lOO BOTANICAL GAZETTE [august 



The estival floral aspect 



Marked by a conspicuous decrease of the vernal floral display, a 

 decided climatological change, the flowering of certain sod-formers 

 initiated by Panicum Scrihnerianum and followed by Koeleria cristata 

 and Stipa spartea, and the rapid addition of several prominent estival 

 flowers, which all results in a complete shift of the floral tone, the 

 estival floral aspect begins toward the last of the second week in June 

 and extends well up into middle July, when it is terminated by a 

 climatological and floral change even more pronounced. 



Toward the end of the vernal aspect the leafy stalks of oncoming 

 facies render the floral tone weak and in places drown it in a sea of 

 dark green; however, the estival forms like Erigeron, Delphinium, 

 Brauneria,^Ratibida, Kuhnistera, and others seem to push rapidly 

 above these, forming a higher floral stratum than the vernal, but to 

 be overtopped later on by the still higher stratum of autumnal forms. 



With the shifting of climatological conditions, which is very 

 generally appreciated, comes the blooming of Rosa arkansana, Erig- 

 eron ramosus, Delphinium carolinianum, and Brauneria pallida, 

 which with the sod-formers noted above are always indicative of the 

 inception of the estival aspect. The physical factors of the soil have 

 become less contrasting on the various slopes and between different 

 positions on the same slope; still the south exposure seems slightly 

 earlier. The middle and base of slopes closely approach in absolute 

 water content and are less separated from the crests in this respect 

 than in earlier aspects. Correspondingly there appears a more 

 uniform plant-covering at this time. It is to be noted that the holard 

 is markedly much lower than in the vernal aspect. 



During this time Solidago, Helianthus, and Aster have become 

 vegetatively of primary importance and give the general tone of dark 

 green to the aspect. Extending over from the vernal aspect and 

 largely occurring on the upper slopes are Poly gala alba, which on 

 account of its indeterminate inflorescence blossoms through the 

 entire estival aspect, Meriolix, and Gaura coccinea. Hedeoma 

 and Oxalis strida continue blooming on the middle slopes. The 

 dominating species added in this aspect are Koeleria cristata, Rati- 

 bida columnar is, Symphoricarpus occidentalis, and Verbena stricta. 

 The floral forms added in this aspect are twenty-one in number, nine 



