Nestling close to the ground, usually under some shrub or vine, you will find the little fish-hook cactus, one of the prettiest and most interesting of them all. Its oval form bristles with the little dark hooks, each of which emanates from a flat star of whitish spines.
The flowers may be found in April or May, but it is more noticeable when in fruit. The handsome scarlet berries, like old-fashioned coral eardrops, protruding from among the thorns, are easily picked out, and they very naturally find their way to one's mouth. Nor is one disappointed in the expectation raised by their brilliant exterior—for the flavor is delicious, though I cannot say it resembles that of the strawberry, as some aver. To me it is more like a fine tart apple.
THIMBLE-BERRY.
Rubus Nutkanus, Mocino. Rose Family.
Stems.—Three to eight feet high. Leaves.—Palmately and nearly equally five-lobed; cordate at base; four to twelve inches broad; the lobes acute; densely tomentose beneath. Flowers.—Few; clustered; white, sometimes pale rose; an inch or two across, with rounded petals. Stamens and Pistils.—Numerous. Fruit.—Large; red; "like an inverted saucer;" sweet and rather dry. Hab.—Monterey to Alaska.
The thimble-berry is unequaled for the canopy of pure light-green foliage which it spreads in our woods. It would take the clearest of water-colors to portray its color and texture. The large white flowers, with their crumpled petals, are deliciously fragrant, but with us are never followed by an edible fruit, probably owing to the dryness of our summer climate. In Oregon and northward the berries are said to be luscious. There the bushes grow in the fir forests, where they seem most at home.
Rubus spectabilis, Pursh., the salmon-berry, has leaves with three leaflets, and large solitary, rose-colored flowers, which are followed by a salmon-colored berry. These shrubs are exceedingly beautiful when in full bloom.
COMMON WILD PEA.
Lathyrus vestitus, Nutt. Pea Family.
Stems.—One to ten feet high; slender; not winged. Leaves.— Alternate; with small semi-sagittate stipules; pinnate, with four to six pairs of leaflets; tendril-bearing at the summit. Leaflets.—Ovate-oblong to linear; six to twelve lines long; acute. Flowers.—White, pale rose or violet; seven to ten lines long. Lower Calyx-teeth.—About equaling the tube. Corolla.—Papilionaceous; the standard veined with purple in the center. Stamens.—Nine united; one free. Ovary.—Flattened; pubescent. Style hairy down the inner side. (See Leguminosæ.) Hab.—Sonoma County to San Diego.