The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits
Were I, O God, in churchless lands remaining, Far from all voice of teachers or divines, My soul would find in flowers of thy ordaining Priests, sermons, shrines!
To the thoughtless a flower is often a trivial thing—beautiful perhaps, and worthy of a passing glance—but that is all. But to the mind open to the great truths of the universe, it takes on a deeper significance. Such a mind sees in its often humble beginnings the genesis of things far-reaching and mighty. Two thousand years ago one grain of the shower of pollen wafted upon the wind and falling upon a minute undeveloped cone, quickened a seed there into life, and this dropping into the soil pushed up a tiny thread of green, which, after the quiet process of the ages, you now behold in the giant Sequoia which tosses its branches aloft, swept by the four winds of heaven.
Whether manifesting itself in the inconspicuous flower upon the tree or in the equally unassuming inflorescence of the vegetable, or unfurling petals of satin or gauze of brilliant hue and marvelous beauty, the blossom is the origin of most that is useful or beautiful in the organic world about us. Strip the world of its blossoms, and the higher forms of life must come to a speedy termination. Thus we see the flower playing a wonderfully important part in the cosmos around us. It becomes henceforth not only a thing of beauty for the gratification of the æsthetic sense, but the instrument by which Nature brings about the fullness of her perfection in her own good season.
There is perhaps no nature-study that can yield the same amount of pure and unalloyed pleasure with so little outlay as the study of the wild flowers. When one is interested in them, every walk into the fields is transformed from an aimless ramble into a joyous, eager quest, and every journey upon stage or railroad becomes a rare opportunity for making new plant-acquaintances—a season of exhilarating excitement.
Mr. Burroughs, that devout lover of nature, says: Most young people find botany a dull study. So it is, as taught from the text-books in the schools; but study it yourself in the fields and woods, and you will find it a source of perennial delight. Find your flower, and then name it by the aid of the botany. There is so much in a name. To find out what a thing is called is a great help. It is the beginning of knowledge; it is the first step. When we see a new person who interests us, we wish to know his or her name. A bird, a flower, a place—the first thing we wish to know about it is its name. Its name helps us to classify it; it gives us a handle to grasp it by; it sheds a ray of light where all before was darkness. As soon as we know the name of a thing, we seem to have established some sort of relation with it.
Mary Elizabeth Parsons
THE WILD FLOWERS
OF CALIFORNIA
MARY ELIZABETH PARSONS
ILLUSTRATED BY
MARGARET WARRINER BUCK
ROOTS
STEMS
LEAVES
VENATION
FORM
THE APEX
THE MARGIN
TEXTURE
ARRANGEMENT
INFLORESCENCE
THE INDIVIDUAL FLOWER
THE STAMEN
THE PISTIL
THE FRUIT
FAMILIES
GENERA
FOOTNOTE
A FANCY
TOOTHWORT. PEPPER-ROOT. SPRING-BLOSSOM.
ZYGADENE.
POISON-OAK.
WAKE-ROBIN.
BEACH-STRAWBERRY.
MANZANITA. BEARBERRY.
CALIFORNIAN SAXIFRAGE.
MINER'S LETTUCE. INDIAN LETTUCE.
WOOD ANEMONE. WIND-FLOWER.
OSO-BERRY.
WILD DATE. SPANISH BAYONET.
FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL.
MIST-MAIDENS.
THIMBLE-BERRY.
COMMON WILD PEA.
WILD CUCUMBER. BIG-ROOT. CHILICOTHE.
WHITE LAYIA. WHITE DAISY.
BED-STRAW. GOOSE-GRASS. CLEAVERS.
MOUNTAIN HEART'S-EASE.
WHIPPLEA.
WOODLAND STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
WILD BUCKWHEAT.
SIERRA PLUM. WILD PLUM.
ELLISIA.
MADROÑO. MADRONE.
WILD WHITE LILAC.
WHITE NEMOPHILA.
RATTLE-WEED. LOCO-WEED.
WILD MORNING-GLORY.
WOOD-BALM. PITCHER-SAGE.
YUCCA-PALM. TREE-YUCCA. JOSHUA-TREE.
COMMON ELDER.
COULTER'S SNAPDRAGON.
HELIOTROPE.
HOREHOUND.
WHITE EVENING PRIMROSE.
