VOL. III.] A Botanical Trani^. 109 



many hands. Prof. Coulter reports var. occidentalis as the more 

 usual one from this region, but Helena must be an exception for 

 ours is the type. 



Of mustards met with that day the following may be recorded : 

 Draba alpina var. glacialis, Draba neiiiorosa var. hebecarpa, Arabis 

 perfoliata, spathidata, Drjimmondii and Holbcellii, Erysimum aspe- 

 rum 3.r\d parvijiorum, Sisymbrium canescens and linifolium. This 

 linifoliiwi is a beautiful plant, glabrous, and every part of it made on 

 the plan of straight lines. Coulter gives it as of very narrow range. 

 It would grow as a luxuriant weed, but has never as yet been trouble- 

 some. Sisymbrium canescens may well be classed as one of our 

 local, troublesome weeds, and in early spring is much infested by a 

 fungus. 



Vesicarla alphia was just going out of bloom, while in cultivated 

 fields Camelina sativa is thriving at an alarming rate. It has 

 been introduced through wheat and oat seeds. 



Capselia Bursa-pastoris is cosmopolitan and is found all over our 

 state, along roadsides, streets, fence corners and cultivated grounds. 

 Lepidiiim intermedium is native, abundant and something of a weed. 



Our most common violets are Viola canina varieties sylvestris and 

 adunca. V. cuciilata is said to be sparingly reported from the Rocky 

 Mountain region, but it has been gathered at Helena, Deer Lodge, 

 Bozeman, Anaconda, and the Belt. Mountains, all in Montana. V. 

 Canadensis is plentiful, and also V. Nuitallii. Since the date of this 

 expedition the writer has gathered Viola biflora at Granite, Mon- 

 tana, at an elevation of eight thousand feet. 



Cerastiutn arvense was abundant and Stellaria longi/olia and 

 longipes were plentiful, while Arenaria congesla var. subcongesta 

 was just beginning to flower. Lewisia rediviva, locally called 

 " Bitter root," was blooming profusely. It is a portulaca, with 

 linear fleshy leaves lying flat on the ground in a perfect circle of 

 2)4. to 3^' inches diameter. These leaves usually have disappeared 

 by the time the bloom appears, so that the flowers seem to lift their 

 rosy colored heads out of the bare, sandy plains. The bloom is 

 wondrously cheery on a bright sunny morning. The roots are thick, 

 covered with a deep red epidermis, and have a slight!)- bitter taste. 

 When dried and pounded into a meal they make a very nutritious 

 and acceptable diet, formerlv much used by our Indians. 



The hillsides in many [)laces revealed the home of our wild flax. 



