COLOR VARIATION IN FLOWERS. I 7 



larger the size (usually), the firmer the texture, the more 

 closely attached to the substratum, the drier and warmer the 

 habitat, the more able were they to withstand changes of 

 light, moisture and temperature, the longer was their life. 



From the foregoing brief account of some of the more 

 striking facts observed It will be seen at once that the environ- 

 mental conditions must be very like those which obtain in 

 other regions where fungi are a pominent feature of the 

 flora. These were daily copious showers, a temperature 

 which ranges from 15 deg. to 21 deg. C, long periods of 

 cloudy days; In addition to these conditions should be added 

 an altitude of 8000 feet, a pine forest, and a humous soil. 



COLOR VARIATION IN SOME COLORADO 



FLOWERS. 

 By Francis Ramaley. 



it Is well known that almost any colored flower may 

 have a white variety or there may be at least individual plants 

 with white flowers. Other color variations are by no means 

 so common. During the past season the writer has noticed 

 a few somewhat striking departures from the usual color in 

 the flowers of some common Colorado species. In fact, the 

 species are so common — being represented by thousands of 

 individuals which one might see In an hour's walk — that it 

 is strange that there should be some variants without a great 

 many. 



Aragalliis lamberti (Pursh) Greene. This very abund- 

 ant species Is represented In both the plains and mountain 

 floras and Is perhaps as common as any other plant with 

 brightly colored flowers in the whole of northern Colorado. 

 The flowers are regularly a reddish-purple but they turn to 

 blue In drying. Sometimes they are yellowish. On July 31 

 of this year I observed near Ward, Boulder County, a single 

 plant otherwise normal but with flowers of a distinctly green- 

 ish robln's-egg color. The plant was well covered with 

 flowers and was very conspicuous even from a distance. 



Lupimis deciimhens Torr. Flowers of this species are 

 regularly a pale blue or bluish-purple. I have seen two or 



