The Plant World Volume 5 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ...of water, sustaining a few acres of salt grass (Distichlis), almost thick enough to conceal the efflorescing alkali about their roots. Among the glass grows three species of Cleomella, a thistle (Cnicus Mohavensis), a Calochortus (C. striatum), a Sidalcea (S. nitrophila) and several rare species of Atriplex. The surrounding mesas and mountains, barren as they appear, here never failed to reward exploration. The next morning the driers must be changed, that irksome but necessary task which consumes so much valuable time on a collecting trip. The rest of the morning was spent in a walk to a neighboring mountain spur, where several good plants were secured, the most interesting being a fine new Nemaeladus, for which I have proposed the name N. adenophorus, in reference to the curious and beautiful glands of the capsule. We got a late start after dinner; the nature of the road restricted us to a walk, and several stops had to be made for roadside plants, so that it was nearly dark by the time we had accomplished the nine long miles to Carbenberry Springs. These are situated at an altitude of 4000 feet in the mouth of a canon entering the San Bernardino Mountains. An early scramble over the rough hills, at the peep of day the next morning, was disappointing. The dried remains of early annuals were abundant, but of these only the lovely Phacelia campanulata still lingered in blossom, and there were some unusually fine clumps of Mirabilis mpera. But about the springs, its type locality, the desert rose (R. Mohavemis) was in fine condition, growing in company with one of Xuttall's willows (Salix exigua). This early ramble gave a brisk appetite for breakfast, which despatched, the ascent of the mountain was begun. There is a good road, which follows for a long way t...