Page:Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico.djvu/101

Rh on, through a lovely country, which, at that season, (August,) after the annual rains, was covered with a luxuriant vegetation. The elevation of the country is here between 4,000 and 5,000 feet above the gulf.

The rare Cevallia sinuata, which Dr. Gregg has also sent from Monterey, was found in this part of the journey. Here also occurred a perennial species of Linum, with yellow petals, so far, in America, the only perennial yellow flowering Linum; it is distinguished by its long aristate sepals, whence the name. Several Oenotherae, not seen before, made now their appearance; different species of Gilia, a number of Nyctagineae, several Asclepiadaceae, Malvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Compositae, and others, were here collected; including a number of new species, which only want of time and references have for the present prevented me from describing. Near lake Encinillas another Martynia was found, which; in its foliage, comes nearer to M. proboscidea, but is readily distinguished by its purple flowers. A beautiful yellow-flowering bignoniaceous shrub, probably Tecoma stans, Juss., seen more frequently further south was observed for the first time near Gallejo spring. Shrubby Algarobiae were seen more plentifully, as also some other Mimoseae.

Here would be the proper place to introduce a notice of the several species of Yuccafound by Dr Wislizenus. But unfortunately, the labels of the specimens were partly lost, so that it is impossible at this time to arrange leaves, flowers, and fruits properly. Certain it is that several species besides Yucca angustifolia, mentioned above, were seen; that the leaves of all of them have filamentose edges, some with very fine, others with very coarse fibres on their margin; that the majority bear juiceless capsules with very thin, paperlike seeds, but that one species produces an edible succulent fruit with very thick seeds. Fortunately the seeds