THE AMERICAN BOTANIST S3 



drying effect of the wind for the soil in the crevices and the 

 pockets among the rocks is always damp. Its extent, how- 

 ever, is very limited ; therefore, these rock dwellers have 

 developed long, thickened tap roots that writhe and twist 

 through the interstices to great depths. Upon the crowns of 

 these roots they bear rosettes of broad leaves and many long- 

 stemmed delicate flowers. To this type belong the ill-smelling 

 primrose (Primula Parryi), the Pike's Peak forget-me-not 

 (Mertensia alpina), the alpine synthyris (Synthyris alpina). 

 the spring beauty (Claytonia megarrhiza), the rock ragwort 

 (Scnccio cartliainoidcs) and the mountain sorrel (Oxyria 

 digyna). 



Among the few woody-stemmed plants of the Alpine 

 Zone are the white dryas (Dryad octofctala), and the net- 

 veined willow (Salix reticulata) . A few shrubby willows and 

 currants and the shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiophora fruticosa) are 

 often found at short distances above the timberline, but these 

 two form broad mats of stems and leaves that creep through 

 and cling to the thinnest soil among the rocks at great eleva- 

 tions. 



If you know the blue columbine of lower altitudes, you 

 would be charmed by the diminutive spurs and the beautiful 

 dark blue color of the tiny rock columbine (Aquilcgia saxi- 

 uwntana) which is to be found only on the loftiest rocky slopes, 

 The alpine sunflower (Rydbcrgia grandiflora) is low, woolly, 

 and stout, and bears showy, orange-colored heads that are two 

 or three inches wide. They look enormous in that region of 

 diminutive blossoms and they always face the sun, turning 

 their faces from east to west in the course of the day. The 

 alum root (HcucJicra Hallii) always appeals to lovers of the 

 lily-of-the-valley, so like it, in general appearance are its dense 

 spikes of creamy, rose tinted bells. Roseroot (Rhodiola in- 

 tcgrifolia) is like the door-yard "live-for-ever" as to foliage 

 but it bears a dark purple blossom. EJ<slips (Caltha rotund i- 



