal, with flat green slender-
pointed tips. Rays violet.
“Summit to Yosemite Valley” was the range first given for
this Aster, and the phrase still nearly expresses our knowl¬
edge of its distribution. The summit referred to is above
Donner Lake. It is also rather common around the south
end of Lake Tahoe. In the Yosemite Valley we find it grow¬
ing in the drier meadows, where it is not rare in half-shady
places. The stems are leafy, especially toward the top, the
soft leaves standing nearly erect.
A. adscendens Lindl., from which our species was segre¬
gated, is a comparatively stiff, rigid plant, with thick leaves
and firmer bracts decidedly imbricated. It belongs to
more northern and eastern districts, probably not occur¬
ring in the Yosemite National Park.
4. A. fremontii Gray. Stems less slender than in no. 3,
rigid and stiffly erect, seldom over 14 in. high. Leaves entire,
the lower oblong or oblanceolate, 1 to 3 in. long, sessile.
Heads in small panicles with reduced leaves; bracts loose,
nearly equal, acute but not drawn to fine tips. Rays violet. —
Occurs with A. yosemitanus but also ranges to higher altitudes.
First collected in the Rocky Mts.
5. A. occidentals Nutt. Like no. 4 and with similarly
stiff erect and usually short stems but the leaves narrower,
even the lower only narrowly oblong; bracts plainly imbri¬
cated, of 2 or 3 lengths, merely acute. — Yosemite Valley to
Lake Tahoe and Washington.
6. A. canescens Pursh. Stems 1 or 2 ft. high, erect, finely
pubescent, also glandular above. Leaves linear or oblanceo¬
late, the lower toothed and 1 or 2 in. long. Heads to
in. wide, in panicles with linear leaves; bracts very unequal,
the outer ones shorter and with spreading or recurved tips.
Rays few, bluish purple. — A widely distributed Aster, found
on Rancheria Mt.
A. frondosus T. & G., is a small species with obtuse, leaf¬
like involucral bracts, very short rays, and an abundant, soft
pappus. It may be expected along our eastern borders and
toward Lake Tahoe.
250
COMPOSITE FAMILY
13. ERIGERON. Fleabane.
Technically distinguished from Aster only by the triangular
obtuse style-appendages, but usually also differs as follows :
involucral bracts narrow, little imbricated, without green tips;
rays very narrow, more numerous, in several rows; pappus
more scanty and fragile.
Leaves clustered at base; heads solitary on nearly
naked peduncles.
Stems 6 in. or less high (rarely 9 in.); leaves short-
hairy.
Leaves parted . 1. E. compositus.
Leaves entire.
Leaves spatulate . 2. E. ursinus.
Leaves linear . 3. E. nevadensis.
Stems 9 to 24 in. high; leaves nearly glabrous . 4. E. salsuginosus.
Leaves numerous along the flowering stems.
Rays blue or violet (rarely whitish in no. 10), showy.
Pappus a single series of bristles.
Leaves smooth, long . 4. E. salsuginosus.
Leaves rough, short.
Plant tall; leaves to 1J4 in. long . 5. E. brezueri.
Plant low, weak; leaves shorter . 6. E. elmeri.
Pappus double, the outer series very short.
Perennial . 9. E. concinnus.
Annual . 10. E. divergens.
Rays white or pink or entirely wanting.
Heads entirely rayless.
Stems low, gray-hairy .
Stems tall, nearly glabrous .
Heads with many showy white rays.
Heads 1 to 4, large .
Heads many, small .
Heads with many small rays.
Low plant; heads in. across...
Tall plant; heads not % in. across
7. E. miser.
8. E. inornatus.
11. E. coulteri.
.12. E. ramosus.
.13. E. armeriaefolius.
.14. E. canadensis.
1. E. compositus Pursh. Leaves crowded on the short
thick perennial stalks, forming dense mats, the blade short,
mostly with 1 to 3 lobes at the enlarged summit. Heads
to 1 in. across, solitary on the nearly naked erect peduncles
which spring from the leafy mat and are only x/2 to 6 in. high.
Rays 40 to 60, light-purple or violet (entirely wanting in the
otherwise identical var. discoidca Gray).
This compact little perennial, immediately known by its
peculiar leaves cut only at summit, is at home among the
granite peaks of our highest mountains, often growing near
banks of perpetual snow. It is not found until one has
ascended nearly to timber-line, when its purplish flowers may
be looked for in the crevices of rocks and in decomposed
granite. Such situations are plentiful in our Alpine Zone, a
COMPOSITE FAMILY
251
region of great attraction for the botanist and mountain
climber, as is indicated by the illustration. The closely
huddled leaves and low stature of this species are doubtless
the result of insufficient heat during the growing period, and
especially at night, when plants ordinarily make their greatest
growth. This condensed habit protects many an Alpine
plant from the sudden changes in temperature to which it is
subjected.
2. E. ursinus Eat. Stems several from the stout root¬
stocks, 9 in. or less high, with a few reduced leaves and a
solitary terminal head. Leaves clustered at base, spatulate,
pubescent. Head naked, 1 in. across; involucre glandular and
long-hairy. Rays about 50, purple. — Near and above timber-
line on Clouds Rest, Mt. Dana, Mt. Lyell, Mt. Conness, etc.
3. E„ nevadensis var. pygmaeus Gray. Similar to E. ur¬
sinus but leaves gray-pubescent and very narrow (linear),
often much crowded, the smaller head on a stem only $4 to 3
in. high. — Crest of the Sierra Nevada from Mt. Whitney to
Tahoe. Occurs in Bloody Canon and at 12,200 ft. on Mt.
Dana. Specimens from Rancheria Mt., 5 in. high, the leaves
2 in. long, approach typical E. nevadensis.
4. E. salsugindsus Gray. Stems 9 in. to 2 ft. high, the
leaves much smaller toward the solitary or few long-
peduncled heads. Lower leaves oblanceolate, obtuse, 3 to
8 in. long, glabrous except the margins. Heads 1*4 in. or
more across. Rays violet, J/2 in. long'* about 50 to 70.
This is the most showy and abundant Erigeron in the higher
mountains, where it grows in moist places along streams and
around lakes and meadows. A small form with very narrow
leaves is the var. angustif olius Gray.
5. E. breweri Gray. Stems brittle, erect, 6 to 18 in. high,
from creeping rootstocks, bearing solitary or few heads on
curved peduncles. Leaves linear, or narrowly oblanceolate,
14 to 1% in. long, rough with short stiff spreading hairs.
Heads scarcely 1 in. across; involucre nearly glabrous, outer
bracts successively shorter. Rays only 10 to 25, violet.
Yosemite Valley, Cherry Creek, etc., to Tuolumne Meadows;
common.
6. E. elmeri Greene. Stems many, weak and spreading,
3 to 9 in. long, leafy, bearing solitary or few heads. Leaves
linear, yA in. or less long, green, rough-hairy. Heads ?4 m.
across, the bracts unequal. Rays 10 to 30, violet. Pappus
indistinctly if at all double.
This beautiful and graceful Erigeron was first described
COMPOSITE FAMILY
252
from specimens gathered in the “Grand Canon of the Tu¬
olumne River, California, in the summer of 1890, by Messrs.
Victor Chesnut and Elmer Drew” and was named in honor
of the latter. It is now found to be rather common on rocky
ledges around Yosemite Valley and occurs as far southward
as Mineral King, Tulare Co.
7. E. miser Gray. Stems loose, spreading, 3 to 9 in. high.
Leaves spatulate, 24 in. or less long, densely gray-pubescent.
Heads y2 in. across, without rays, the involucre minutely
glandular. — Donner Lake, perhaps extending to our northern
borders.
8. E. inornatus Gray. Stems stiffly erect, 12 to 24 in. high,
bearing 5 to 30 peduncled heads in a terminal cluster. Leaves
broadly linear, 1 or 2 in. long, green, nearly glabrous. Heads
x/2 in. across, with unequal bracts and no rays. — Tioga Road
and elsewhere in the Yellow Pine Belt.
9. E. concmnus T. & G. Stems numerous, erect, 12 in. or
less high. Leaves linear-spatulate, acute, 24 to \y2 in. long,
gray with long spreading hairs. Heads 24 in* across. Rays
very numerous, violet or blue. Pappus of the usual bristles
and an additional outer series of short narrow scales. — Desert
borders, reaching Bloody Canon. There is a var. aphanactis
Gray, without rays.
10. E. divergens T. & G. Stems many, from an annual tap¬
root, 6 to 18 in. high, bearing numerous heads. Leaves linear
or spatulate, y2 to 1 in. long, pale, rough-hairy. Heads about
24 in. across; involucre white-hairy. Rays very numerous,
narrow, violet or whitish. Outer pappus of short slender
scales. — Hetch Hetchy Valley.
11. E. coulteri Porter. Stems few, erect, 9 to 18 in. high,
from perennial rootstocks, bearing 1 to 4 heads. Lower leaves
oblanceolate, 2 to 4 in. long, often toothed; middle ones
oblong or lanceolate, with clasping base; all thin, green, and
obscurely pubescent. Heads iy in* across. Rays 50 to 80,
white, y2 in. long. ( E . frondosus Greene.)
The pure-white rays of this Erigeron, surrounding the yel¬
low disk, add a cheerful tone to many a shaded stream bank
and sub-alpine meadow. The bright-green foliage is softer
and more pleasing than in most other species. It ranges
throughout the Sierra Nevada from about 6000 to 10,000 ft. alt.
12. E. ramosus B.S.P. Daisy Fleabane. Stems erect,
1 y2 to 3 ft. high, from an annual root, bearing usually numer¬
ous heads. Leaves spatulate or oblong, mostly entire, rough-
hairy; the lower 2 to 4 in. long (including the petiole); upper
COMPOSITE FAMILY
253
lanceolate, sessile. Heads ^ to 1 in. across. Rays over 100,
white, scarcely % in. long. Pappus double. — Occurs on low,
moist ground, but more common in the eastern states.
E. philadelphicus L., is a similar species of the foothills;
flowers larger, pink; pappus simple.
13. E. armeriaefolius Turcz. Stems erect, 3 to 15 in. high,
from a biennial root. Leaves elongated, linear, 1 to 5 in. long,
pale, glabrous or with a few long loose hairs. Heads in.
across; bracts mostly equal. Rays whitish, abundant but very
short and thread-like. — Tuolumne and other high meadows.
Perhaps also in Yosemite Valley.
14. E. canadensis L. Horseweed. Stem simple, erect, 2 to
6 ft. high, from an annual root. Leaves linear to lanceolate,
2 to 3 in. long, green, glabrous or with a few hairs. Heads
scarcely Bt in. across, with unequal bracts and many minute
white rays but apparently discoid. — A common weed in Cali¬
fornia, rarely reaching 4000 ft. alt. in the mountains.
14. PSILOCARPHUS.
1. P. tenellus Nutt. A small forked woolly annual, only 1
in. or less high. Leaves opposite, narrow, % to ^ in. long,
the upper ones exceeding the sessile heads. Outer flowers
enclosed each in a loose sac-like bract; inner flowers without
bracts. Pappus none. — Yosemite Falls to the foothills.
Filago californica Nutt., may appear along our lower bor¬
ders. It is a slender, erect, woolly annual, only the inner
flowers of each head pappus-bearing.
