587 
finds were remarkable, as ericaceous plants are rather rare in Mon- 
tana. In aspect the place resembled bogs of Michigan and of 
Sweden. 
The paper further contained a list of the more remarkable plants 
collected on Old Hollowtop, followed by a short description of 
the general nature of its flora and that of the other alpine peaks of 
Montana. Their characteristic plants, like those of other alpine 
regions, are remarkable for their small size and their brightly col- 
ored flowers. Most of them are but 2 to 3 inches high; few ex- 
ceed 5 inches. The mountain side of Old Hollowtop presents a 
mixture of golden yellow, indigo-blue, the richest magenta, the 
most delicate pink, violet and snowy white, with a mat of the 
brightest green for a background. 
The forage plants of these alpine peaks are chiefly small ces- 
pitose clovers, and include but few grasses. During the summer 
four or five such clovers were collected, one or two of which are 
undescribed. Among the trees and shrubs of the alpine peaks, 
the most remarkable were the five small alpine willows collected, 
forming a light green mat covering the mountain-side above tim- 
ber line. The smaller willows of the White mountains and of the 
Alps and of Siberia are giants compared with these dwarfs of the 
Rockies. Four of these Montana willows, with Sa/ix rotundifolia 
from the island of Unalaska, are the smallest shrubs of Salicaceae 
in the world. Two of these pygmies are new to science; one of 
which, growing often only half an inch high, is believed to be the 
smallest species of willow known. 
In the discussion following, Dr. Britton inquired regarding the 
similarity or difference of circumboreal willows. 
Mr. Rydberg said that S. herbacea apparently remains the same 
in both hemispheres; so does S. arctica; and S. Brownit does so 
through a wide range in North America. 
Dr. Britton remarked that Mr. Rydberg’s Montana trip was the 
first expedition sent out officially by the New York Botanical 
Garden. 
Prof. Burgess referred to a supposed age of 34 years fora 
dwarf willow of about 6 inches stem from Alaska, and Dr. Ryd- 
berg mentioned 12 years as perhaps the age reached by the dwarfs _ 
of his present paper, their stems dying along the rooting base too” 
rapidly to permit Brest age. ae 
