184 OLIVE FAMILY 



Meadows, Yosemite Valley, and thence nearly to timber-line. 

 At high altitudes one may expect the large var. redolens Hall, 

 characterized by a stronger fragrance of the herbage, the 5 

 corolla-segments less closely reflexed, thus including the 

 lower part of stamens and capsule in the cup-like corolla-tube 

 and not exposing the purple ring of the corolla. The two 

 forms are well distinguished in the accompanying figures. 

 A decidedly different plant as to general appearance also 

 grows at high altitudes (technically known as D. jeffreyi 

 forma pygmaeum Hall). This is only 4 to 8 in. high, with 

 thicker leaves only 1 to V/i in. long. Its whole appearance 

 is that of a starved plant, or one which has only a short 

 growing period. At Snow Flat, where it grades into the 

 usual form, the smallest plants always grow in poor soil, 

 either sandy or where decaying vegetation has made the soil 

 acid. 



2. D. alpinum Greene. Similar to no. 1 but smaller in all 

 its parts and perfectly glabrous throughout. Leaves strap- 

 shaped, acutish, 1 to 5 in. long. Corolla-segments ^ to ^ 

 in. long. 



Notwithstanding its specific name, this shooting-star is not 

 strictly Alpine, for it grows most plentifully in moist meadows 

 throughout the Upper Coniferous Belt. At high altitudes 

 the plants are smaller and resemble the pygmy form of no. 1, 

 but are always distinguished by the entire absence of glands 

 or ^airs on the branches of the flower-cluster. When timber- 

 line is reached an extremely small form is encountered, the 

 stalks only 2 to 6 in. high and the leaves only J^ to V/2 in. 

 long. This is technically known as forma nanum Hall, and 

 was first described from specimens gathered on Mt. Dana at 

 11,000 ft. alt. 



4. TRIENTALIS. 

 1. T. europaea var. latifolia Torr. Star-flower. Stems 3 

 to 6 in. high, with only a terminal whorl of 4 to 6 leaves 

 which subtend a cluster of dainty slender-pediceled roseate 

 flowers. Leaves obovate, 1 to 3 in. long, ^ to 2 in. broad. 

 Corolla wheel-shaped, deeply 5 to 7-parted, Y A to l / 2 in. across. 

 —Shaded places, chiefly of the Coast Ranges, but also found 

 in the vicinity of Crockers. 



OLEACEAE. Olive Family. 

 Trees and shrubs, ours with opposite pinnately compound 

 leaves. Flowers small, each with a 4-cleft calyx, the corolla 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens mostly 2. Ovary 2-celled, 