15. ANTENNARIA.
Perennial woolly herbs with alternate sessile entire leaves
(chiefly basal). Heads small, without rays, the bracts papery
and imbricated. Pistil-bearing and stamen-bearing flowers
borne on separate plants, the former with pappus-bristles
united at base, the latter with pappus-bristles thickened at tip.
1. A. argentea Benth. A leafy-stemmed perennial, 9 to 18
in. high. Lower leaves spatulate, 1 or 2 in. long, l/l to J/2 in.
wide, upper ones narrower. Heads in. high, numerous, in
rounded terminal clusters, the bracts greenish white. — In open
forests at low altitudes; common from Wawona to Hetch
Hetchy Valley.
2. A. media Greene. A matted perennial, 2 or 3 in. high.
Leaves spatulate, acute, % to y in. long. Heads in small
dense terminal clusters, the bracts green but with lighter tips.
— Abundant near timber-line and above.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
254
3. A. rosea Greene. Larger than no. 2, the flowering stems
4 to 12 in. high, the leaves y2 to V/2 in. long, less than % in.
wide. Bracts white, or more commonly bright rose. — Forms
white mats at many places up to about 9000 ft. alt. Var.
angnstifolia Nels., described from “Yosemite Valley,” is a low
plant with small leaves and close heads. Var. imbricata Nels.,
is a meadow form with broad, obtuse leaves and more imbri¬
cated bracts.
16. ANAPHALIS. Everlasting.
1. A. margaritacea B. & H. Perennial, 1 or 2 ft. high, upper
surface of leaves becoming green, otherwise permanently^
woolly. Leaves alternate, numerous, lanceolate, 2 to 2y2 in.
long. Heads in rounded terminal clusters, the bracts pearly
white. Pappus of bristles. — Common in pine forests. Leaves
broader and firmer than in our Gnaphaliums and the bracts
whiter; technically distinguished from that genus only by the
sterility of the few central flowers in the female plant.
17. GNAPHALIUM. Cudweed. Everlasting.
Woolly herbs with alternate sessile entire leaves. Heads
small, pale, without rays, their bracts papery and imbricated.
Outer flowers pistillate, central flowers perfect. Pappus of
bristles.
1. G. palustre Nutt. Lowland Cudweed. Annual, 1 to 6 in.
high, loosely woolly. Leaves mostly spatulate, ^ to 1 in.
long. Heads in small dense terminal clusters, nearly hidden
by the wool, the thin bracts greenish at base. — On low
ground.
2. G. decurrens var. californicum Gray. California Ever¬
lasting. Biennial, stout, 1 to 2 ft. high, soon becoming green
and glandular and then balsamic-scented. Leaves lanceolate,
2 to 4 in. long. Heads in close terminal clusters, woolly only
at base, the bracts white. — Moist places at moderate altitudes.
3. G. microcephalum Nutt Small-headed Everlasting.
Annual or biennial, slender, 9 to 18 in. high, permanently
white-woolly. Leaves linear, 1 or 2 in. long. Pleads very
small, in small clusters of an open panicle, not woolly, the
bracts pure white. — Common in dry soil; foothills to Yo¬
semite Valley, etc.
4. G. chilense var. confertifolium Greene. Annual or bien¬
nial, stout, erect, mostly unbranched, 1 or 2 ft. high, perma¬
nently white-woolly. Leaves linear, 1 or 2 in. long, numerous
up to the compact rounded terminal cluster of heads. Bracts
COMPOSITE FAMILY 255
greenish yellow, woolly only at base. — Common at some
places, as near the Hog Ranch.
18. ADENOCAULON.
1. A. bicolor Hook. Perennial, 1 to 3 ft. high, with a few
large leaves, above which the glandular naked stems are freely
branched. Leaves alternate, triangular, coarsely lobed, 2 to 5
in. across, green above, white beneath with matted hairs.
Heads very small, dull white, the mature akenes much ex¬
ceeding the involucre. — Shady, moist places throughout the
pine belt.
19. RUDBECKIA. Coneflower.
Tall herbs with alternate leaves. Heads large, sunflower¬
like, the disk conical and brown or purplish, the rays yellow.
Akenes 4-angled or flattish.
1. R. californica Gray. California Coneflower. Erect and
leafy, 2 to 4 ft. high, with a single terminal head on a long
smooth peduncle. Leaves entire or toothed, 4 to 12 in. long,
1 to 5 in. wide, rough-hairy. Rays yellow; disk becoming ele¬
vated, conical, and 1 or 2 in. high. Akenes flattish; pappus a
4-cleft crown. — Occasional in the Sierra Nevada. Found in
the Mariposa Grove and at Crane Flat.
2. R. hirta L. Black-eyed Susan. Yellow Daisy. An
erect leafy plant, 1*4 to 4 ft. high, with usually several heads
on very rough peduncles. Leaves nearly entire, 2 to 4 in.
long, less than 1 in. wide, rough-hairy, the upper ones oblong
or lanceolate. Rays orange-yellow; disk becoming conical
but not over ^4 in. high. Akenes angled; pappus none. —
Native of the Mississippi Valley but becoming common in the
meadows of Yosemite Valley, where introduced; very orna¬
mental in July and August.
20. BALSAMORHIZA. Balsam Root.
Low perennials with thick roots and a tuft of basal leaves.
Pleads few, on nearly naked peduncles from the base, the
bracts nearly equal. Rays yellow. Akenes without pappus,
those of the disk 4-sided.
1. B. sagittata Nutt. Leaves gray, silvery-pubescent, ob¬
long or narrowly ovate, the base heart-shaped, mostly entire,
4 to 9 in. long, 2 to 5 in. broad, long-pctioled. Flowering
stems 1 or 2 ft. high, bearing a few small and narrow leaves
and usually a solitary head. Involucre white-woolly. Rays
1 or 2 in. long, yellow.— Common in dry places.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
256
2. B. deltoidea Nutt. Like no. 1 but leaves green and
rough and the involucre only slightly woolly. Stem-leaves
(1 or 2 in. long) lanceolate. — With no. 1 but less common.
3. B. hookeri Nutt. Leaf-blades 5 to 10 in. long, pinnately
parted into many narrow lobes, gray-pubescent. Heads soli¬
tary on naked peduncles from the root. — In the lower part of
the pine belt, as at Big Meadows.
21. WYETHIA.
Perennial herbs with thick roots and large entire alternate
leaves. Heads few, large, on leafy stems. Rays and disk
yellow. Akenes 4-sided, with persistent pappus of unequal
scales or awns.
1. W. mollis Gray. Plant white with soft wool, 1 to 3 ft.
high. Leaves oblong and ovate, 6 to 15 in. long, 2 to 9 in.
wide, petioled. Involucre about 1 in. high, soft-woolly. Rays
yellow, 1 in. or more long. — Dry places almost throughout our
district.
2. W. angustifolia var. foliosa Hall. Plant green, rough-
hairy, 1 or 2 ft. high. Leaves lanceolate, 4 to 12 in. long, y2
to 2 in. wide. Involucre about ^ in- high, stiff-hairy. Rays
yellow, about 1 in. long. ( W . foliosa Congdon.) — Common in
the Yellow Pine Belt.
3. W. elata Hall. Plant gray with soft hairs but not woolly,
2 to 4 ft. high, from rootstocks. Leaves ovate, acute, the base
broad, 4 to 7 in. long, \l/2 to 4 in. wide, all petioled. Involucre
soft-pubescent ; bracts ovate, the outer leaf-like. Rays yellow,
20 or more, 1 or 2 in. long. Pappus a scaly toothed crown.
(W. ovata Gray. Not W. ovata T. & G.)
This rare species was first collected on “dry hillsides at
Clark’s, Mariposa Co.” by H. N. Bolander. It also grows
along the Pohono trail and at Darrah.
22. HELIANTHUS. Sunflower.
Coarse rough herbs with leafy stems, the leaves alternate
(or the lower opposite). Rays yellow; disk purplish, flat.
Akenes thick, 4-sided, bearing pappus-scales at the angles.
1. H. annuus L. Common Sunflower. An erect annual,
2 to 10 ft. high, the stems rough. Leaves petioled, 4 to 10
in. long, broad-ovate, toothed, or the uppermost narrow and
entire. Heads 2y2 to 5 in. across (including rays); bracts
ovate, slenderly tipped, hairy on the edges. — In fields near the
settlements.
COMPOSITE FAMILY 257
2. H. exilis Gray. Annual, erect, 1 or 2 ft. high. Leaves
1 to 3 in. long, lanceolate, sparingly toothed, tapering to the
petioles. Heads 1 to 2j/-> in. across, the bracts hairy on back
and edges. Bracts of disk each with an awn longer than the
flowers.— Yosemite Valley, Hog Ranch, etc.
3. H. californicus var. mariposianus Gray. Perennial, 3 to
8 ft. high, the stems very smooth. Leaves ovate or lanceolate,
entire, 4 to 10 in. long, 3 in. or less wide. Bracts of the
Involucre linear-lanceolate. Rays, etc., similar to no. 1.—
Yosemite Valley, Wawona.
23. HELIANTHELLA.
1. H. californica Gray. Root perennial, crowned with tufts
of leaves and several slender few-leaved stems each termin¬
ated by a solitary head (heads rarely 2 or 3). Leaves lanceo¬
late, entire, tapering to each end, 4 to 10 in. long, x/2 to ll/2 in.
broad, nearly glabrous. Heads about \l/2 in. across including
the many yellow rays, the disk also yellow; outer bracts leaf¬
like. Akenes flat, glabrous, the pappus obscure. — Abundant
around Wawona and along the foothills.
24. MADIA. Tarweed.
Erect herbs with alternate entire leaves and yellow flowers.
Involucre angled by the sharply folded bracts, each of which
completely enfolds its ray-akene, the tip free. Ray-akenes
laterally compressed, with narrow backs, fertile; disk-akenes
sterile.
1. M. yosemitana Parry. Yosemite Madia. A delicate an¬
nual, 3 to 12 in. high, hairy and glandular. Leaves linear, x/2
to 1 in. long. Heads very small, on long peduncles. Rays 5
to 10, minute, yellow. Pappus of ray-flowers a minute crown;
pappus of disk-flowers of about 5 long bristles. — Common in
moist places around Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy valleys,
extending to 6500 ft. alt. The type specimens were gathered
by Dr. C. C. Parry in June, 1881, “in damp moss at the foot
of the Upper Yosemite Fall.”
2. M. bolanderi Gray. Stout, \]/2 to 4 ft. high, hairy and
very glandular. Leaves linear, 5 to 10 in. long, grass-like.
Heads large, x/z in. across exclusive of the 12 to 18 yellow rays.
Pappus of conspicuous scales (in disk-flowers). — Little Yo¬
semite Valley and the Mariposa Grove.
3. M. elegans Don. Common Madia. Plant 6 to 18 in.
high, glandular above and white-hairy. Leaves linear, 1 to 4
COMPOSITE FAMILY
258
in. long. Heads scattered, on distinct peduncles. Rays 12 to
15, about x/2 in. long, yellow, or with a red spot at base.
Pappus none. — Abundant at moderate altitudes. The yellow
heads with a central dark eye are very ornamental.
4. M. glomerata Plook. Erect, usually simple, 4 to 18 in.
high, soft-hairy. Leaves linear, erect. Heads clustered, on
very short peduncles, yellowish green and glandular. Rays
greenish, few or entirely wanting. Pappus none. — Found near
Snow Creek at 6600 ft. alt.
