PURSLANE FAMILY 85 



but the Yosemite variety is one of our most local and rare 

 forms. It was first collected, "somewhere about Yosemite 

 Valley," in 1891 by Mrs. Willie F. Dodd. Then, after a 

 period of twenty years, it was re-discovered by members of 

 the Sierra Club party of 1911, who brought it in from the 



Lewisia rediviva yosemitana Lewisia pygmaea 



summit of Mt. Watkins and from the crown of El Capitan. 

 This material and the field notes taken by Professor Jepson, 

 one of the collectors, indicate that our form is an exceedingly 

 variable one. The flower-stalks are jointed only near the 

 base and are apparently without bracts, while in the type 

 material, as described by Mrs. Brandegee, the stalks were 

 jointed and bracted near the summit, from which the flowers 

 promptly fell at maturity. There is also a wide variation 

 in the number of flower-parts, indicating that this is only a 

 variety of L. rediviva, which differs chiefly in its larger size 

 and greater number of sepals, petals, stamens, and style- 

 branches. Aside from its botanical interest, which centers 

 around its remarkable variability, the Bitter-root has an in- 

 teresting history. Its generic name was given in honor of 

 Captain Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedi- 

 tion, while its common name has more recently been used 

 to designate an important mountain range in Montana, where 

 it has been adopted as the State Flower. The specific name, 

 rediviva, was applied because of the plant's power to revive after 

 long periods of drought. Specimens uprooted for several 

 days have been known to unfold their flowers when placed 

 in water. 



