The American Botanist 



VOL. XVII JOLIET, ILL., MAY, 1911 No. 2 



t/yi all fain hues from ivhite to mingled nose, 



^^long the hedge the clasping SinSiveed floufens; 

 •^incl ivhen one chalice shuts a neuf one olows, 



tJhene's blooming fon all minutes of all houns, 

 ^ilong the hedge beside the tnodden lane, 



nhene day by day u^e pass and pass again. 



—Augusta Webster 



THE SOAP WEED. 



By Earl Lynd Johnston. 



IT is the unusual that attracts our atention. The common 

 things of life, no matter however interesting they might 

 be, are likely to be overlooked every day. An ever-green 

 tree in a never-green environment, our western plains, would 

 call forth comment from a very ordinary person. It is an 

 unusually interesting plant that forms the subject of this 

 article. 



As the early explorers passed through Colorado they 

 noticed a plant out of harmony with its surroundings. It 

 could be seen on the dry hills and rocky slopes, and, per- 

 chance, in the sandy river bottoms. It was green while its 

 environment was bleak and dry. Fremont, in the report of 

 his trip down the Platte, made mention of it. Early settlers 

 became acquainted with it and knew its name long before 

 they had even heard of the names of the other plants indigen- 

 ous to the same region. 



It presents a striking appearance with its long, stiff, ever- 

 green leaves, pointed like daggers, growing in a dense bunch 

 from a thick root. The appearance of these leaves gave it 