5. M. exfgua Greene. Slender, 4 to 8 in. high, glandular
and sweet-scented. Leaves linear, 1 in. or less long. Heads
scattered, on naked peduncles, small. Rays minute, yellow;
disk-flower solitary, without pappus. — Plentiful throughout
the Sierra Nevada.
M. dissitiflora T. & G., is a foothill weed with scattered
heads on short peduncles, small yellowish rays, 5 to 20 disk-
flowers, and no pappus.
25. HEMIZONELLA.
1. H. minima Gray. Only 2 or 3 in. high, branched, stiff-
hairy. Leaves linear, entire, not L2 in. long. Heads nearly
sessile, in small dense clusters, scarcely % in. high; bracts
folded for their whole length. Rays minute, yellow. Pappus
none. In var. parvula Llall, the earliest heads are slender-
peduncled, the stems sometimes 6 in. high, and the ray-akenes
tipped with a short incurved beak. — Both forms occur with us.
26. HEMIZONIA. Tarweed.
Differs from Madia in the obcompressed ray-akenes, which
are therefore thick and with broad backs and are not com¬
pletely enclosed in their bracts, the upper portion of which
is flat.
1. H. wrightii Gray. Commonly 1 ft. high, widely
branched above, glandular and sweet-scented. Lower leaves
toothed. Heads numerous, on bracted peduncles. Rays
mostly 5, yellow, showy. Ray-akenes rough, beaked ; disk-
akenes with pappus of torn scales. — Plains and foothills,
reaching the lower end of Yosemite Valley.
2. H. douglasii Gray. Stems 1 or 2 ft. high, rarely
branched, soft-pubescent. Leaves narrowly linear, entire.
Heads sessile, clustered in all the upper leaf-axils, the bracts
marked with peculiar tack-shaped glands. Rays few, white
purplish or yellow, deeply 3-lobed. Pappus of disk-flowers of
10 or 12 linear-lanceolate scales as long as corolla. — A foot-
COMPOSITE FAMILY
259
hill species, reaching Crockers, Wawona, and the west end
of the Pohono trail. H. mollis Gray, a similar species but
soft-hairy and the heads in peduncled clusters, has been
reported from Yosemite Valley. It is common in the foot¬
hills.
27. WHITNEYA.
1. W. dealbata Gray. A white-leaved perennial, 9 to 18 in.
Jiigh. Leaves opposite, oblanceolate to obovate, entire, ll/2 to
3 in. long, soft with silvery hairs. Heads long-peduncled,
showy, the yellow rays % to 1 in. long and becoming papery.
Pappus none. — A rare plant, found on Cherry Creek, near the
Yosemite Valley, and at the Mariposa Grove.
28. ERIOPHYLLUM.
Our species white-woolly plants with yellow radiate heads.
Involucre with rigid, erect bracts. Akenes linear.
1. E. confertiflorum DC. A bushy perennial, woody below,
9 to 18 in. high, the small heads in compact clusters termin¬
ating erect stems. Leaves $4 to 1 in. long, with 3 to 7 narrow
lobes. Rays in. long. Pappus of 8 to 10 short scales. —
Occasional below 6500 ft., on warm, rocky slopes.
2. E. lanatum Forbes. A low spreading perennial herb
(under 12 in.) with many solitary naked heads on long erect
peduncles. Leaves narrowly spatulate to obovate, 1 in. or less
long, entire or lobed. Rays about Y in. long. Pappus of short
scales. — Crockers and Sentinel Dome to the crest of the
Sierra Nevada, occurring in a variety of forms which have
not yet been properly named by the botanist ( E . caespitosum
var. leucocephalum Gray, and var. integrifolium Gray).
3. E. nubigenum Greene. A low annual, 2 to 6 in. high,
with erect short-peduncled heads among the upper leaves.
Leaves lanceolate-spatulate, Y to Y in • long* entire. Rays
scarcely %. in. long, yellow. Pappus of about 10 narrow scales
one-third the length of the akene. — Known only from Clouds
Rest, at about 9000 ft. alt., where first collected by Mrs.
Katharine Brandegee.
29. RIGIOPAPPUS.
1. R. leptocladus Gray. A slender erect annual, 1 ft. or
less high, with scattered heads (Y in. high). Leaves alter¬
nate, linear. Rays very short. Akenes linear, with a pappus
of 3 to 5 sharp rigid awns. — Foothills, reaching 4000 ft. alt. on
the South Fork of the Tuolumne.
26o
COMPOSITE FAMILY
30. CHAENACTIS.
Our species have alternate lobed leaves and erect heads
without rays, the bracts erect and equal. Pappus of thin
white scales.
1. C. glabriuscula DC. Annual, 1 or 2 ft. high, at first
woolly but soon smooth and green. Heads fully y2 in. high,
solitary on the long naked peduncles. Flowers yellow, the
outer ones enlarged. Pappus-scales acute. — Foothills up to
4000 ft. (Yosemite Valley).
2. C. douglasii H. & A. Annual or biennial, 1 or 2 ft. high,
rather permanently white-woolly. Leaves with numerous
small lobes. Heads many, short-peduncled. Flowers flesh-
color, the outer corollas not enlarged. Pappus-scales obtuse.
— Dry forests almost throughout the mountains.
3. C. nevadensis Gray. Prostrate, woolly, 6 in. or less
high. Heads few, solitary. Flowers flesh-color. Pappus-
scales obtuse. — Mono Pass, Pyramid Peak, etc.
31. HULSEA.
Biennial and perennial herbs with alternate sessile leaves.
Heads yellow or purple, not small. Bracts narrow, acute,
nearly equal. Akenes flattish, soft-hairy, with 4 short pappus-
scales.
1. H. heterochroma Gray. Robust, ll/2 to 5 ft. high, very
sticky and of disagreeable odor. Leaves oblong, coarsely
toothed. Heads 34 high* the 40 to 60 rays saffron-color
and scarcely exceeding the bracts. — On gravelly slopes above
Mirror Lake. Yosemite Valley is the type locality of this
species. It ranges to southern California.
2. H. brevifolia Gray. Stems l/2 to 2 ft. high, glandular.
Leaves narrowly oblong, toothed, 1 or 2 in. long. Heads
nearly 1 in. high, including the 10 to 20 showy yellow rays. —
Mariposa Grove (type locality) to Clouds Rest, Mt. Watkins,
and Indian Creek; also on slopes above Mirror Lake.
3. H. algida Gray. Perennial, stout, 1 ft. or less high,
glandular and the heads very woolly. Leaves narrowly ob¬
long, toothed, 2 to 4 in. long. Heads solitary, terminating
the stems, 1 in. high, including the many yellow rays. — Above
timber-line on Mt. Dana (type locality) and other high peaks
throughout the Sierra Nevada.
32. HELENIUM. Sneezeweed.
Erect herbs, ours perennial with alternate entire leaves, the
COMPOSITE FAMILY 26l
upper sessile. Heads showy. Akenes top-shaped, ribbed,
with 5 to 12 thin pappus-scales.
1. H. bigeldvii Gray. Bigelow Sneezeweed. Nearly gla¬
brous, branching and sparsely leafy above. Leaves green,
lanceolate, 4 to 10 in. long, in. or less wide, continued down
the stem as wings. Rays yellow, drooping over the reflexed
bracts, to 24 in. long; disk brown, globose, to 24 in.
across. Akenes hairy. — In meadows and along streams at
moderate altitudes.
2. H. hoopesii Gray. White-woolly when young, branch¬
ing and leafy to the top. Leaves pale, oblong, the lower
tapering to the base, entire, 2 to 6 or 10 in. long. Rays yel¬
low, about 1 in. long, spreading; disk yellow, globose, 24 t°
1 in. across. Akenes silky. — Near timber-line only.
33. ANTHEMIS. Camomile.
1. A. cotula L. Mayweed. A leafy annual, 6 in. to 2 ft.
high, nearly glabrous. Leaves alternate, dissected into
numerous linear lobes. Heads in. across, long-peduncled,
the yellow disk and white rays showy. Akenes glabrous but
rough, without pappus. — An introduced weed in waste places.
34. ACHILLAEA. Yarrow. Milfoil.
1. A. millefolium var. lanulosa Piper. Perennial from root¬
stocks, not woody, the simple leafy stems 1 to 3 ft. high,
loosely gray-pubescent. Leaves alternate, finely cut into
many small lobes. Heads J4 in- high, in flat-topped terminal
clusters, with 4 to 6 white or pink rays; involucre of closely
overlapping scales. Akenes linear, without pappus. — Abun¬
dant throughout the mountains.
35. MATRICARIA.
1. M. suaveolens Buch. A glabrous leafy annual, 4 to 12
in. high. Leaves alternate, finely dissected. Heads short-
peduncled, with greenish disk and no rays. (M. discoidea
DC.) — May be expected as an introduced weed.
36. ARTEMI'SIA. Wormwood.
Herbs and shrubs, mostly bitter and aromatic, with alter¬
nate leaves. Heads small, without rays, the tubular flowers
yellow or purplish, not showy. Akenes glabrous, without
pappus.
Plant herbaceous, or hardly woody at the base.
Leaves green and glabrous, linear, entire . 1. A. dracunculoides.
Leaves soft-hairy, parted into many narrow lobes... 2. A. norvegica.
262
COMPOSITE FAMILY
Leaves white-woolly beneath.
Upper surface of leaves also woolly . 3. A. ludoviciana.
Upper surface green . 4. A. heterophylla.
Plant shrubby, the stems woody.
Leaves mostly 3-lobed at summit . 5. A. tridentata.
Leaves mostly entire . 6. A. rothrockii.
1. A. dracunculoides Pursh. A green and glabrous per¬
ennial herb (not woody), 2 to 5 ft. high, with many erect
leafy stems. Leaves linear, 1 to 4 in. long, mostly entire.
Heads many, in panicles. — Widely distributed in North
America; common in all of our valleys.
2. A. norvegica Fries. A soft-hairy herbaceous perennial
with a thick root and numerous erect leafy stalks to 2 ft.
high. Leaves 2 to 6 in. long, including the petiole, parted into
many linear or lanceolate lobes. Heads (over in. across)
many-flowered, long-peduncled, numerous, in a loose terminal
cluster 6 to 12 in. long, the bracts with broad brown margins.
— Grows only at high altitudes, as near the head of Indian
Canon, but ranges from Tulare Co. to Pyramid Peak and the
far north, extending even to northern Europe.
3. A. ludoviciana Nutt. A white-pubescent perennial,
slightly woody at base, the leafy stems 1 to 4 ft. high, from
rootstocks. Leaves lanceolate or oblanceolate, coarsely
toothed or parted into acute lobes (the upper ones narrow
and entire), V/2 to 4 in. long, permanently white-woolly on
both sides. Heads in panicles. — Widely distributed at moder¬
ate altitudes.
4. A. heterophylla Nutt. Like no. 2 but leaves mostly
broader, less toothed, and green above. — Found in similar
localities.
5. A. tridentata Nutt. Sagebrush. An erect much-
branched shrub with distinct trunk and shreddy bark, the
leaves and twigs gray-woolly throughout. Leaves wedge-
shaped, the broad summit with 3 or 4 teeth (the uppermost
ones linear and entire), 54 to 1^4 in. long. Heads in loose
panicles, 5 to 8-flowered. — The dominant shrub of the Great
Basin, occurring with us in dry, rocky places from the lower
slopes up to at least 9500 ft. alt.