EVENING SNOW.
HEART'S-EASE.
ICE-PLANT.
SQUAW-GRASS. SOUR-GRASS. TURKEY-BEARD.
WHITE OWL'S CLOVER.
HAIRBELL. LANTERN OF THE FAIRIES.
WHITE GLOBE-TULIP.
TOLGUACHA. LARGE-FLOWERED DATURA.
YERBA SANTA. MOUNTAIN BALM.
ALUM-ROOT.
CHAMISAL. CHAMISO. GREASEWOOD.
HOLLY-LEAVED CHERRY. ISLAY.
YERBA BUENA.
MATILIJA POPPY.
WHITE SAGE. GREASEWOOD.
CASCARA SAGRADA. CALIFORNIA COFFEE.
PUSSY'S-PAWS.
SPANISH BAYONET. OUR LORD'S CANDLE.
RUBY LILY. CHAPARRAL LILY. REDWOOD LILY.
THISTLE-POPPY. CHICALOTE.
SALAL. WINTERGREEN.
CALIFORNIAN SPIKENARD.
YERBA MANSA.
SHEPHERD'S PURSE.
MARIPOSA TULIP.
COMMON NIGHTSHADE.
BUTTERFLY TULIP.
WESTERN BOYKINIA.
SOAP-PLANT. AMOLE.
MOUNTAIN BIRCH. WHITE TEA-TREE. SOAP-BUSH.
COMMON WHITE LUPINE.
MEADOW-SWEET.
CALIFORNIAN AZALEA.
AMERICAN BARRENWORT.
SERVICE-BERRY. JUNE-BERRY.
CHRISTMAS-BERRY. CALIFORNIAN HOLLY. TOYON.
VIRGIN'S BOWER. CLEMATIS.
LADIES' TRESSES.
TARWEED. MOUNTAIN MISERY.
LARGE-FLOWERED DOGWOOD.
MILK-WHITE REIN-ORCHIS.
JAMESTOWN-WEED. JIMSON-WEED. THORN-APPLE. COMMON STRAMONIUM.
YARROW. MILFOIL.
RATTLESNAKE PLANTAIN.
BUTTON-BUSH. BUTTON-WILLOW.
WHITE-VEINED SHINLEAF.
PEARLY EVERLASTING FLOWER.
WASHINGTON LILY. SHASTA LILY.
LABRADOR TEA.
PIPSISSIWA. PRINCE'S PINE.
GROUNDSEL-TREE.
LARGE WHITE MOUNTAIN DAISY.
CALIFORNIAN FALSE HELLEBORE.
SUN-CUPS.
COMMON BUTTERCUP.
CREAM-CUPS.
COPA DE ORO. CALIFORNIA POPPY. TOROSA.
MOCK-ORANGE. GOURD. CHILI-COJOTE. CALABAZILLA.
WATER-HOLLY. MAHONIA.
TREE-POPPY.
YELLOW PANSY.
TWIN-BERRY.
OREGON GRAPE. HOLLY-LEAVED BARBERRY. MAHONIA.
SUNSHINE. FLY-FLOWER.
MEADOW-FOAM.
PIMPERNEL. POOR-MAN'S WEATHER-GLASS.
YELLOW FORGET-ME-NOT. WOOLLY-BREECHES.
TREE-TOBACCO.
WIND-POPPY. BLOOD-DROP. FLAMING POPPY.
WHISPERING BELLS.
YELLOW STAR TULIP.
CREAM-COLORED WALL-FLOWER.
BUR-CLOVER.
COMMON MONKEY-FLOWER.
FAWN-LILY. DOG'S-TOOTH VIOLET. CHAMISE-LILY.
STICKY MONKEY-FLOWER.
CREEPING WOOD-VIOLET.
COMMON BLACK MUSTARD.
ECHEVERIA.
HEN-AND-CHICKENS.
BLADDERPOD.
YELLOW GLOBE-TULIP. DIOGENES' LANTERN. GOLDEN LILY-BELL.
YELLOW SAND-VERBENA.
SEA-DAHLIA.
FALSE LUPINE.
TIDY-TIPS. YELLOW DAISY.
GOLDEN BUTTERFLY-TULIP.
BUTTER-AND-EGGS.
BRASS BUTTONS.
