ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLANT NAMES 



By Mrs. M. E. Soth 



'VT ATURALLY many plants of ihc Ranunculus family as 

 •^ ^ well as of others arc called "western" because they differ 

 only slightly from similar plants of eastern range. Western 

 virgin's bower {ClriiKitis lii/iisticifolia), western anemone 

 {AnoiiiUic ociidciifdlis) and western columbine {. Iqitilcgia 

 forinosa) are familiar examples. Thus, too, "wild" was an 

 easy way to distinguish st)me indigenous plants from intro- 

 duced species similar in appearance or characteristics. Intro- 

 duced s]KTics like Raiiiincitliis acris anil /v. rcf'cns have retain- 

 ed their well-known names as ha\e those familiar often homely 

 forms that are transcontinental in habitat. Rcumd-fruited, 

 long-leaved, small-flowered and others are mostly literal trans- 

 lations of their Latin names and one has but to consult the 

 manuals to find them. 



There, are, how'ever, a few distincti\e names that desig- 

 nate certain Rocky Mountain members of the Ranunculaceae. 

 ndpliinimu (Jcycri is "poisonweed". or "jxiison larkspur," 

 becau.se the large tuft of root leaves, springing up l)efore other 

 forage grows, is often eaten by stock with fatal results. Lark- 

 spur is also called "rabbit-ears" by many .school children, the 

 name being of generic application. 



Aqiiilegia cocrulca, being the State flower of Colorado 

 is (|uite gencrallv calletl "Colorado columl)ine" while . /. cJiry- 

 santha is golden columbine as its name indicates. Our moun- 

 tain species of Caltha bears the distinctive name of "elkslip," 



