VOL. III. | A Botanical Tramp. 109 
many hands. Prof. Coulter reports var. occidentalis as the more 
usual one from this region, but Helena must be an exception for 
ours is the type. 
Of mustards met with that day the following may be recorded: 
Draba alpina var. glacialis, Draba nemorosa vat. hebecarpa, Arabis 
perfoliata, spathulata, Drummondit and Holbellii, Erysimum aspe- 
rum and parviflorum, Sisymbrium canescens and /intfolium. This 
linifolium is a beautiful plant, glabrous, and every part of it made on 
the plan of straight lines. Coulter gives it as of very narrow range. 
It would grow asa luxuriant weed, but has never as yet been trouble- 
some. Sisymbrium canescens may well be classed as one of our 
local, troublesome weeds, and in early spring is much infested by a 
fungus. 
Vesicarla alpina was just going out of bloom, while in cultivated 
fields Camelina sativa is thriving at an alarming rate. It has 
been introduced through wheat and oat seeds. ‘ 
Capsella Bursa-pastoris is cosmopolitan and is found all over our 
state, along roadsides, streets, fence corners and cultivated grounds. 
Lepidium intermedium is native, abundant and something of a weed. 
Our most common violets are Viola canina varieties sylvestris and 
adunca. V. cuculata is said to be sparingly reported from the Rocky 
Mountain region, but it has been gathered at Helena, Deer Lodge, 
Bozeman, Anaconda, and the Belt Mountains, all in Montana. V. 
Canadensis is plentiful, and also V. Nuttalliz. Since the date of this 
expedition the writer has gathered Viola biflora at Granite, Mon- 
tana, at an elevation of eight thousand feet. 
Cerastium arvense was abundant and Stellaria longifolia and 
longipes were plentiful, while Avenaria congesta var. subcongesta 
was just beginning to flower. Lewzsta rediviva, locally called 
“ Bitter root,” was blooming profusely. It is a portulaca, with 
linear fleshy leaves lying flat on the ground in a perfect circle of 
2% to 3% inches diameter.! These leaves usually have disappeared 
by the time the bloom appears, so that the flowers seem to lift their 
rosy colored heads out of the bare, sandy plains. The bloom is 
wondrously cheery on a bright sunny morning. The roots are thick, 
covered with a deep red epidermis, and have a slightly bitter taste. 
When dried and pounded into a meal they make a very nutritious 
and acceptable diet, formerly much used by our Indians. , 
The hillsides in many places revealed the home of our wild flax, 
