BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 37 



Laramie, the eastern limit of the shrubby Artemisia, the 

 beginning of the deserts. At the crossing of the South Fork, 

 we parted from the last scattered groves of Oak in some 

 ravines, where already the Juniperus Andina had made 

 its appearance, which becomes a little more frequent towards 

 the Black Hills, where it associates with Pinus resinosa and 

 P. {flexilis) ? On the argillaceous hills near Scott's Bluffs, 

 I found Vesicaria didymocarpa, (Enothera ctespitosa, (Enothera, 

 16, Pentsternon cristatum and Toionsendia, 49; also Kentro- 

 phyta, *J4, with the prostrate Phaca simplicifolia and ternata. 

 This is the region of the genus Phaca, and the dwarf species 

 of Phlox, and Arenaria, 143 and 144, the high plains being 

 covered with them in the neighbourhood of the sandstone 

 stratas. This is also the habitat of Shepherdia argentea, 

 growing both on the cliffs with Ribes aureum and Rhus 

 trifoliolata,* and along the river banks. On the cliffs near 

 Fort Laramie, I found Composita, n. 32, Lygodesmia, 43, 

 Cynoglossum, 8.9, Artemisia frigida and Lewisii ; Pentsternon, 

 1 1 7 ; Thermia, 224; Purshia trident at a, Eriogonum, 241; 

 Senecio Balsamita ; Euphorbia, 261; Thlaspi? 26/; Fritil- 

 laria,\ 271 ; (in fruit, only seen once in a ravine of Scott's 

 Bluffs); Caryaphylleo, 143 and 144; Pentsternon, 155 ; 

 Eriogonum, 158; Onosmodium, 164; Phaca, 166, 171; 

 Crepis, 180; Senecio, 202 ; Guttierezia Euthamia, Erigeron 



from whence they turned back to their den in Scott's Bluffs. This region 

 abounds in bisons, which, like the elk, move in large herds, or bands. 

 Antelopes al9o go in large flocks ; the cliffs harbour the big-horn, or 

 mountain sheep. The number of rapacious animals is likewise great, and 

 more than in proportion. 



* The somewhat viscid berries of Rhus trifoliolata, Nuttall, are eaten by 

 the Indians and hunters. They have an agreeable sour taste, a little 

 aromatic, much like those of Rhus aromatica, Pursh. The shrub grows from 

 6-8 feet high. 



+ This seems to be a very rare and handsome plant. It grows abun- 

 dantly in the deep long ravine leading off from Scott's Bluffs, up the river, 

 to the left, close to the Bluffs, in white clay. It probably flowers in the 

 middle of June, the fruit was almost full grown on the 2nd of July. One 

 bulb out of four I brought to Kew Gardens showed life. 



