g6 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [august 



The stcmless loco-weeds, 5". Lamberti and its somewhat earHer 

 flowering and more abundant silky variety, S. Lamberti sericea, are 

 acaulescent perennial herbs from thick deep roots. Their dense 

 spikes of dark-purplish flowers borne on long peduncles, a restricted 

 though subcopious distribution upon the higher slopes, and silky 

 pubescence make them very conspicuous, easily dominating in the 

 aspect. The middle of the aspect is controlled by the variety, but 

 the type, which flowers some ten days later, holds the floral domi- 

 nance for the remainder of the vernal aspect. The type is decidedly 

 more mesophytic in its structure and distribution, and it seems evident 

 that the variety is very possibly a xerophytic mutant of 5. Lamberti. 

 Propagation occurs through fragmentation of the perennial root, pro- 

 ducing as in Astragalus a gregarious habit. x\ limited seed dispersal 

 furthers this patchy distribution. 



Noteworthy on account of their rarity in the aspect are Astragalus 

 plattensis, A. hypoglottis, and Viola cucullata, all flowering toward 

 the end of the second week in May. The Astragali occur only in open 

 association toward the crest and are strikingly inconspicuous. They 

 are both decumbent and perennial. The two-valved pod of A. 

 plattensis is fleshy and dehiscent and its seed dispersal is accomplished 

 through limited propulsion. Viola cucullata is noteworthy, as only a 

 single individual has been recorded in the area and that on the middle 

 slope of a northwest exposure, doubtless the result of fortuitous dis- 

 tribution. 



The third week is characterized by the blooming of Antennaria 

 neodioica, Carex Meadii, C. festucacea, Vicia lineraris, Senecio plat- 

 tensis, and Pentstemon gracilis. Early in the third week Antennaria 

 neodioica flowers; it appears to be more mesophytic than A. campes- 

 tris, occupying the lower slopes, and it occurs less abundantly, but 

 with the fruiting scapes of the earlier species the antennarias are 

 scarcely second to any forms in conspicuousness. A. neodioica is a 

 stoloniferous perennial and forms mats, its rosettes living over winter. 

 It is easily distinguished even at a distance by its large and lighter- 

 colored mats, and by the fact that it flowers while the other species 

 is undergoing maturation and distribution. 



The carices appear at about the same time toward the last of the 

 week. C. Meadii, however, is earlier and occurs sparsely on lower 



