Rocky Moitntain Rambles. 



183 



arid plains Buckley's meadow grass {Poa Buckleyana) is co;n:r.on, 

 and occasionally the Oryzopsis cuspidata may be seen. This 

 species is common east to the Nebraska sand hills, and abundant 

 on the plains of Colorado, New Mexico, and the Dakotas. The 

 widely distributed needle grass {Stipa comata) also occurs; on 

 the dry and rocky hills in the basin country the western red 

 cedar (Junipertis occidenialis) occurs in scattered groups. It 

 is the only conifer found on these dry, rocky lava beds. 



Fig. .2 Pinus albicaulis in the Bitter Root Mountains at 7 500 feet 

 altitude. 



The great basin country in Utah and the adjacent region 

 of Wyoming is chiefly interesting because of the large number of 

 purely desert species. Salt Lake City, with a rainfall of about 

 15 inches, has a rich vernal flora and soon gives away to a few 

 perennial woody, deep-rooted plants. The sage brush {Artemi- 

 sia) several species, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Atriplex Nutiallii, 

 Argemone hispida, are conspicuous plants on the dry plains. 



