100 STOCK-POISONIKG PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



(Dougl.) Greene) (PI. XI), and the purple loco weeds {A. Nankin^hipii 

 R3^dberg, A. hesseyi Rvdberg, and A. lagojyus (Nutt.) Greene). The 

 last three species resemble each other so closely that it is difficult for 

 anj^one not a systematic botanist to distinguish them. The illustra- 

 tions of A. hesseyi (PI. XII) and A. lagopiLs (PI. XIII), which are 

 given herewith, may well serve to show the general appearance of 

 each. 



The silver}^ loco weed is a handsome perennial, 6 to 12 inches in 

 height, which is soft and hairy throughout, and has narrow cylindrical 

 heads of rather inconspicuous flowers. It is fairly common on dry 

 open prairies and in native meadows throughout the State, blossoming 

 in June. 



Aragallus hesseyi^ one of the purple loco weeds, is a hairy, tufted 

 perennial, 4 to 8 inches high, with numerous long, grayish leaves, 

 bearing 5 to 12 pairs of leaflets, and with short heads of showy pur- 

 ple flowers. It is common near Bozeman, in Spanish Basin, Judith 

 Basin, Smith River Valley, and Missouri Canyon, and in various other 

 places throughout the State, growing preferably in dry, rocky, or 

 gravelly, barren soil, and blossoming in Ma}^ and the early part of 

 June. A. hIanMnshijoii closely resembles A. hesseyi. 



A. lagopus is readily distinguished by its larger, more membra- 

 naceous pods, shorter leaves, and smaller number of leaflets. 



LUPINES. 



{Lupimis spp.) 

 Other names: Blue pea, blue bean, wild pea, wild bean, pea vine. 



DESCRIPTION, HABITAT, AND DISTRIBUTION. 



These are coarse, silky-haired, perennial herbs, with blue bean-like 

 flowers arranged in showy terminal racemes, which blossom in June 

 and July. The alternate long-stemmed leaves have from 7 to 11 leaf- 

 lets which radiate from a common point. The fruit is a hairy, sev- 

 eral-seeded, bean-like pod, and the seeds are small and somewhat 

 flattened. 



The species which interest us here are: L. leucoj)hyUiis (PL XIV), 

 in which the flower clusters are dense and many-flowered on short 

 stems; L. sericem (PI. XV), in which they are looser and shorter, with 

 fewer but larger flowers and longer stems, and L. cyaneus, Tvhich is 

 quite similar to the other two species, resembling more nearly L. leu- 

 coj>hylluf<, but differing in its larger and coarser habit. 



These plants belong to the pea family, but are easily distinguished 

 from the loco weeds and other common wild species of this family by 

 the character of the leaf. The leaves are compound, and the several 

 parts arc all attached to the end of the leaf stem, radiating from this 

 point in different directions. A number of stockmen call these plants 



