128 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 



and like Achillea, it is scattered everywhere, seldom occupying ground 

 to the exclusion of other plants. 



Here and there among the vegettion the traveler sees another com- 

 posite, taller than the Balsamorrhiza, with yellow center and dark brown 

 ligulate border, much like the "bright-eyed Susan" of the east. This is 

 Rudbekia hirta, a flower well worth cultivation for ornament. It is not 

 so abundant as the others mentioned, but is strikingly conspicuus be- 

 cause of the decided contrast it makes with the remainder of the vege- 

 tation. Like the others it is xerophytic, selecting soil high and dry, 

 lending a special charm by its beautiful flowers. Montana horticultur- 

 ists should not forget it in selecting native flowers for ornament. 



Less noticeable, but equally abundant along the way is a small com- 

 posite resembling the eastern daisy or white weed. The flowers vary 

 from a delicate pink to pure white. The plant is very abundant. 



Less abundant than those before mentioned, but growing profusely 

 wherever the soil is damp, along the edges of the glacial pot holes, on 

 the banks of streams, around springs, in wet places on the mountain side 

 or in the valley, the wild cranesbill, probably Geranium caespitosum, 

 James, may always be found. Its general appearance and color are not 

 so pronounced as those just discussed, but it is a well known plant, 

 abundant, with luxuriant growth when it occurs. 



Occasionally a thistle was to be seen, its flowers dull white or faint 

 cream colored, its leaves presenting a bleached appearance, entirely un- 

 like the delicate colors of the eastern pasture thistle. Its long and num- 

 erous spines give it good protection, and when it is seen the plant appears 

 thrifty. But it is nowhere abundant. Here and there an occasional 

 stem may be seen, but great patches of thistles such as are common in 

 the middle and eastern states are unknown. 



In the damp places along the road, of 'infrequent occurrence in the 

 Mission valley, an occasional tall mallow, probably Maivastrum numoanum 

 Gray, with delicate rose colored flowers crowding its upright stem, tow- 

 ers above the other foliage of the valley. These are stragglers. The 

 plant thrives in the wet thickets and open banks of streams, where it is 

 often very abundant. Flowers are often as conspicuous because of 

 rare occurrence as of abundance. The traveler cannot fail to see the 

 Clarkia. Its attention is forced because of its abundance. The same 

 may be said of Balsamorrhiza, Lupinus and Rudbekia. But in the Mission 

 valley, where the vegetation is low, where the eye may see for miles, a 

 tall stem covered with large delicate rose colored flowers is at once ob- 

 served and noticed. 



Wild dandelions thrive luxuriantly at places in the valley. Cinque- 

 foil or five-finger is everywhere. Yellow composites with small heads 

 show here and there. These, with the plants previously discussed, make 

 up the greater portion of the vegetation over the valley. But the bo- 

 tanist who seeks the smaller and rarer forms will be able in a short time 

 to fill his vasculum, each watered pot hole containing a large number 

 which must be sought to be seen and which only the collector is likely 

 to find. 



About half way across the valley the traveller passes the sand dune 



