Lupinus arboreus, Sims. Pea Family.
Shrubby; four to ten feet high. Flowers.—Large; in a loose, whorled raceme; sulphur-yellow; very fragrant. Leaflets.—Four to eleven; generally about nine; narrowly lanceolate; nine to twenty lines long. Pods.—Two to three inches long; ten- to twelve-seeded; silky pubescent. (See Lupinus.) Hab.—Common from the Sacramento to San Diego.
The large yellow lupine is a common plant upon our wind-swept mesas, growing in sandy soil. Its shrubby form, somewhat silvery foliage, and large canary-colored, very fragrant flowers make it always a conspicuous and beautiful plant.
This species, together with L. albifrons, have been found most useful in anchoring the shifting sands of the dunes near San Francisco. It was accidentally discovered in a deep cutting that these lupines sent their roots down sometimes twenty feet, and the idea was conceived of making use of them in the above manner. Barley, which grows more rapidly than the lupine, was sown to protect the plants while very young. In a single year the lupines covered the sands with a dense growth, two or three feet high, sufficient to prevent them from shifting during the severest storms, and to allow of the subsequent planting of various pines, willows, and other trees. Thus the way was prepared for one of the most beautiful of pleasure-grounds—the Golden Gate Park of San Francisco which can hardly be rivaled anywhere for natural situation and diversity of scene.
One of our handsomest species is L. Stiveri, Kell., found in the Yosemite. Its blossoms have yellow standards and rose-colored wings.
ST. JOHN'S-WORT.
Hypericum concinnum, Benth. St. John's-wort Family.
Stems.—Three to eighteen inches high; branching from a woody base. Leaves.—Opposite; often in four ranks; linear to oblong; six lines to an inch or more long; usually folded; translucently dotted. Flowers.—Golden yellow; over an inch across. Sepals.—Five. Petals.—Five; margins black-dotted. Stamens.—Numerous; in three bunches. Ovary.—Usually three-celled. Styles three. Hab.—Central California.
Just as spring is merging into summer, we may look for the bright golden flowers of our common St. John's-wort. The numerous stamens give these blossoms a feathery appearance, and the leaves often group themselves characteristically in four ranks upon the stems.
All the plants of the genus are known as St. John's-wort, because certain of the species were supposed to flower upon the anniversary of this saint. Perhaps there are no other plants around which tradition has thrown such a glamour. Mr. Dyer says, in his interesting book, "The Folk-Lore of Plants," that the St. John's-wort was supposed to be an excellent amulet against lightning, and that it had the magic property of revealing the presence of witches; whence in Germany it was extensively worn on St. John's Eve, when the air was supposed to be peopled with witches and evil spirits, who wandered abroad upon no friendly errands. In Denmark it is resorted to by anxious lovers who wish to divine their future.