142 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



serrulata) which departs from the habit if its congeners in 

 displaying its yellow blossoms in the bright sunshine. 



Leaving the river valley the way was again across the 

 rolling prairie. Occasionally on the more abrupt and rocky 

 slopes were patches purple with flowers of loco {Oxytropis 

 lamer tii) or pale yellow with the low insignificant painted 

 cup (Castilleia sessili flora) which represents its genus on the 

 plains. On the prairie at intervals appeared the delicate pur- 

 ple plumes of the torch flower {Sieversia ciliaia). 



By the time Pipestone, Minnesota, was reached it was 

 evident that the mustard was more advanced. At Fargo the 

 plants had been low, the first flowers topping a dense mass 

 of buds on yet undeveloped stems, but here the stems had 

 stretched upward for perhaps a foot. The prairie grasses 

 and their accompanying Psoralea and Artemisia also had 

 grown taller. Fleabane {Brigeron pliiladelphicus) was in 

 flower in low meadows and the pale green leaves of the 

 deadly water hemlock {Ciciita iiiaciilafa) were noted in some 

 places. Near Garretson flowers were seen for the first 

 time on the alsike and red clovers, the earlier flowering white 

 clover being a prominent part of the pastures over most of 

 the journey although not so common northward. The pink 

 flowered PJilox pilosa appeared in the meadows and was 

 thereafter one of the conspicuous flowers. 



A days stop was made at Sioux Falls. There the wood- 

 land roses (Rosa hianda) which are slightly earlier than the 

 prairie ones, were in bloom. Flowers were noted on alfalfa 

 and on prairie larkspur {Delpliiniuin penardi) and the leaves 

 of the Compass-plant (Silphittm laciniatum) were seen for 

 the first time. The falls of the river and its older bed are 

 a very interesting sight. When it had cut down to the 

 solid quartzite it wandered over considerable territory seek- 

 ing its way downward. On this occasion it seemed remark- 