6. A. rothrockii Gray. A low shrub, resembling the com¬
mon Sagebrush but the leaves mostly entire, the others
3-lobed at summit; heads larger, more globose, 9 to 14-
flowered, the yellowish-green bracts ovate or oval. — High
Sierra Nevada, chiefly on the desert side; occurs at Mono
Pass and Mt. Dana; also reported from Crescent Lake.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
263
37. RAILLARDELLA.
Perennial herbs with narrow entire leaves chiefly basal.
Heads solitary, yellow. Akenes linear, pubescent, with 12 to
25 white feathery pappus-bristles.
1. R. argentea Gray. A compact Alpine plant with narrow
silvery-hairy leaves J4 to 2 in. long. Heads J/2 or ^ in. high,
without rays, on simple naked stalks 4 in. or less long. — Plen¬
tiful above timber-line.
2. R. scaposa Gray. A matted plant, hairy when young
but not silvery. Leaves green, linear, 1 to 4 in. long. Heads
^ to 1 in. high, rarely with 1 to 3 rays, on simple naked
stalks 4 to 10 in. high. — Occasional from 6000 to 10,000 ft. alt.
38. ARNICA. Arnica.
Erect perennial herbs with large yellow heads, these mostly
long-peduncled. Involucre of equal broadish bracts. Pappus
of many white or brownish rough bristles.
Lower leaves with broad mostly heart-shaped base.
Rays none . 1. A. discoidea.
Rays large
Stems nearly naked above . 2. A. cordifolia.
Stems leafy above . 3. A . lati folia.
Lower leaves narrowed to the base.
Stems leafy to the top.
Plant not woolly; leaves 1-nerved from the base.
Leaves oblong-lanceolate to ovate, not taper-
pointed.
Leaves sharply toothed . 4. A. amplexicaulis.
Leaves entire or nearly so . 5. A. chamissonis.
Leaves narrowly lanceolate, taper-pointed . 6. A. longifolia.
Plant woolly; leaves 3-nerved from base . 7. A. foliosa.
Stems less leafy; heads 1 to 3, large . 8. A. nevadensis.
1. A. discoidea Benth. Leafy only toward the base, 1 or
2 ft. high, glandular and hairy. Leaves ovate, base usually
heart-shaped, toothed, 2 to 4 in. long, \]/2 to 2 Li in. broad, on
petioles 1 in. or more long, upper leaves very small. Heads
several, without rays, about in. high. — Moderate altitudes;
rather common around Yosemite Valley.
2. A. cordifolia Llook. More leafy but upper leaves small,
almost woolly above, the solitary or few heads with showy,
yellow rays. — Rare in the Sierra Nevada: Yosemite cliffs;
McClure Fork at 9500 ft. alt.
3. A. latifolia var. viscidula Gray. Leafy almost through¬
out, 1 or 2 ft. high, the stems rough with short hairs or be¬
coming glabrous, glandular above. Leaves ovate, the lower
COMPOSITE FAMILY
264
with broad base and winged petiole, the upper ones sessile,
toothed, 2 to 4 in. long. Heads several, with showy yellow
rays. Akenes pubescent. — Middle altitudes, as near Vernal
Falls.
4. A. amplexicaulis Nutt. Plant 1 or 2 ft. high, nearly gla¬
brous. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, all but the lowest
sessile by a clasping base, sharply and deeply toothed, 2 to 4
in. long, 24 to in* broad. Heads few, with rays. Akenes
hairy. — Moist places from Tulare Co. north but not yet found
in the Yosemite National Park.
5. A. chamissdnis Less. Similar to no. 4 but more pu¬
bescent; leaves often ovate and obtuse, only the uppermost
sessile, less deeply toothed, or entire. — Tenaya Trail, rare;
common from Tahoe north. True A. chamissonis is a narrow¬
leaved plant of the far North. Our form, which may be a
distinct species, has been named A. mollis Hook.
6. A. longifolia Eat. Leafy to the top, the many stems V/2
to 3 ft. high, minutely pubescent. Leaves narrowly lanceo¬
late, acute, tapering to base, entire or toothed, 3 to 6 in. long,
24 in. or less wide (rarely 1 in.). Heads 3 to 12, with showy
rays. Akenes only glandular. — Rare in the Sierra Nevada but
to be expected along streams.
7. A. foliosa var. incana Gray. Plant y2 to \y2 ft. high,
gray or white with loose wool. Leaves lanceolate, clasping
by a narrowed base, the lower sheathing the stem, acute,
mostly entire, 2 to 6 in. long. Rays present. Akenes hairy
or smooth. — Hog Ranch, Lake Tenaya, etc.
8. A. nevadensis Gray. Stems 18 in. or less high, hairy and
glandular. Leaves oval to oblong, tapering at base, obscurely
toothed or entire, 2 or 3 in. long. Heads several, with showy
yellow rays. — Common from about 6000 to 10,000 ft. A. alpina
Olin, is a more northern species with narrower, lanceolate,
3-nerved leaves.
39. SENECIO. Groundsel.
Herbs and shrubs with alternate leaves. Heads cylindric,
many-flowered, often with small bracts at base of involucre.
Akenes cylindric, with a copious pappus of soft white bristles.
A. Stems leafy only toward the base.
Leaves partly with narrow lobes except in dwarfed plants
with solitary heads . 1. S. aureus.
Leaves all entire or merely toothed.
Leaf-blades 1 in. or less long; low plants.
Plant glabrous except when young . 2. S. petrocallis.
Plant permanently woolly . 3. 5. canus.
COMPOSITE FAMILY 265
Leaf-blades longer; plants usually over 1 ft. high.
Stem from fibrous roots . 4. 5. lugens.
Stem from rootstocks . 5. .S', scorzonella.
B. Stems leafy to the top.
Herbs; glabrous at maturity.
Stems 2 ft. or more high.
Leaves toothed or entire.
Base of leaf broad . 6. S', triangularis.
Base of leaf narrowed . 7. S. serra.
Leaves deeply lobed . 8. S. clarkianus.
Stems 1 ft. or less high . 9. S. fremontii.
Shrub; densely white-woolly . 10. S. douglasii.
1. S. aureus L. A green and glabrous perennial, 4 to 20
in. high (rarely with a little wool when young). Lower
leaves oval or roundish, toothed, petioled; upper leaves
lanceolate, entire to toothed or deeply lobed. — Moist places,
in a variety of forms. One form has stems 12 to 18 in. high,
large leaves, and yellow rays (S. laetiilorus Greene). With
this is sometimes found a similar form but without rays
(S. lembertii Greene). A medium-sized form with saffron-
colored flowers is often found in high meadows (S. aureus
var. croceus Gray). There is a dwarf form (of high altitudes)
with nearly naked stem and a solitary head with yellow rays
(S. aureus var. subnudus Gray). A similar form but with
stem-leaves more developed and the rays sometimes lacking
is 5*. aureus var. borealis T. & G.
2. S. petrocallis Greene. An Alpine dwarf, forming dense
leafy tufts from which protrude the naked flower-stalks, the
whole plant only 2 to 4 in. high. Leaves soon glabrous, thick,
oval or oblong, with narrow base, entire or few-toothed.
Heads 1 to 7, the yellow rays Ya in. long. (S. petraeus Klatt.)
— Above timber-line on Mt. Dana.
3. S. canus Hook. A tufted perennial, 6 to 15 in. high,
white with matted wool. Leaves oblong or oval, entire
(rarely a few lobes), Y* to \Yz in. long. Heads several or
numerous, short-peduncled, the yellow rays over Y\ in* long. —
High altitudes, as at Merced Lake and near Mt. Lyell.
S. werneriaefolius Gray, of the Rocky Mts., was once re¬
ported from Mt. Conness. It is like S'. canus but dwarf, the
leaves linear-spatulate and 2 or 3 in. long by Y\ in- wide, or
some only 1 in. long by in. wide.
4. S. lugens var. exaltatus Gray. Stout, 1 to 3 ft. high,
from a cluster of fibrous roots, lightly woolly when young.
Leaves basal and scattered; the lower long-petioled, spatu-
late to obovate or roundish, the blade 2 to 8 in. long; upper
ones narrower and often toothed. Heads terminally clustered,
COMPOSITE FAMILY
266
with or without rays. — The most common species in loose
soil of open pine forests.
5. S. scorzonella Greene. Like 6'. lugens but the stems
from horizontal rootstocks and the leaves more clustered at base,
these oblanceolate or narrower and sharply toothed, woolly. —
Meadow borders near Eagle Peak and Lake Tenaya. Also
(in a rayless form) on the Chilnualna Trail and in Tuolumne
Meadows. covillei Greene, is a form nearly glabrous from
the beginning. S. whipplccinus Gray, if found may be known
by its large size (3 or 4 ft. high, heacls % in. high) and
deeply toothed leaves.
6. S. triangularis Hook. A leafy glabrous perennial, 2 to
6 ft. high. Leaves thin, triangular-lanceolate, acute, the base
broad (except upper leaves), 2 to 8 in. long, ^ to 3 in. broad,
mostly toothed, on short petioles. Heads many, small, with
yellow rays about 54 in. long. — Common along streams and in
bogs.
7. S. serra var. integriusculus Coville. Similar to no. 6
but leaves less than V\ in. wide and all tapering to the base;
heads smaller. — Tulare Co. to Oregon but not yet found in
our district.
8. S. clarkianus Gray. Erect, leafy to the top, 3 or 4 ft.
high, glabrous. Stem-leaves lanceolate, sessile, 4 to 7 in. long,
sharply lobed. Heads many, short-peduncled, the yellow rays
nearly in. long.
This rare Senecio has been found only along the Glacier
Point Road and near Wawona in what was once called Clark’s
meadow. It was first described by Dr. Asa Gray, who adds
the following to his description : “In Clark’s meadow, below
the Mariposa Big-tree Grove, Bolander. This striking, tall
species may well bear the name of the valued guide and
mountaineer, Galen Clark, in whose meadow it grows, and
who has done so much to make the Mariposa Grove of
Sequoia gigantea accessible.”
9. S. fremontii var. occidentals Gray. A glabrous peren¬
nial with many leafy stems 1 ft. or less long. Leaves oblong
to roundish, with narrow base, obtuse, toothed, 14 to 154 in.
long. Heads numerous, 54 in. high, with showy rays. — Rocky
places near timber-line.
10. S. douglasii DC. A white-woolly leafy shrub, 3 to 5
ft. high. Leaves with 3 to 9 linear lobes or the uppermost
entire. Heads large, with about 13 rays 54 in. or so long. —
Foothills and warm slopes to 5000 ft. alt.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
267
40. CARDUUS. Thistle.
Spiny herb' with mostly lobed alternate or basal leaves.
Heads large, the outer bracts spine-tipped. Flowers all tubu¬
lar and alike. Pappus of numerous bristles. (Includes
Cirsium. )
1. C. drummondii Coville. Stem simple, 15 in. or less high,
glabrous and leafy up to the heads. Leaves woolly. Heads
about 2 in. high, sessile, white or purple-flowered; inner
bracts with weak tips, the outer gradually shorter and ovate,
short-spined. — Probably occurs only in the following variety.
Var. acaulescens Coville. Heads smaller, few or several,
sessile in a tuft of basal leaves, the plant therefore stemless. —
Dry meadows above 5000 ft. alt. Cnicus tioganus Congdon, is
a form with more strongly lobed leaves of the same color on
both sides and white flowers; its type locality is, “Mt. Dana
region from the Tioga Mine to Mono Pass.”
