IOO BUTTERCUP FAMILY 



the lower part of the Yellow Pine Belt, both in meadows and 

 in half-open places between the trees. 



5. D. pauciflorum Nutt. Stem slender, 1 ft. or less high, 

 from tuber-like roots. Leaves obscurely puberulent, y 2 to 2 

 in. wide, all cleft into linear acute lobes. Flowers blue or 

 pinkish purple. Sepals about y$ in. long, much shorter than 

 the slender spur. Pods diverging. — Moist soil from the Yo- 

 semite and Ackerson's to Tuolumne Meadows. 



6. D. nudicaule T. & G. Red Larkspur. Leaves thick, 

 fleshy, glabrous, 1 to 2Y 2 in. wide, deeply cleft into obovate 

 obtuse shallowly lobed divisions. Flowers scarlet and yellow, 

 in a very loose raceme. Spur */ 2 to 2 /z in. long, longer than 

 sepals. 



The thick leaves, nearly naked stems { l / 2 to 2 ft. high), 

 and reddish flowers readily characterize this striking species. 

 It belongs chiefly to the Coast Ranges but also occurs spar- 

 ingly in the Sierra Nevada, as at Porcupine Flat, where dis- 

 covered by Mr. H. M. Evans. 



7. ACONITUM. Monkshood. 



1. A. columbianum Nutt. Monkshood. Leaves alternate, 

 deeply cleft into toothed or slender-lobed divisions; lower 

 long-petioled, uppermost sessile. Flowers blue, often mixed 

 with white or cream. Sepals 4; the uppermost helmet-shaped, 

 or hooded, y 2 to }£ in. long. Petals 2, hammer-shaped, nearly 

 concealed by the hood. Stamens numerous. Pods 3 to 5. 



This western Monkshood is an erect, perennial herb, 2 to 

 6 ft. high, with long, loose racemes of showy, irregular flowers. 

 The blue, helmet-shaped hood at once distinguishes it. It 

 may be looked for in moist places along any of the higher 

 streams or meadows, but it is more common in the Tahoe 

 district. 



8. ACTAEA. Baneberry. 



1. A. spicata var. arguta Torr. Leaves mostly basal, y 

 to 2 ft. long, several times ternately compound; leaflets 

 ovate, serrate or incised, V/ 2 to 3 in. long. Sepals usually 4, 

 roundish, white, falling early. Petals small, 1 or 2, or lacking. 

 Stamens 11 to 18. Pistil 1, developing into a red or white 

 berry with polished surface. 



This Baneberry is a perennial, glabrous herb with clustered 

 stems i\y 2 to 2 ft.), ample foliage, and small, white flowers 

 in terminal racemes. It grows in moist places in the Yosem- 

 ite Valley and doubtless elsewhere at low altitudes. 