DEER-WEED. WILD BROOM.
TREFOIL SUMACH. FRAGRANT SUMACH. SQUAW-BERRY.
GOLDEN STARS.
YELLOW SWEET CLOVER.
CALIFORNIAN COMPASS-PLANT. SUNFLOWER.
CALIFORNIAN SLIPPERY-ELM.
DODDER. LOVE-VINE. GOLDEN-THREAD.
LARGE YELLOW LUPINE.
ST. JOHN'S-WORT.
GOLDEN DICENTRA.
CALIFORNIAN DANDELION.
SKUNK-CABBAGE.
BLAZING-STAR.
STONECROP.
PRICKLY-PEAR. TUNA.
VENEGASIA.
FALSE PIMPERNEL.
CANCER-ROOT. NAKED BROOM-RAPE.
YELLOW MARIPOSA TULIP.
SILVER-WEED. CINQUEFOIL.
COMMON EVENING PRIMROSE.
GUM-PLANT. RESIN-WEED. AUGUST-FLOWER.
SULPHUR-FLOWER.
WILD BOUVARDIA.
LITTLE ALPINE LILY.
GOLDEN YARROW.
TARWEED. WILD COREOPSIS.
LEOPARD-LILY. TIGER-LILY.
YELLOW POND-LILY.
HUMBOLDT'S LILY. TIGER-LILY.
COMMON SUNFLOWER.
PINE-DROPS.
TARWEED.
CALIFORNIAN GOLDENROD.
MOTH-MULLEIN.
WESTERN GOLDENROD.
CREOSOTE-BUSH. GOBERNADORA. HIDEONDO.
RED-STEMMED FILAREE. ALFILERILLA. CLOCKS. PIN-CLOVER.
REDWOOD-SORREL.
ROCK-CRESS.
WILD HOLLYHOCK.
REDBUD. JUDAS-TREE.
HUCKLEBERRY.
STAR-FLOWER. CHICKWEED-WINTERGREEN.
CLINTONIA.
LEMONADE-BERRY. MAHOGANY.
SHOOTING-STARS. WILD CYCLAMEN. MAD VIOLETS.
PRICKLY PHLOX.
CALIFORNIAN FOUR-O'CLOCK.
BEACH MORNING-GLORY.
CALYPSO.
WILD PORTULACA.
THE PRIDE OF CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIAN WILD CURRANT. INCENSE-SHRUB.
GROUND-PINK. FRINGED GILIA.
COMMON FLEABANE.
TURKISH RUGGING.
CANCHALAGUA. CALIFORNIAN CENTAURY.
FALSE MALLOW.
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. FIG-MARIGOLD.
BITTER-ROOT. SPAT'LUM. TOBACCO-ROOT.
SPINELESS TUNA.
SNOW-BERRY.
TREE-MALLOW.
WILD HONEYSUCKLE.
PINK PAINT-BRUSH. ESCOBITA.
CLARKIA.
CHAPARRAL PEA.
HEDGE-NETTLE.
TWINING HYACINTH.
CALIFORNIAN ROSE-BAY.
COMMON WILD ROSE.
BEAUTIFUL CLARKIA.
SPREADING DOGBANE.
FIRECRACKER FLOWER.
GODETIA. FAREWELL TO SPRING.
BLEEDING-HEART.
INDIAN RHUBARB. UMBRELLA-PLANT.
GREAT WILLOW-HERB. FIREWEED.
ALPINE HEATHER.
ALPINE PHLOX.
PINK MONKEY-FLOWER.
SIERRA PRIMROSE.
PRIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS.
LESSINGIA.
ELEPHANTS' HEADS.
ALPINE WILLOW-HERB. ROCK-FRINGE.
FETID ADDER'S-TONGUE.
HOUND'S-TONGUE.
CALIFORNIA LILAC. SOAP-BUSH.
CALIFORNIAN TRILLIUM.
BRODIÆA. CLUSTER-LILY. WILD HYACINTH.
BROWN LILY. MISSION-BELLS. BRONZE-BELLS. RICE-ROOT.
BLACK LILY. CHOCOLATE-LILY.
LARGE-FLOWERED PHACELIA.
VIOLET NIGHTSHADE.
GREEN-BANDED MARIPOSA. NOONA.
SKULLCAP.
