BOTANY OF THE ROUTE. 55 



Eriogqnum niteum, Dougl. Found abundantly near the Columbia, about latitude 48° 

 growing in dry soil on hill- sides, which looked as if covered with buckwheat in flower. A 

 pretty species, a foot high ; flowers large, white. September 22. 



E. MICROTHECUM, Nutt. Common in the Yakima valley, flowering in August. Flowers 

 small, and very caducous ; not ornamental. 



E. Heracleoides, Nutt. On the wet, stony shore of the Columbia, aboiit latitude 48°. 

 Second flowering ; stems two feet high, woody; flowers pale yellow, large. September 25. 



E. NUDUM, Dougl. A common species on the higher slopes east of the mountains. Stems 

 four feet high, naked ; leaves mostly radical and large, nearly all faded ; flowers white, with 

 purple veins. August 12. 



Euphorbia maculata, Linn. Collected, apparently indigenous, and of very large size, on 

 the sandy desert south of the Columbia. November 8. 



Spiranthes cernua, Richardson. Abundant on damp prairies on top of the Cascade range, 

 and westward. August 10. 



Calochortus elegans, Pursh. A single specimen only, found under pines on the top of the 

 Cascades. August 8. 



C. MACROCARPUS, Dougl. Commou in flower in the pine forest east of Mount Adams, growing 

 two feet high ; the flowers single, but very large, and rich purple. August 12. 



PLANTS COLLECTED WEST OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS DURING 1854-'55. 



Note. — S. or G. indicates that Dr. Suckley or Mr. Gibbs collected the plant or the informa- 

 tion as to its range and uses. Twelve species, included in brackets, -were collected only by 

 Dr. Suckley at Port Steilacoom. 



Ranunculus aquatilis, Linn.; var. heierophyUus, T. <fe G., (T. ;) on mud prairie, near Steila- 

 coom ; June 1, rare. 



R. reptans, Linn., (G. ;) wet grounds near Puget Sound and coast. 



R. occiDENTALis, Nutt., (G. j) dry prairies about Puget Sound, common; March 28 to June, 

 2 feet high, 



R. BECURVATUS, Poir.; spring on Whidby's I.; April 20, rare. 



R. ORTHORHYNCHUS, Hook.; wet grouuds in shade, near Steilacoom. 



[R. TENELLUS, ? Nutt., (G. :) Steilacoom, S.] 



Aquilegia Canadensis, (Linn.;) var. formosa, Fischer. Common everywhere on dry prairies 

 to elevation of 4,000 feet ; April to August. [Steilacoom, S.] "Root edible," G. 



Delphinium menziesii, (DC. ;) Whidby's I.; April 20, 1 foot, rare; a large form, flowers 

 deep blue. 



D. azureum, (Mich.) Common in prairies near Columbia river and eastward. 



AcTiEA ARGUTA, (Nutt.) Common in fir forests, Vancouver to Olympia ; 4 feet high. Flowers 

 in May, white ; fruit ripe in July, both red and white on different plants. 



Berberis aquifolium, (Pursh.) Abundant in fir forests and across Cascade mountains east- 

 ward, not west of Coast mountains; flowers in March, fruit ripe in July; called "Oregon 

 grape ;" eatable when cooked. Fort Steilacoom, (S.) 



