Gilia Californica, Benth. Phlox or Polemonium Family.

Stems.—Woody; two or three feet high. Leaves.—Palmately three- to seven-parted, with spreading, needle-like divisions, two to four lines long. Flowers.—Solitary, at the ends of the branchlets; rose-pink or lilac, with a white eye. Calyx.—Five-toothed. Corolla-limb.—An inch and a half across. (See Gilia.) Hab.—Dry hills from Monterey to San Bernardino.

I hardly know how to describe these delightful flowers. At a little distance the plant-stems have almost the look of a cactus, so densely are they clothed with the small, rigid leaves. Nor does a closer acquaintance serve to lessen the likeness—for in our breathless haste to take possession of the beautiful blossoms we are quite certain to have their prickly character impressed upon the hands as well as upon the sight. The texture of the flowers is of the finest silk, with an exquisite sheen; and they have a delicate fragrance. Growing at the tips of the numerous branchlets, they often form large masses of rich rose-colored bloom, which are especially brilliant and showy against the warm foliage.

[PRICKLY PHLOX—Gilia Californica.]

In some localities they are called "rock-rose," an unfortunate name in two respects: it has long belonged to a yellow flower of an entirely different family—Helianthemum; and these blossoms do not in the least resemble a rose.

CALIFORNIAN FOUR-O'CLOCK.

Mirabilis Californica, Gray. Four-o'clock Family.

Stems.—From a woody base; a foot or two long. Leaves.—Ovate; six to fifteen lines long; rather thick. Flowers.—Magenta-colored; one to three in a campanulate, calyx-like, five-toothed involucre. Involucres nearly sessile. Perianth.—Six lines long; open funnel-form; five-lobed. Stamens.—Five. Anthers yellow. Ovary.—Globose; one-celled. Style filiform. Stigma capitate. Hab.—Southern California and eastward.

When the heat of the day is over and the morning-glories are folding together their faded chalices, the bright little four-o'clocks begin to open their myriad magenta-colored eyes upon the closing day, and they, together with the evening primroses, will keep the vigils of the night. These diaphanous little flowers, with their long stamens resting on the lower side of the perianth, are like diminutive azaleas.