126 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 



vioiisly mentioned extend from east to west, at right angles to the range. 

 They are many miles in extent, much larger than any drift from canyons. 

 A careful examination of the region north and west of Flathead lake will 

 no doubt reveal glacial material on a large scale. From the trend of 

 the mountain chains in that section of the state it will be interesting to 

 trace this drift to its source. It is quite probable that this will be in 

 the Kootenai mountains in the northern part of the state, with additions 

 from the Swan and Mission ranges. 



BOTANY OF MISSION VALLEY. 



Collecting in the Mission valley is confined to the spring of the year. 

 When the June rains fall almost daily the valley is a bed of flowers from 

 end to end and from mountains on the east to mountains on the west, 

 fhe vegetation is very characteristic. A few species of conspicuous 

 flowers hold sway, and an examination of any spot after hours of walk 

 will reveal almost identically the same flora over the entire distance. 

 During the wet spring months the valley is a fairy land of flowers. But 

 later when the rains cease the vegetation withers. The lupines are 

 visible only by the stumps of stems. Balsamorrhiza sagittata, with its 

 big and thick leaves, is a conspicuous feature. The leaves dry on the 

 stem, and stand so thick in places that to pass through makes noise 

 enough to be heard a long distance. Achillea holds its green color well, 

 but it succumbs to the heat, and withers on the ground. Wild Cranesbill 

 is another abundant flower, and it with the others dies. The thousands 

 of heads of cattle and horses nip the grass to the roots, and the former 

 beautiful valley looks brown, bleak and bare. 



The ride across Mission valley in early June, 1901, was delightful. 

 Everything was at its best. Copious rains caused the vegetation to be 

 profuse. While the number of species was not large the abundance of 

 plants of a species was very great. Comment was frequently made on 

 the beauty and abundance of the flora. Two months later the valley 

 presented a brown, sun-scorched, and bleak appearance. 



In 1902 the trip across the valley was made early in July. The vege- 

 tation was waning, but was still very beautiful. Most conspicuous were 

 the large areas covered with Clarkia, Clarkia pulchella, Pursh. This 

 beautiful flower will forever keep in memory of botanical students the 

 name of its illustrious discoverer. The flower is a beautiful and delicate 

 purple. TTie plant grows from six inches to two feet high, often spread- 

 ing widely, though usually small, slender stalked, with a profusion of 

 nodding flowers. It grows on the high and dry slopes, rarely appearing 

 above 4,000 feet. It is a conspicuous feature of the landscape in western 

 Montana during the summer. Often it is so abundant that the purple 

 patches may be seen for miles. On the trip mentioned the Clarkia was 

 just at its best. Everywhere in the valley it could be seen in greater 

 or less abundance and profusion. Here was a beautiful stretch covering 

 several acres, growing on a gentle southern slope. Yonder were smaller 

 straggling patches, lending a delicacy of color to the mass of white 

 Achillea, blue Luplnus and yellow Balsamorrhiza. In whichever direc- 

 tion the eye was turned the Clarkia might instantly be distinguished from" 

 the other vegetation. In this open valley it is at its best. It is a flower 



