Flora of South Fork of Kings River. 19 



Populus tretnuloides Michx. Quaking Aspen. Tree with 

 straight stems, smooth, pale-gray bark. Leaves ovate, orbicular, 

 quivering in the slightest breeze. At the upper elevations, Bubbs 

 Creek, also a few trees near Converse Basin. 



BETULACE>E. Alder Famii^y. 



AInus tenuifolia Nutt. Alder. A small tree with red- 

 brown bark, growing along streams. Leaves oblong to elliptical, 

 doubly serrate. This is the only alder and is found along Bubbs 

 Creek and Kings River. 



Betula occidentalis Hook. Birch. Small tree with dark 

 brown, dotted bark. Leaves orbicular to broadly ovate, paler on 

 the lower surface, truncate at base, sharply dentate, on short 

 petioles, somewhat resinous. Catkins almost sessile, an inch 

 long, appearing with the leaves. The catkins of the birch differ 

 from those of the alder in having the scales fall from the axis 

 when the seeds are ripe. The catkins of the alder form dark 

 brown cones, which persist on the trees long after the seeds have 

 been discharged. Kings River and Bubbs Creek. 



POLYGON ACE/C. Buckwheat Family, 



KEV TO XHH GCKERA. 



FLOWERS WITHOUT INVOLUCRES. 



Sepals 4, stigmas 2, tufted ; akenes winged. 



Oxyria, Mountain Sorrel. 



Sepals 6, unequal, the inner appressed to the triangular akene. 



Stigmas 3, tufted Rumex, Dock. 



Sepals 4-6, equal, appressed to the triangular or lens-shaped 



akene ; stigmas capitate. . Polygonum, Joint- Weed. 



FLOWERS WITH INVOLUCRES. 



Involucres several-flowered, akenes 3-sided. 



Eriogonum, Wild Buckwheat. 



Involucres i-flowered (rarely with 2 or 3), akenes lens-shaped. 



Oxytheca. 



Oxyria digyna L. Perennial herbs. Leaves round, kidney- 

 shaped, about an inch wide, mostly from the root on very slender 

 petioles. Flowers perfect, small, reddish, in panicles terminat- 

 ing leafless stems. Perianth with 2 erect divisions, 2 spreading, 

 all separate. Stamens 6, stigmas 2, sessile with a tuft of hairs at 

 the end of each. Akene broadly winged. Above timber line, 

 amid the rocks on Harrisons Pass. 