2. C. andersonii Greene. Stem 1 to 3 or 4 ft. high, lightly
woolly. Leaves woolly beneath, usually green above. Heads
ll/2 to 2 in. high, long-peduncled, bright pink-red; bracts all
straight and erect, the outer gradually shorter, each tipped
with a weak prickle. — Occasional at middle altitudes.
3. C. californicus Greene. Stem 2 to 5 ft. high, white with
matted wool. Leaves white-woolly. Heads 1 to 1^4 in. high,
long-peduncled, cream-color white or purplish; outer bracts
spreading, each ending in an upward-curved prickle. — Com¬
mon on warm slopes below 6000 ft. alt.
Centaurea melitensis L., or Tocalote, one of the yellow
star thistles, may appear as a weed. It is known by its small,
roundish, yellow-spined heads and obliquely inserted akenes.
41. PHALACRQSERIS.
1. P. bolanderi Gray. A glabrous perennial, the leaves
and naked flower-stalks (5 to 15 in. high) all from the thick
root. Leaves lanceolate, entire, 4 to 8 in. long. Head solitary,
yellow. Akenes short-oblong, not narrowed at either end,
without pappus. — First described from specimens gathered at
“Westfalls Meadows, above Yosemite Valley, alt. 8000 feet.”
Sometimes the akenes have a pappus of a short crown with
divided margin (var. coronata Hall). This form has been
found from near Cathedral Peak and Chilnualna Creek to
Fresno Co., but it is very rare.
42. MICROSERIS.
Glabrous or obscurely hairy herbs with yellow-flowered
268
COMPOSITE FAMILY
heads on long peduncles. Leaves entire to deeply lobed, even
in the same species. Akenes ribbed, bearing 5 to 10 pappus-
scales each continued as a slender awn.
1. M. nutans Gray. Stem slender, 6 to 15 in. high, from a
thickened root, branching and somewhat leafy. Heads showy,
nodding in bud. Pappus of 15 to 20 soft feathery bristles
from a short scale-like base. — Common in moist soil of forests
and meadow borders.
2. M. linearifolia Sch. Bip. Stems 4 to 12 in. high, from a
slender tap-root, thickened and hollow beneath the solitary
erect head. Akenes narrowed above; pappus-scales white,
becoming x/2 in. long, each with a slender awn from the
notched summit. — Foothills and warm slopes up to 7000 ft. alt.
43. STEPHANOMERIA.
Herbs and shrubs with purplish or white heads in panicles.
Akenes oblong, or narrowed below, strongly angled, glabrous.
Pappus-bristles feathery.
1. S. lactucina Gray. Perennial, not woody, leafy to the
top, 4 to 12 in. high. Leaves broadly linear, entire or few¬
toothed, 1 to 4 in. long, the uppermost ones scarcely smaller.
Heads y2 in. high, on spreading peduncles. Pappus-bristles
sordid, feathery except at base. — Rare, but found at Lake
Eleanor, Rancheria Mt., Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, etc.
2. S. virgata Benth. Annual or biennial, not woody,
sparsely leafy, 1 to 10 ft. high. Leaves oblong to linear,
entire or toothed. Heads nearly sessile all along the branches,
in. high. Pappus white, feathery almost to base. — Dry
slopes up to 5000 ft. alt.
3. S. myrioclada Eat. Woody at base, much branched and
bushy, 1 or 2 ft. high. Leaves of the branches reduced to
scales. Heads short-peduncled, small, the bracts and flowers
only 3 or 4 each. — Reported from the “Yosemite”; more com¬
mon in Nevada.
S. tenuifolia Hall, is similar to no. 3, but the stems are not
woody and the leaves are mostly slender and grass-like. It
may reach our borders from the desert side.
44. MALACOTHRIX.
1. M. obtusa Benth. Annual, 5 to 15 in. high, with many
slender branches, but the leaves nearly all in a basal tuft,
often with traces of wool, otherwise smooth. Leaves lobed,
y2 to 2 y2 in. long. Heads small, white or pinkish. Akenes
COMPOSITE FAMILY
269
slightly narrowed above, S-ribbed; pappus of soft deciduous
bristles. — Warm, gravelly soil; occasional around Yosemite
Valley and at Moss Creek, Cherry Creek, etc.
45. TARAXACUM. Dandelion.
1. T. officinale Weber. A thick-rooted perennial with
lobed leaves all in a basal tuft and large yellow heads on
naked hollow stems. Akenes spiny-toothed above and taper¬
ing to a slender beak. — Occurs in low meadows.
46. SONCHUS. Sow-thistle.
1. S. asper Hill. Prickly Sow-thistle. A leafy succulent
annual, 1 to 3 ft. high, smooth below, pubescent above with
gland-tipped hairs. Leaves coarsely lobed and sharp-toothed,
the upper sessile and clasping. Flowers yellow. Akenes flat,
ribbed, smooth between the ribs; pappus white, cottony. — An
introduced weed of wet places. S. oleraceus L., the Common
Sow-thistle, may also appear. It is known by the akenes,
which are ridged crosswise between the longitudinal ribs.
47. LACTUCA. Lettuce.
1. L. pulchella DC. An erect leafy-stemmed glabrous per¬
ennial, 1 or 2 ft. high, bearing numerous bluish or violet heads.
Leaves lanceolate, entire or backwardly toothed. Akenes very
short, flat, tapering to a short beak with abundant soft pappus.
— Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite valleys, etc.
48. TROXIMON.
Herbs with nearly naked stems, each bearing a single ter¬
minal head, the leaves all basal or nearly so. Flowers yellow,
orange, or purplish. Akenes 10-nerved, tapering to a beak;
pappus of numerous soft bristles.
1. T. glaucum Nutt. Perennial. Leaves 4 to 12 in. long,
very variable, entire to deeply lobed. Heads usually purplish
or saffron, l/2 to 1 in. long, on stalks 6 to 15 in. high. Akenes
narrowed to a thick nerved beak shorter than the body, the
pappus rigid. — Meadows above 6000 ft. On high summits the
plants are only 2 to 4 in. high ( Agoseris monticola Greene).
2. T. aurantiacum Hook. Like T. glaucum and equally
variable, but the akenes tapering into a slender thread-like
beak nearly as long as the body, the pappus very soft; flowers
orange or purplish. — Moist soil above 5000 ft. alt. T. nuttallii
Gray, with similar akenes but yellow flowers, has been re¬
ported from Yosemite Valley.
COMPOSITE FAMILY
270
3. T. grandifldrum Gray. Perennial. Leaves 4 to 9 in.
long, narrow and tapering, entire or with narrow acnte lobes.
Heads yellow-flowered, 1 to ll4 in. high, on stalks 6 to 18 in.
high. Akenes narrowed into a thread-like beak three times
as long as the body. — Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite, and the lower
slopes.
4. T. retrorsum Gray. Perennial. Leaves 4 to 8 in. long,
parted into linear acute lobes which point backward. Heads
yellow-flowered, 1^2 to 2^4 in. high, on stalks 6 to 15 in. high.
Akenes with broad summit abruptly contracted to a thread¬
like beak about three times as long as the body. — Common
on dry hillsides up to about 9000 ft. alt.
5. T. heterophyllum Greene. Annual. Leaves 1 to 4 in.
long, entire or bluntly lobed. Heads yellow-flowered, 24 in.
or less high, on stalks 2 to 12 in. high. Akenes with slender
beak nearly twice as long as the body. — In low places around
meadows at Wawona, Yosemite Valley, etc.
Other species of Troximon doubtless occur, but specimens
with ripe akenes are needed for their identification and these
are not at hand.
49. CREPIS. Hawicsbeard.
Annual and perennial herbs. Involucre narrow, the bracts
with thickened midribs. Akenes narrowed above, 10 to 30-
ribbed; pappus copious, white and soft.
1. C. acuminata Nutt. Perennial, 1 to 3 ft. high, the
sparsely leafy stems bearing a loose panicle of yellow-
flowered heads. Lower leaves lanceolate, parted into narrow
sharp lobes, narrowed below to a petiole and above to a tail¬
like tip, the whole leaf 5 to 10 in. long, finely pubescent.
Involucre (of 5 to 8 main bracts) bright green and smooth,
enclosing 5 to 10 flowers. — Occasional at middle altitudes.
2. C. intermedia Gray. Very similar but often more ashy-
pubescent, the involucres especially being ashy with short
hairs. — Of wide distribution but not common. C. occidentalis
Nutt., with 8 to 24 bracts and 10 to 30 flowers in a head, is
another perennial which may occur.
3. C. virens L. Smooth Hawicsbeard. Annual, 1 to 2 ft.
high, the few-leaved stems bearing loose panicles of yellow-
flowered heads. Leaves oblanceolate, deeply lobed, the ter¬
minal lobe broadest, the whole leaf 2 to 6 in. long, green and
nearly glabrous. Involucre hairy and glandular, many-
flowered. Akenes smooth, 10-nerved. — Introduced weed in
Hetch Hetchy Valley.
COMPOSITE FAMILY 27 1
C. nana Rich., may occur near timber-line. It is a dwarf
with obovate, entire, glabrous leaves.
50. HIERACEUM. Hawicweed.
Ours perennial herbs with simple and narrow involucres.
Akenes not narrowed above, with a single row of fragile
bristles.
1. H. albifldrum Hook. Stems 1 to 3 ft. high, leafy only at
base, ending in panicles of white-flowered heads. Leaves
broadly oblanceolate or oblong, entire or shallowly toothed,
3 to 6 in. long, the lower ones (and base of stem) bristly with
long hairs. Pappus dull white. — Open pine forests, common.
2. H. horridum Fries. Stems 4 to 12 in. high, leafy up to
the panicle of yellow heads. Leaves oblanceolate or oblong,
obtuse, entire, 1 to 4 in. long, shaggy with long hairs. Pappus
reddish. — Among rocks from 4000 ft. alt. to timber-line.
3. H. gracile var. detonsum Gray. Stems 6 to 18 in. high,
nearly naked except at the leafy base, the few heads yellow
(involucre black-hairy). Leaves obovate or oblong-spatulate,
1 to 4 in. long, entire or shallowly toothed, glabrous and
green. Pappus dull white. — Moist, shaded soil, 8000 ft. alt.
to timber-line.
(
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GLOSSARY
Numbers refer to more extended explanations or illustrations in the first
part of the book. Many of the definitions are taken from Gray’s New
Manual of Botany, by Robinson & Fernald.
Acuminate. Ending in a tapering
point.
Acute. Ending with a sharp angle;
p. 9.
Adherent. Grown fast to.
Adnate. United; grown fast to.
Akene. A small dry 1-seeded fruit
which does not open; p. 12.
Alpine. A high-mountain belt, above
timber-line.
Alternate. Arranged singly at dif¬
ferent heights; p. 8.
Ament. A spike in which the flowers
are subtended by scales.
Angiosperm. A plant bearing seeds
in a covering of some sort.
Annual. Living but a single year.
Anther. The pollen-bearing part of
a stamen; p. 11.
Apetalous. Without petals.
Aquatic. Living in the water.
Ascending. Rising somewhat ob¬
liquely.
Attenuate. Becoming very narrow.
Awl-shaped. Tapering upward from
the base to a slender point.
Awn. A bristle-shaped organ or ap¬
pendage.
Axil. The angle formed by a leaf or
branch with the stem.
