REED: MEADOW VEGETATION IN NORTHERN COLORADO 107 
of some of the other plants. The plants here are generally shorter 
and the vegetation resembles dry grassland in its general aspect. 
Some of the plants found here are common plants of the montane 
region but they show a tendency toward dwarfing due to the effects 
of the more severe climatic conditions. In general there is more 
open or bare ground than in meadows at lower altitudes. Among 
the prominent plants are Pseudocymopterus tenuifolius, Bistorta 
bistortoides, Micranthes rhomboidea, Pedicularis Parryi, Achillea 
lanulosa, Rydbergia grandiflora, Sedum stenopetalum, Cerastium 
occidentale, Erysimum oblanceolatum, Artemisia Parryi, Dasiphora 
fruticosa, Campanula petiolaia, Dasystephana Romanzov1i, Agro- 
byron violaceum, Poa crocata. . 
The lower subalpine meadows have the dark green color of the 
montane meadows but the plants are shorter. The number of 
grasses present is smaller and these cover less ground; therefore 
they are not so conspicuous as in the montane zone. Among the 
prominent plants are the following: Erigeron elatior, E. salsugi- 
nosum, Chrysopsis villosa, Achillea lanulosa, Castilleia confusa, Tium 
alpinum, Castilleia occidentalis, Thermopsis divaricarpa, Arnica 
Parryi, Solidago seins teesaea: Campanula petiolata, Chamaenerion 
angustifolium, Helianth is, Artemisia Parryt, Pseudo- 
cymopterus tenuifolius, anes coespabasinn. Senecio Flintit, 
Juncus Drummondii, Carex festiva, Stipa minor, A gropyron oe 
repens. 
GEOGRAPHIC RELATIONS 
The fifty-five most prominent species of the meadow are largely 
northern plants. One plant only, Pseudocymopterus tenuifolius, 
has a range predominantly southern. Twenty-two range about 
equally north and south. TaBLE IV shows geographic and alti- 
tudinal ranges of the predominent plants. 
TABLE IV 
GEOGRAPHIC AND ALTITUDINAL RANGE OF MEADOW PLANTS 
No. of species ranging chiefly to the north..........---.--+5+5+: ier 32 
No. of species ranging chiefly to the south... ...----.- sees eree rer teeters 
No. of species ranging to north and south. ..... 2.6.6. eee see eee teeters 25 
No. of species ranging chiefly —— ieee gees MO Gany Cp gis See Ewiiee ek Ae cone 
No. of species ranging chiefly lower... . 2.0.62 eee eect e rere terete tent ennes 
No. of species ranging both nf ee aa Welt a ite i i ae ees 25 