CORAL-ROOT.
CALIFORNIA LILAC. BLUE MYRTLE. BLUE-BLOSSOM.
BLUE LARKSPUR. ESPUELA DEL CABALLERO.
CAT'S-EARS. PUSSY'S-EARS.
PURPLE NEMOPHILA.
GROUND-IRIS.
WILD HELIOTROPE. VERVENIA.
BLUE-EYED GRASS. AZULEA. VILLELA.
BABY-EYES. BLUE-VEINED NEMOPHILA.
CALIFORNIAN MILKWORT.
WILD CANTERBURY-BELL.
BIRD'S-EYES.
BABY-BLUE-EYES. CALIFORNIAN BLUEBELLS. MARIANAS.
LILAC SAND-VERBENA. WILD LANTANA.
CAMASS. KAMASS. WILD HYACINTH.
INNOCENCE. COLLINSIA.
BLACK SAGE. BALL-SAGE.
BLUE GILIA.
CHIA. SAGE.
BLUE-AND-WHITE LUPINE.
DOUGLAS IRIS.
ITHURIEL'S SPEAR. BLUE MILLA.
BEACH-ASTER.
TOAD-FLAX.
CATALINA MARIPOSA TULIP.
DOG-VIOLET.
THISTLE-SAGE.
VIOLET BEARD-TONGUE.
WILD GINGER.
COMMON MILKWEED. SILKWEED.
CHICORY. SUCCORY. WILD BACHELOR'S-BUTTON.
CALIFORNIAN LOBELIA.
FALSE INDIGO. LEAD-PLANT.
BLUE-CURLS.
ROMERO. WOOLLY BLUE-CURLS.
HARVEST BRODIÆA. LARGE-FLOWERED BRODIÆA.
VIOLET SNAPDRAGON.
CALIFORNIAN HAREBELL. BELLFLOWER.
SELF-HEAL. HEAL-ALL.
PENNYROYAL. POLÉO.
LUCERN. ALFALFA. CHILEAN CLOVER.
SQUAW'S CARPET. MAHALA MATS.
ACONITE. MONK'S-HOOD. FRIAR'S-CAP. BLUEWEED.
BLUE GENTIAN.
TALL MOUNTAIN LARKSPUR.
COMMON ASTER.
LAVENDER MOUNTAIN DAISY.
BLUE FORGET-ME-NOT. STICKSEED.
INDIAN WARRIOR.
WILD GOOSEBERRY.
FUCHSIA-FLOWERED GOOSEBERRY.
WILD PEONY.
CALIFORNIAN FIGWORT. CALIFORNIAN BEE-PLANT.
FALSE ALUM-ROOT.
INDIAN PAINT-BRUSH. SCARLET PAINT-BRUSH.
NORTHERN SCARLET LARKSPUR. CHRISTMAS-HORNS.
SCARLET FRITILLARY.
COLUMBINE.
CLIMBING PENTSTEMON. SCARLET HONEYSUCKLE.
HUMMING-BIRD'S SAGE.
INDIAN PINK.
COAST LILY.
CHOLLA-CACTUS.
SCARLET BUGLER.
LARGE VETCH.
SCARLET GILIA.
SCARLET MONKEY-FLOWER.
SNOW-PLANT.
SOUTHERN SCARLET LARKSPUR.
WESTERN CARDINAL-FLOWER.
HUMMING-BIRD'S TRUMPET. CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA.
MUILLA.
SILK-TASSEL TREE. QUININE-BUSH.
CALIFORNIA LAUREL.
MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY.
DUTCHMAN'S PIPE. PIPE-VINE.
TURK'S-HEAD CACTUS. TURBAN CACTUS.
FAIRY BELLS. DROPS OF GOLD.
COMMON MUGWORT.
ARTEMISIA. SAGEBRUSH.
WILD PIE-PLANT. CANAIGRE.
HORNLESS WOOLLY MILKWEED.
MOUNTAIN LADY'S SLIPPER.
REIN-ORCHIS.
TEASEL. FULLER'S THISTLE.
SAMPHIRE. GLASSWORT.
MOTTLED SWAMP-ORCHIS. FALSE LADY'S SLIPPER.
CALIFORNIAN PITCHER-PLANT. CALF'S-HEAD.
Transcriber's Notes