Axillary. Situated in an axil.
Axis. The central support of a group
of organs, as a stem.
Banner. Upper petal in Legumin-
osae; p. 135.
Beak. A prolonged tip.
Berry. A fleshy or pulpy fruit.
Biennial. Living two years.
Bilabiate. Two-lipped.
Bipinnate. Twice pinnate. Also
written 2-pinnate.
Blade. The flat expanded portion of
a leaf; p. 8.
Bloom. A fine powder or dust, easily
rubbed off.
Bract. A modified leaf among the
flowers; p. 13.
Bulb. An underground leaf-bud with
fleshy scales or coats.
Bur. Any rough or prickly fruit.
Calyx. The outer usually green cir¬
cle of a flower; p. 10.
Capsule. A dry seed-vessel composed
of more than one part.
Catkin. A spike in which the flowers
are subtended by scales.
Cell. Any structure containing a
cavity, as the cells of ovary, cap¬
sule, etc.
Chaff. A small thin scale.
Chaparral. Colonies of shrubs; liter¬
ally the “little chaps” as dis¬
tinguished from trees.
Choripetalous. Petals not united to
each other, even at base; p. 10.
Ciliate. Hairy along the margin.
Compound. Composed of 2 or more
similar parts; pp. 9, 12.
Compressed. Flattened.
Conical. Cone-shaped; round and
tapering to a point.
Corolla. The circle of petals in a
flower; p. 10.
Cotyledons. The first leaves of the
embryo as found in the seed.
Deciduous. Not persistent; not ever¬
green.
Decurrent. Continued down the stem
below the insertion.
Deflexed. Bent abruptly downward.
Dicotyledons. Plants with 2 cotyle¬
dons in each seed.
Discoid. Like a disk; pp. 239, 240.
Dissected. Many times cut or divided.
Distinct. Separate; not united; evi¬
dent.
Divided. Lobed nearly to the base.
Ecological. Concerning the relation
of plants or animals to their en¬
vironment.
Entire. Smooth-margined, without
teeth or lobes.
Equalling. Of the same length as.
Exceeding. Longer than.
Exserted. Projecting beyond, as sta¬
mens from a corolla.
Exstipulatc. Without stipules.
Feathery. With fine hairs on each
side; p. 240.
Fertile. Productive, as a flower hav¬
ing a pistil, a seed with an em¬
bryo, or an anther with pollen.
GLOSSARY
274
Filament. The stalk supporting an
anther; p. 11.
Flaccid. Weak; not rigid.
Free. Not attached to other organs.
Frond. The “leaf” of a fern.
Fruit. The seed-bearing part of a
plant; p. 12.
Genus (pi. Genera ). See p. 13.
Glabrous. Smooth; not hairy.
Gland. A protuberance, usually a
secreting structure.
Glandular. Bearing glands or ex¬
uding a sticky liquid.
Globose. Somewhat spherical.
Gymnosperm. A plant bearing naked
seeds.
Habit. The general appearance of a
plant; mode of growth.
Head. A dense rounded cluster, p. 13.
Heart-shaped. Ovate with 2 rounded
lobes at base.
Herb. A plant with no persistent
woody stem above ground.
Herbaceous. Like an herb.
Herbage. Stems and leaves of the
season.
Hirsute. With coarse or stiff hairs.
Hypogynous. Attached to the recep¬
tacle below the ovary and free
from it and from the calyx; hav¬
ing the stamens and petals so
attached.
Imbricate. Overlapping, like the
shingles of a roof.
Incised. Sharply and irregularly cut.
Included. Not at all protruded.
I ndusium. The proper covering of
the fruit-dot in Ferns; p. 25.
Inferior. Lower. An inferior ovary
is attached to the calyx; p. 12.
Inflated. Distended; bladdery.
Inflorescence. The arrangement of
the flowers in a cluster; p. 13.
Inserted. Attached to.
Introduced. Brought by man from
another place.
Involucre. A circle or collection of
bracts surrounding a flower-clus¬
ter or a single flower. (In Com-
positae, see p. 239.)
Irregular. The parts not of the same
size or shape, as a corolla with
some petals or lobes larger than
the others.
Keel. A central ridge along the
back. (In Leguminosae, see p.
135.)
Lanceolate. Broadest above the base
and narrowed to the apex; p. 9.
Leaflet. A single part of a com¬
pound leaf.
Linear. Long and narrow, with par¬
allel margins; p. 9.
Lip. One of the two divisions of a
2-lipped corolla or calyx.
Lobe. Any segment of an organ, es¬
pecially if rounded.
Lobed. Divided into lobes.
Lunate. Shape of a half-moon or
crescent.
Membranous. Thin and somewhat
papery.
Monocotyledons. Plants with only 1
cotyledon in each seed.
Naked. Without covering or appen¬
dages; without bracts or leaves.
Nerve. A simple vein or slender rib.
Node. The place on a stem where a
leaf is normally borne.
Nut. A hard 1-seeded fruit which
does not open at maturity.
Nutlet. A small nut.
Oblanceolate. Inverted lanceolate.
Oblong. Longer than broad and
with nearly parallel sides; p. 9.
Obovate. Inverted ovate.
Obtuse. Blunt or rounded at the
end; p. 9.
Opposite leaves. Two from each
node, attached to opposite sides
of a stem but at the same level;
p. 8. A stamen is opposite a
petal when set before it.
Orbicular. Circular.
Ovary. The part of the pistil that
contains the ovules; p. 12.
Ovate. With outline like that of an
egg; p. 9.
Ovule. The body in the ovary which
becomes a seed.
Palmate (leaf). With the divisions
pointing to the petiole. Palm-
ately compound, with the leaflets
all borne on the summit of the
petiole; p. 8.
Panicle. A loose irregular cluster of
flowers; p. 13.
Pappus. The modified calyx-limb in
Compositae; p. 240.
Parasitic. Deriving nourishment from
another plant.
Parted. Cleft to below the middle.
Pedicel. The stalk of a single flower
in a cluster.
Peduncle. The stalk of a solitary
flower or of a flower-cluster.
Pendulous. More or less hanging.
Perennial. Lasting year after year.
Perfect (flower). With both pistil
and stamens.
GLOSSARY
275
Perianth. The floral envelope; p. 10.
Perigynous. Attached to the peri¬
anth, and therefore around the
ovary and not at its base.
Persistent. Lasting a long time.
Petal. A division of the corolla; p.
10.
Petiole. The footstalk of a leaf; p. 9.
Phaenogam. A plant species having
flowers with stamens and pistils
and producing seeds.
Pinna (pi. Pinnae). One of the pri¬
mary divisions of a pinnate or
compoundly pinnate frond or
leaf; p. 25.
Pinnate. Compound, with the leaf¬
lets arranged on each side of a
common petiole; p. 9.
Pinnatidd. Pinnately cleft.
Pinnule. A secondary pinna; one
of the pinnately disposed di¬
visions of a pinna.
Pistil. The seed-bearing organ; p.
11.
Pistillate. With pistils but without
stamens.
Placenta (pi. Placentae) . The ovule¬
bearing tissues of an ovary.
Pod. Any dry fruit, opening at ma¬
turity.
Pollen. The fecundating grains in
the anther; p. 11.
Pubescent. With hairs.
Raceme. A cluster in which the
flowers are borne along the cen¬
tral axis on pedicels of nearly
equal length; p. 13.
Rachis. The axis of a flower-cluster
or compound leaf.
Radiate. Spreading like the spokes
of a wheel; bearing ray-flowers;
p. 239.
Ray. The branch of an umbel; the
marginal flowers in a head when
the corolla is strap-shaped; p.
239.
Receptacle. The end of a pedicel
which bears the organs of a
flower; pp. 11, 239.
Reflexed. Bent or turned abruptly
downward.
Regular. Uniform in shape and
structure.
Reniform. Kidney-shaped.
Root. See p. 7.
Rootstock. An underground stem;
p. 7.
Rotate. Somewhat flat and circular
in outline; wheel-shaped.
Saprophyte. A plant which derives
nourishment from decaying vege¬
tation.
Scale. A small thin body.
Seed. The ripened ovule; p. 12.
Segment. One of the parts of an
organ that is cleft or divided.
(In ferns, see p. 25.)
Sepal. A division of the calyx; p. 10.
Serrate. With sharp teeth.
Sessile. Without a footstalk of any
kind.
Sheath. A tubular envelope.
Shrub. A woody perennial smaller
than a tree.
Silky. Clothed with closely pressed
soft straight hairs.
Simple. Of one piece; not com¬
pound.
Smooth, Not rough or hairy.
Spatulate. Narrowed downward from
a rounded summit; p. 9.
Spike. A cluster in which the
flowers are sessile along the cen¬
tral axis; p. 13.
Spine. A sharp-pointed hard woody
organ.
Spore. The fruit of ferns and other
Cryptogams.
Spur. A hollow extension.
Stamen. A pollen-bearing organ;
p. 11.
Staminate. Bearing stamens but not
pistils.
Stem. See p. 7.
Sterile. Not productive; barren.
Stigma. A part of the pistil; p. 11.
Stipulate. Having stipules.
Stipule. An appendage at base of
petiole; p. 9.
Stolon. Any basal branch that is dis¬
posed to root.
Strict. Straight and upright.
Style. A part of the pistil; p. 11.
Submerged. Growing under water.
Succulent. Juicy; fleshy.
Superior (ovary). Free from calyx;
p. 12.
Sympetalous. Petals united, at least
at base, so that they cannot be
separated without tearing; p. 11.
Taproot. A single perpendicular
root; p. 7.
Terete. Cylindric and slightly taper¬
ing.
Throat. The orifice of a calyx or
corolla.
Timber-line. The upper limit of tree
growth on mountains; p. 4.
Tri-pinnate. Thrice pinnate. Also
written 3-pinnate.
Truncate. Cut off squarely at the
end.
Tuber. A short thick underground
branch or root.
GLOSSARY
276
Tubular. Shaped like a tube or hol¬
low cylinder.
Tufted (stems). Short and set close
together.
Type. The specimen on which the
first description of a species is
based.
Type locality. The exact station at
which a type was collected.
Umbel. A flower-cluster in which
the pedicels all spring from the
end of a common peduncle;
p. 13.
Unisexual. Either staminate or pis¬
tillate only.
Valve. One of the pieces into which
a capsule splits.
Veins. Branched threads of tissues.
Viscid. Glutinous; sticky.
Whorl. An arrangement (of leaves,
etc.) in a circle around the
stem; p. 8.
Wing. Any thin border; the lateral
petals in Leguminosae.
Woolly. Clothed with long matted
hairs.
INDEX
Synonyms are in italics.
