110 Kansas Academy of Science. 



work of the collection and study of plants and their environ- 

 ment was quite thorough in that county (Logan), and included 

 some of Gove, Scott and Thomas counties. We then trans- 

 ferred to Sherman county, at a point about ten miles south of 

 Goodland on the north fork of the Smoky Hill. Here we found 

 fine conditions for a good and varied collection of plants. The 

 topography is varied, as also the water conditions. We col- 

 lected some fine hydrophytes, notwithstanding the severe 

 drought of that summer. There are some rather pronounced 

 breaks or buttes along the Smoky, and these gave us xerophy- 

 tic conditions on their summits and points, and springs at 

 their bases, with every gradation between. 



On one of our excursions from camp we had separated for a 

 short time, Mr. Wilson going to the head of a canyonlike de- 

 pression, while I went down through it and towards the point 

 of a blufif on the opposite side. This would give us all the con- 

 ditions in that place and would be accomplished more satis- 

 factorily. Reaching the opposite ridge ahead of Mr. Wil- 

 son, I decided to investigate the point of rock forming its limit 

 and overlooking the valley. The arrangement is much like 

 that of the pommel of a saddle, making the spot quite isolated. 

 I here discovered a plant new to us. It formed a thick mat on 

 the rocks, covering an area of perhaps twelve by fifteen feet. 

 It was xerophytic in habit, as indeed it needed to be to survive 

 such rigorous conditions. It would be exposed to the extremes 

 of cold and heat in winter and summer, and to similar changes 

 in moisture. It was prepared for this by a severely restricted 

 amount of exposed surface. The leaves are needlelike and for- 

 bidding. The roots are well covered by the tufted upper parts 

 and are woody. The soil that may be formed is held by the 

 matted habit. The roots took advantage of the nooks and 

 crannies in the rock to seek for moisture and further protect 

 themselves. The whole plant was but a few inches high. It 

 had well occupied the spot, however, and there were many in- 

 dividuals, all told. This proves that it found the conditions 

 favorable for its growth. 



We made the usual notes and collected specimens of the 

 plant. Upon study we found it to be Paronychia sessiliflora 

 Nutt., a member of the Illecebracese or knotwort family. Brit- 

 ton and Brown give its habitat as follows : "In dry soil, Sas- 

 katchewan to Montana, Nebraska, and Colorado." 



