54 



FLORA OF THE RED DESERT. 



The Red Desert is a fairly distinct area, an area with a flora peculiar 

 to and characteristic of an arid, saline region. Its plants are there- 

 fore listed separately, and all vascular forms that were secured are 

 included, whether they are forage plants or not. This is done to indi- 

 cate as fully as possible the real character of the vegetation and thus, 

 by inference, the economic possibilities of the region. 



The following list of plants is based upon specimens secured during 

 the summer of 181)7 along the line of the Union Pacific Railroad, from 

 Pine Bluft's, on the eastern border, to Evanston, on the western border 

 of the Desert. There are represented, besides the districts contiguous 

 to the road, localities both north and south, some of which are from 40 

 to 70 miles distant from it. As the following are but the collections of 

 one season, they must fall far short of constituting the complete flora 

 of the region. 



CONIFERiE. 



Juniperiis knightii A. Nels. (Desert Juniper). — UsTially a shrub-like tree, much 

 branched from the base, but occasionally more arboreous. Common in the sand- 

 stone bluffs along fitter Creek and its tributaries. (See p. 7.) Point of Rocks, 

 June 1 (3096); Eock Springs, .luly 26. 



SCHEUCHZERIACEiE. 



Triglochin maritima L. (Seaside Arrow-grass). — A low, tender, herbaceous plant, 

 6 to 10 inches high, abundant on wet alkali flats; possibly eaten by stock to 

 some extent. South Butte, July 13 (3748). 



GRAMINEiE. 



Stipa comata Trin. &■ Kupr. (Needle-grass). — A loosely spreading bunch grass, 

 easily known by the long, twisted awns that tbe fruits bear. A grass of some 

 forage value and readily eaten by stock in the autumn and winter after the long, 

 vicious beards have fallen. Bitter Creek, July 12 (3700). 



Stipa lettermani Vasey (Lkttkkmax's Nekdlk-(;rass). — A slender form with short 

 awns, growing as a bunch grass among the sage-brush on the dry summits of 

 the hills. Probably in itself valuable, but only occurs in small quantity. South 

 Butte, July 13 (3738). 



Stipa nelsoni Scribn. (Nki-son's Needle-grass). — A tall grass, with very long 

 beads and awns of medium length, foniiing small and ratlu^r loose bunches, with 

 a fair amount of leaves; usually fouml in ()])eii-timbcrt'd areas, but also among 

 the sagebrush on the sl(>])es below the pennaiient winter snowbanks; not })len- 

 tiful. Fiftecn-iMilc Si)rings, July 13 (3731). 



Eriocoma cuspidata Nutt. (Indian Millet, see fig. 2). — A widely distributed 

 bunch grass, from a few inches to a foot or more in height, easily known by its 

 peculiarly branched pauich^s and tbe large, softly silky seeds. It is a glass of 

 much value. Point of Rocks, June 1 (3094); Red Desert, June 3 (3122); Wam- 

 sutter, July 10 (3680); Creston, August 28 (4416). 



Sporobolus airoides Torr. (Fine-top Salt-grass, see fig. 6). — This grass forms 

 patches of various sizes on the huumiocks and drier ridges of bottom lands. 

 The sod seems stitf and the stems, while somewhat slender, are also rather rigid. 

 It forms, however, in some localities much valuable pasture. Black Rock 

 Springs, July 13 (3723); Creeu River, September I (4457). 