•
Abies, 44
Acer, 153
Aceraceae, 153
Achillaea, 261
Aconitum, 100
Actaea, 100
Adenocaulon, 255
Adiantum, 28, 29
Assculus, 153
Agastache, 209
Agoseris, 269
Alder, 70
Alfilerilla, 149
Alisma, 48
Alismaceae, 48
Allium, 51
Allocarya, 205
Allotropa, 178
Allspice, Carolina, 101
Alnus, 70
Alum-root, 118
A l sine, 90, 91
Amaranth, 84
Amaranthaceae, 83
Amaranth Family, 83
Amaranthus, 84
Ambrosiaceae, 239
Amelanchier, 125
Ammonia, 162
Amsinckia, 207
Anacardiaceae, 151
Anaphalis, 254
Androsace, 182
Angelica, 172
Antennaria, 253
Anthemis, 261
Aphyllon, 230
Aplopappus, 241
Apocynaceae, 187
Apocynum, 187
Aquilegia, 98
Arabis, 109
Arceuthobium, 73
Arctic-Alpine Zone, 4
Arctostaphylos, 180
Arenaria, 92
Argentina, 128
Aristolochia, 75
Aristolochiaceae, 75
Arnica, 261
Arrow Grass, 47
Arrow Grass Family, 47
Artemisia, 261
Asarum, 75
Asclepiadaceae, 188
Asclepias, 188
Ash, 185
Ash, Mountain, 124
Aspen, 69
Asphodel, 50
Aspidium, 38
Aspidium, 37
Asplenium, 36
Aster, 248, 249
Asteraceae, 239
Astragalus, 145
Athyrium, 36
Athysanus, 105
Awlwort, 106
Azalea, 178
Baby-blue-eyes, 198
Balsamea, 166
Balsamorhiza, 255
Balsam Root, 255
Baneberry, 100
Barbarea, 109
Bay Tree, 101
Bear Brush, 173
Bedstraw, 232,233
Beech-fern, 27
Bellflower, 238
Belt above Timber-line, 4
Betulaceae, 70
Big Root, 237
Big Tree, 45
Bilberry, 181, 182
Bindweed, 83
Birch, 70
Birch Family, 70
Bird’s Beak, 229
Birthwort Family, 74
Bitter-root, 84
Black-eyed Susan, 255
Bladder-nut, 152
Bladder-nut Family, 152
Bladderwort, 230
Bladderwort Family, 230
Bleeding Heart, 102
Bluebell Family, 237
Bluebell, Mountain, 207
Blueberry, 181
Blue-curls, 208
Blue-eyed Grass, 61
Boisduvalia, 169
Bolandra, 118
Borage Family, 203
Boraginaceae, 203
Boykinia, 118
Bracken, 30
Brake, 30
Brassica, 106
Brickellia, 245
Brittle-fern, 39
Brodiaea, 52-54
Brooklime, American, 226
Broom-rape, 230
Broom-rape Family, 229
Brunella, see Prunella
Bryanthus, 179
Buckbean, 187
Buckbrush, 154
Buckeye, 153
Buckeye Family, 153
Buckthorn, 154
Buckthorn Family, 153
Buckwheat Family, 76
Bur-reed, 47
Bur-reed Family, 47
Buttercup, 95-97
Buttercup Family, 94
Cabbage, Skunk, 51
Calandrinia, 86
Callitrichaceae, 151
Callitriche, 151
Calochortus, 57
Caltha, 97
Calycanthaceae, 101
Calycanthus, 101
Calycanthus Family, 101
Calyptridium, 88
Camas, 50, 58
Camassia, 58
Camomile, 261
Campanula, 238
Campanulaceae, 237
Campion, 88
Canadian Zone, 3
Cancer-root, 230
Canchalagua, 185
Caprifoliaceae, 233
Capsella, 106
Cardamine, 109
Carduaceae, 239
Carduus, 267
Caryophyllaceae, 88
Cassiope, 179
Castanea, 72
278
Castilleja, 2 26
Catch-fly, 88, 89
Ceanothus, 154-156
Cedar, 46
Centaurea, 267
Cephalanthera, 63
Cerastium, 90
Cercis, 135
Cercocarpus, 133
Ceropteris, 28
Chaenactis, 260
Chain-fern, 36
Chamaebatia, 132
Chamaenerion, 164
Charlock, 106, 107
Cheilanthes, 30
Chenopodiaceae, 83
Chenopodium, 83
Cherry, 134
Chestnut, 72
Chestnut, Horse, 153
Chia, 210
Chickweed, 90, 91
Chilicothe, 237
Chimaphila, 174
Chinquapin, 72
Chlorogalum, 51
Choke-cherry, 134
Chorizanthe, 76
Chrysopsis, 245
Chrysothamnus, 247, 246
Cichoriaceae, 239
Cinquefoil, 127
Circaea, 163
Cirsium, 267
Clarlcia, 169
Claytonia, 86
Cleavers, 232, 233
Clematis, 94
Cliff-brake, 32-35
Clintonia, 59
Clover, 139-142
Clover, Bear, 133
Clover, Bur, 139
Clover, Owl’s, 228
Clover, Spanish, 143
Cnicus, 26 7
Coffee-berry, 154
Coffee-fern, 34
Coleosanthus, 245
Collinsia, 214, 215
Collomia, 193
Collomia, 194
Columbine, 98
Comandra, 74
Common Polypody, 26
Compositae, 239
Composite Family, 239
Coneflower, 255
Coniferae, 40
Convolvulaceae, 190
Convolvulus, 190
Corallorhiza, 65
Coral-root, 65
INDEX
Cordylanthus, 229
Corethrogyne, 247
Cornaceae, 172
Cornus, 172
Corylus, 70
Cottonwood, 69
Cotyledon, 114
Cowslip, 98
Cranberry, 181
Crassulaceae, 113
Cream-cups, 102
Crepis, 270
Cress, 108
Crowfoot, 95, 96
Crowfoot Family, 94
Cruciferae, 103
Cryptanthe, 205
Cryptogramma, 35
Cryptogramma, 35
Cucurbitaceae, 237
Cudweed, 254
Currant, 121, 122
Cuscuta, 190
Cycladenia, 188
Cyclamen, 183
Cynoglossum, 204
Cynoxylon, 173
Cyperaceae, 48
Cypripedium, 62
Cystopteris, 39
Daisy, Yellow, 255
Dandelion, 269
Darlingtonia, 113
Dasiphora, 127
Datisca, 162
Datiscaceae, 162
Datisca Family, 162
Deer-brush, 156
Deer-weed, 145
Delphinium, 98
Dicentra, 102
Disporum, 60
Dock, 79, 80
Dodder, 190
Dodecatheon, 183
Dogbane Family, 187
Dogbane, Small, 187
Dog-tooth Violet, 57
Dogwood, 172, 173
Dogwood Family, 172
Downingia, 239
Draba, 104
Draperia, 199
Drosera, 112
Droseraceae, 112
Drymocallis, 129, 130
Dryopteris, 39
Duckweed Family, 48
Dudleya, 114
Durango Root, 162
Dutchman’s Pipe, 75
Echinocystis, 237
Echinospermmn, 204
Elder, 234
Elderberry, 234
Elegant Lip-fern, 31
Elephant Heads, 229
Enchanter’s Nightshade,
163
Epilobium, 163
Epipactis, 63
Eremocarpus^l 5 0
Ericaceae, 174
Ericameria, 246
Erigeron, 250
Eriodictyon, 203
Eriogonum, 76
Eriogonum, 76
Eriophyllum, 259
Eritrichium, 205
Erodium, 149
Erysimum, 107
Erythraea, 185
Erythronium, 57
Eschscholtzia, 101
Eulophus, 171
Eunanus, 225
Eupatorium, 244
Euphorbia, 150
Euphorbiaceae, 150
Evening Primrose, 167
Evening Primrose Fam¬
ily, 162
Evening Snow, 197
Everlasting, 254
Fagaceae, 71
Fairy Bells, 60
Fern Family, 25
Figwort, 215
Figwort Family, 213
Filago, 253
Filaree, Red-stem, 149
Filix, 39
Fir, 44, 45
Fire-weed, 164
Five-finger Fern, 29
Flag, 60, 61
Flax, 149, 150
Flax Family, 149
Fleabane, 250, 252
Floerkia, 149
Foothill Belt, 2
Forget-me-not, 205
Fragaria, 126
Frasera, 186
Fraxinus, 185
Fringe-pod, 105
Fritillaria, 56
Fuchsia, California, 166
Fumariaceae, 102
Fumitory Family, 102
Galium, 232
Garrya, 173
Gayophytum, 167
Gentian, 185, 187
Gentiana, 185
Gentianaceae, 185
Gentian Family, 185
Geraniaceae, 148
Geranium, 148
Geranium Family, 148
Geum, 132
Giant Hyssop, 209
Gilia, 193-197
Cilia, 197
Gilia Family, 190
Ginger, 75
Githopsis, 238
Gnaphalium, 254
Godetia, 168
Golden-back, 27
Goldenrod, 245
Gold-fern, 27
Golondrina, 151
Gomphocarpus, 189
Goodyera, 64
Gooseberry, 121, 122
Goosefoot, 83
Goosefoot Family, 83
Goose Grass, 233
G or mania, 114
Gourd Family, 237
Gramineae, 48
Grape, 156
Grass, Blue-eyed, 61
Grass Family, 48
Grass, Goose, 233
Grass-of-Parnassus, 121
Grass, Yard, 82
Grossularia, 121
Groundsel, 264
Guttiferae, 159
Gymnogramma, 27
Gymnopteris, 28
Habenaria, 62
Haloragidaceae, 169
Haplopappus, 246
Hard Tack, 133
Harebell, 238
Hawksbeard, 270
Hawkweed, 271
Hazardia, 247
Hazel, 70
Heal-all, 210
Heather, 179
Heather, White, 180
Heath Family, 174
Hedge Nettle, 210
Helenium, 260
Helianthella, 257
Helianthus, 256
Hellebore, 51
Hemizonella, 258
Hemizonia, 258
Hemlock, 44
Hemp, Indian, 187
Heracleum, 172
INDEX
ITesperochiron, 203
Heterocodon, 238
ITeterogaura, 163
Heuchera, 118
Hieraceum, 271
Hippuris, 169
Hoarhound, 211
Holodiscus, 124
Honeysuckle, 235, 236
Honeysuckle Family, 233
Hookera, 54
Hoorebekia, 246
Horkelia, 130
Horse Chestnut, 153
Horseweed, 253
Hosackia, 142
Hound’s Tongue, 204
Hudsonian Zone, 3
Hulsea, 260
Hydrophyllaceae, 197
Hydrophyllum, 198
Hypericum, 159
Hyssop, Giant, 209
Ilysanthes, 225
Indian Hemp, 187
Indian Paint Brush, 227
Indian Pink, 89
Iridaceae, 60
Iris, 60
Iris Family, 60
Ivesia, 131, 132
Judas Tree, 135
Juncaceae, 49
Juncaginaceae, 47
Juncus, 49
June Berry, 125
Juniper, 46
Juniperus, 46
Kalmia, 178
Ivelloggia, 231
Kit-kit-dizze, 132
Knotweed, 80
Koellia, 212
Krynitzkia, 205, 206
Kumlienia, 96
Labiatae, 207
Labrador Tea, 178
Lace-fern, 31
Lactuca, 269
Ladies’ Tresses, 64
Lady-fern, 36
Lady’s Slipper, 62
Lady’s Thumb, 82
Lamb’s Quarters, 83
Lappula, 204
Larkspur, 98-100
Lathyrus, 147
Lauraceae, 101
Laurel, 101
Laurel, American, 178
279
Laurel Family, 101
Ledum, 178
Leguminosae, 135
Lemna, 49
Lemnaceae, 4S
Lentibulariaceae, 230
