166 Flora of Yo Semite. [ZOE 
grass borders, reflects its pink blossoms in the cold clear rivulets of 
the heights, and the yellow-flowered A/. mephiticus on the gravelly 
side of Clouds Rest requites the pressure of a rude foot with an 
odor as unwelcome as unexpected. 
The low “lousewort,’’ Pedicularis semibarbata, is found on the 
heights on the north side of the valley. Pentstemon breviflorus, 
which is almost woody, grows near the foot of the valley, its. pale 
flowers are often overlooked ; P. Bridgesii, with rather long and 
scattered scarlet flowers, grows in shaded places near streams at 
rather high altitudes ; the purple-flowered form of P. confertus dots. 
the low meadows; P. azureus and P. letus, with showy blue or vio- 
let flowers, are found on dry knolls and along rocky ridges ; the low 
tufted Menziesii var. Newberry?, with red or purplish flowers, the 
mouth of the showy corolla almost closed by the woolly anthers, is 
found along the trail between the Vernal and Nevada falls. 
The labiates are represented along the water-courses by the 
“mountain mint” (Pycnanthemum Californicum), and the rosy- 
flowered Lophanthus urticifolius, and in drier places about the walls. 
by the fragrant ‘‘pennyroyal” (Monardella odoratissima), and by 
the ‘‘skullcap” (Scutellaria Californica). 
The ‘‘wild ginger” (Asarum Hartweg7), hides its dull purplish. 
flowers beneath large mottled leaves in moist and shaded places. 
The orchids of the valley are not very abundant, two species of 
Corallorhiza are frequently found. Zpipactis gigantea is common 
in cold spring marshes, and the showy and fragrant Habenaria 
leucostachys \itts its white spike two to four feet in the lower wet 
meadows. The mountain lady’s-slipper ( Cypripedium montanum ) 
is occasionally collected, and Spiranthes Romanzoffiana and the 
rattlesnake plantain are not uncommon—neither, by the way, is the 
rattlesnake himself. 
The Liliacez here, as elsewhere in California, furnish some of the 
most attractive flowers. Brodiea multiflora, the yellow-flowered 
B. txioides and the “soaproot’’ ( Chlorogalum pomeridianum ), 
which opens its white starry flowers late in the afternoon, are fre- 
quent about the valley. The purple dog-tooth violet ( Erythronium — 
purpurascens) is found on the south side of the valley, from the 
upper iron bridge to Tooloolaweack Cafion. The small orange 
lily, Lilium parvum, is common about the meadows and streams, 
but the fragrant white Z. Washingtonianum must be sought on 
