BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 27 



The spring Flora seems to consist of a low species of Phlox 

 and one or two dwarf prostrate Caryophytlece, not unlike 

 Lichens at the first glance ; these are, amongst others, Are- 

 naria? 143, and Stellaria? 144, and Cantua? 430. 



2nd Sub region. — Less firm, sandy plains, traversed by 

 extensive detached granite mountains, on the uppermost 

 waters and sources of Platte River. 



The detached granite mountains are the only geological 

 character of note within this sub-region, and will be noticed 

 among the intermediate regions hereafter. The sandy plains 

 differ from the great deserts, in so far as they are locked 

 between those mountains, more level and gravelly. 



The Botany of these plains is interesting, rich and quite 

 brilliant in comparison with the surrounding country. Most 

 of the river valleys belong to the Saline Region. Here 

 is the centre of the Astragalinm ; at least, I found them 

 nowhere so abundant and ornamental. The most elegant is 

 Astragalus, n. 21, growing in large bushes about 18 inches 

 high with great numbers of purple racemes, a variety of it 

 has rose-coloured flowers. Two other still more bushy 

 species, Nos. 50 and 59, have milky-white racemes, the latter 

 silky-villous herbage. Here grew also Astr. assurgens and 

 caryocarpus, and most of the other species of Astragalece 

 were collected in these plains, as Nos. 39, 74, 108, 120, 125, 

 126, 127, 161, 166, 223,* 256; Psoralea glomerata and 

 Sophora argentea. 



Besides the scattered shrubs of Purshia tridentata are 

 Pentstemon speciosum? (117), CEnothera albicaulis, Helian- 

 thus petiolaris, Asclepias speciosa, Crucifera 1 34, and Cleome 

 integrifolia with Artemisia 668, the most conspicuous plants 

 in height, besides the afore-mentioned Astragalea. The 

 rest are a great variety of low, but elegant plants, as Arte- 

 misia frigida, Lygodesma, 43 and 156, Calochortus, 68, Legu- 

 minosa 123, Labiate 91 and 124, Cynoglossum 360, Eriog 



* This plant is abundant on the saline sandy ridges of the Upper Mis- 

 souri. The Teton-Sioux Indians dig for its sweet root, which seems to 

 surpass in sweetness that of the common liquorice. 