Lepidium, 105
Lessingia, 247
Lettuce, 269
Lettuce, Miner’s, 87
Leucothoe, 180
Lewisia, 84-86
Libocedrus, 46
Life Zones, 2
Ligusticum, 172
Lilac, Mountain, 154
Lilaea, 48
Liliaceae, 49
Lilium, 55
Lily, 55, 56
Lily Family, 49
Lily, Mariposa, 57, 58
Lily, Pond, 93
Lily, Water, 93
Linaceae, 149
Linanthus, 196, 197
Linum, 149
Lip-fern, 30, 31
Listera, 65
Lithophragma, 120
Loasaceae, 161
Loasa Family, 161
Lobeliaceae, 238
Lobelia Family, 238
Loco-weed, 145
Lonicera, 235
Loosestrife Family, 162
Lophanthus, 209
Loranthaceae, 73
Lotus, 143-145
Lousewort, 229
Love-vine, 190
Lupine, 135
Lupinus, 135
Luzula, 49
Lythraceae, 162
Lythrum, 162
Macronema, 246
Madder Family, 231
Madia, 257
Madronella, 211
Mahala Mats, 155
Mahogany, Mountain,
133
Maidenhair, 29
Malacothrix, 268
Mallow, 157
Mallow Family, 157
Malva, 157
Malvaceae, 157
Man Root, 237
Manzanita, 180, 181
Maple, 153
28o
INDEX
Maple Family, 153
Mare’s Tail, 169
Marigold, Marsh, 97
Mariposa Lily, 57, 58
Marrubium, 211
Matricaria, 261
Mayweed, 261
Meadow Foam, 149
Meadow-rue, 95
Medicago, 139
Medick, Black, 139
Mentha, 212
Mentzelia, 161
Menyanthes, 187
Mertensia, 207
Microseris, 267
Milfoil, 261
Milkweed, 188, 189
Milkweed Family, 188
Mimulus, 219, 6
Miner’s Lettuce, 87
Mint, 212
Mint Family, 207
Mint, Mountain, 212
Mint, Mustang, 212
Mistletoe, 73
Mistletoe Family, 73
Mitella, 119
Mitrewort, 119
Monardella, 211
Monkey-flower, 219-222, 6
Monkshood, 100
Montia, 86, 87
Morning-glory, 190
Morning-glory Family,
190
Mountain Lilac, 154
Mountain Misery, 133
Mullein, 214
Mullein, Turkey, 150
Mustard, 106
Mustard Family, 103
Mustard, Tansy, 107
Mustard. Tower, 110
Myrica, 70
Myricaceae, 69
Myrtle, Wax, 70
Naiadaceae, 47
Narthecium, 50
Nasturtium, 108
Navarretia, 197
Neckweed, 226
Nemacladus, 239
Nemophila, 198
Nettle Family, 73
Nicotiana, 213
Nightshade, 213
Nightshade Family, 213
Nonesuch, 139
Nutmeg, 47
Nymphaea, 93
Nymphaeaceae, 93
Oak, 71, 72
Oak Family, 71
Oak, Jerusalem, 83
Oak, Poison, 151
Ocean Spray, 124
Oenothera, 167
Oleaceae, 184
Olive Family, 184
Onagraceae, 162
Onion, 51, 52
Orchidaceae, 61
Orchid Family, 61
Orchis, 63
Oreobroma, 86
Oreocarya, 206
Orobanchaceae, 229
Orobanche, 230
Orthocarpus, 228
Osmorhiza, 170
Oxyria, 80
Oxytheca, 76
Painted Cup, 226
Papaveraceae, 101
Parnassia, 121
Parsley Family, 170
Parsnip, Cow, 172
Pea Family, 135
Pea, Sweet, 147
Pearlwort, 93
Pectiantia, 120
Pedicularis, 229
Pellaea, 32
Peltiphyllum, 116
Pennyroyal, Mountain
212
Pennyroyal, Western,
211
Pentstemon, 215, 219
Pepper-grass, 105
Pepperwood, 101
Persicaria, 81
Phacelia, 199
Phacelia Family, 197
Phaeostoma, 169
Phalacroseris. 267
Phegopteris, 27
Philadelphus. 121
Phlox, 192, 193
Phoradendron, 73
Phyllodoce, 179
Pigweed, 83
Pimpernel, False, 225
Pinaceae, 40
Pine, 40-43
Pine-drops, 177
Pine Family, 40
Pine, Prince’s, 175
Pink Family, 88
Pink, Indian, 89
Pinus, 40
Pipsissewa, 174, 175
Pirola, see Pyrola
Pirus, 124
Pitcher Plant, 113
Plagiobothrys, 205
Plantaginaceae, 230
Plantago, 231
Plantain, 231
Plantain Family, 230
Plantain, Rattlesnake, 6-1
Plantain, Water, 48
Platystemon, 102
Plectritis, 237
Pleuricospora, 177
Plum, 134
Podistera, 171
Podosciadium, 171
Poison Ivy, 152
Poison Oak, 151
Polemoniaceae, 190
Polemonium, 191
Polygonaceae, 76
Polygonum, 80
Polypodiaceae, 25
Polypodium, 26
Polystichum, 37
Pond Lily, 93
Pondweed Family, 47
Pop-corn Flower, 205
Poplar, 69
Poppy, 101
Poppy Family, 101
Populus, 69
Portulacaceae, 84
Potamogeton, 47
Potentilla, 127
Potentilla, 130, 131
Pride of the Mountains,
216
Primrose, 182
Primrose, Evening. 167
Primrose Family, 182
Primula, 182
Primulaceae, 182
Prunella, 210
Prunus, 134
Pseudotsuga, 44
Psilocarphus, 253
Pteridium., 30
Pteris, 30
Pterospora, 177
Purslane Family, 84
Pussy-paws, 88
Pussy’s Ears, 57
Pycnanthemum, 212
Pyrola, 175
Quamash, 58
Quercus, 71
Rabbit-brush, 246
Radicula, 108
Radish, 106
Raillardella, 263
Ranunculaceae, 94
Ranunculus, 95
Raphanus, 106
INDEX
Raspberry, 125
Rattle-weed, 145
Rasoumofskya, 74
Red-berry, 154
Red-bud, 135
Redwood, 45
Rein-orchis, 62. 63
Rhamnaccae. 153
Rhamnus, 154
Rhododendron, 178
Rhubarb, Indian, 116
Rhus, 151
Ribes, 121
Ribwort, 231
Rigiopappus, 259
Rock-brake, 35
Rock-fringe, 164
Rosa, 133
Rosaceae, 123
Rose, 133
Rose Family, 123
Rotala, 162
Rowan, 124
Rubiaceae, 231
Rubus, 125
Rudbeckia, 255
Rumex, 79
Rush Family, 49
Rutabaga, 107
Sage, 210
Sagebrush, 261
Sage, Pitcher, 211
Sagina, 93
St. John’s-wort, 159
St. John’s-wort Family,
159
Salicaceae, 65
Salix, 66
Salvia, 210
Sambucus, 234
Sandalwood Family, 74
Sandwort, 92
Sanicula, 170
Santalaceae, 74
Sapindaceae, 153
Sarcodes, 177
Saxifraga, 115
Saxifragaceae, 115
Saxifrage, 115
Saxifrage Family, 115
Scheuchzeria, 48
Schmaltsia, 151
Scrophularia, 215
Scrophulariaceae, 213
Scutellaria, 208
Sedge Family, 48
Sedum, 114
Self-heal, 210
Selinum, 171
Senecio, 264
Sequoia, 45
Sericocarpus, 248
Service Berry, 125
Shad Bush, 125
Shepherd’s Purse, 106
Shield-fern, 38
Shin-leaf, 175, 176
Shooting-star, 183, 184
Sibbaldia, 132
Sidalcea, 157
Silene, 88
Silk Tassel Bush, 173
Silver-weed, 128
Sisymbrium, 107
Sisyrinchium, 61
Skull-cap, 208
Skunk Cabbage, 51
Smilacina, 59
Snake-root, 170
Sneezeweed, 260, 261
Snowberry, 234
Snow-bush, 155
Snow Plant, 177
Soap Plant, 51
Solanaceae, 213
Solanum, 213
Solidago. 245
Solomon’s Seal, 59
Sonchus, 269
Sorbus, 124
Sorrel, 79, 80
Sow-thistle, 269
Sparganiaceae, 47
Sparganium, 47
Spearmint, 213
Specularia, 238
Speedwell, 225, 226
Sphacele, 211
Spice-bush, 101
Spice-wood, 101
Spiraea, 124
Spiranthes, 64
Spirea, 124
Spleenwort, 36
Spraguea, 88
Spurge, 150, 151
Spurge Family, 150
Squaw Bush, 152
Squaw Carpet, 155
Stachys, 210
Staphylea, 152
Staphyleaceae, 152
Star-flower. 184
Star-of-B ethlehem , 120
Star Tulip. 57
Stellaria, 90
Stellariopsis, 131
Stephanomeria, 268
Stonecrop, 114
Stonecrop Family, 113
Storksbill, 149
Strawberry, 126
Streptanthus, 112
Stropholirion, 54
Subularia. 106
Sulphur Flower, 77
Sumach, 151
28l
Sumach Family, 151
Sundew, 112
Sundew Family, 112
Sunflower, 256
Sunflower Family, 239
Sweertia, 187
Sweet Cicely, 1 70
Sweet-gale Family, 69
Sweet-scented Shrub, 101
Sword-fern, 37
Symphoricarpos, 234
Syringa, 121
Syrmatium, 145
Taraxacum. 259
Tarweed, 257, 258
Tar weed, 133
Taxaceae, 46
Taxus, 47
Tellima, 120
Thalictrum, 95
Thimble Berry, 125
Thistle, 267
Thysanocarpus, 105
Timber-line, 4
Toad-flax, Bastard, 74
Tobacco, 213
Tocalote, 266
Tofieldia, 50
Torreya, 47
Toxicodendron, 151
Transition Zone, 2
Trichostema, 208
Trientalis, 184
Trifolium, 139
Triglochin, 47
Trillium, 60
Troximon, 269
Tsuga, 44
Tulip, 57
Tumble Weed. 84
Twayblade, 65
Twinberry, 235, 236
Umbelliferae, 170
Umbellularia, 101
Upper Coniferous Belt, 3
Upper Sonoran Zone, 2
Urtica, 73
Urticaceae, 73
Utricularia, 230
Uva-ursi, 180
Vaccinium, 181
Vagnera, 59
Valerian, 236
Valeriana, 236
Valerianaceae, 236
Valerianella, 237
Valerian Family, 236
Valerian, Greek, 191
Venus Looking-glass, 238
Veratrum, 51
Vcrbascum, 214
2&2
Veronica, 225
Vetch, 147
Vetch, Dakota, 143
Vicia, 147
Vine Family, 156
Viola, 159
Violaceae, 159
Violet, 159-161
Violet, Dog-tooth, 57
Virgin’s Bower, 94
Vitaceae, 156
Vitis, 156
Wake Robin, 60
Wall Flower, 107
IVashingtonia, 171
INDEX
Water Cress, 108
Waterleaf, 198
Water Lily, 93
Water Milfoil Family,
169
Water Plantain Family,
48
Water Starwort Family,
151
Wax Myrtle, 70
Whitneya, 259
Willow, 66-69
Willow Family, 65
Willow-herb, 163
Wine-flower, 101
Wintergreen, 175
Wood-fern, 38
Woodland Star, 120
Woodsia, 39, 40
Woodwardia, 36
Wormwood, 261
Wyethia, 256
Yard Grass, 82
Yarrow, 261
Yellow Pine Belt, 2
Yerba Santa, 203
Yew, 47
Yew Family, 46
Zauschneria, 166
Zygadenus, 50
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