2 Contributions to Western Botany. 
or Zone to this division). Pinus monophylla also has the same 
distribution but is Jess common, in our region. The apple and 
peach have nearly the same distribution but the apple runs up a 
little into the Middle Temperate while the peach runs down a 
little into the Tropical but stops short at the upper edge of the 
Lower Temperate. This is the Upper Sonoran of Merriam but 
has no relation to the Tropical Zone in which it is placed by 
him, its whole flora is distinctly Temperate. The sagebrush 
(Artemisia tridentata) also stops short off at the lower edge of the 
Lower Temperate but goes entirely through the Middle Temper- 
ate also. 
The Middle Temperate is limited by the upper edge of 
the distribution of Juniperus Utahensis and runs to the upper 
limit of the sagebrush and the deciduous oak (Quercus Gam- 
belii), it also touches the lower edge of the distribution of the 
spruce and aspen in the Great Basin, though the latter is of no 
value zonally in Idaho or the eastern States asit runs far down 
into the Middle Temperate in those regions. The characteristic 
plant of this zone is the deciduous oak and gives it the name of 
Oak Belt or Zone. Pinus ponderosa isalsoa good zonal plant for 
this belt in the Great Basin; but in Idaho itrunsup alittle too far in 
the Upper Temperate. This division is the Transition of Merriam 
but it is a poor name as it shows no transition to the Tropical as 
Merriam supposed, and shows less intermingling of floras than 
the Upper Temperate. 
The Upper Temperate is characterized by the spruce and 
many other conifers, and runs up to the treeless regions or flora, 
from the upper edge of the sagebrush and oak distribution. Tt 1s 
called the Spruce Belt or Zone. 
The Frigid Zone cannot be kept distinet from the ‘Temperate 
as ithas neither genera nor species sufficient to warrant any. 
