LUPINES. 101 



lupines, but perhaps the names wild bean, blue bean, and blue pea 

 are more generally applied to them in Montana. There are a number 

 of species which occur within the limits of the State, but they so 

 much resemble one another that a person who knows one of them wiU 

 easily recognize the others. On account of their practical importance 

 it seems highly desirable that stockmen should become sufficiently 

 acquainted with these plants to recognize them at a glance, and should 

 learn to call them lupines, since this name is commonly used by botan- 

 ists and agriculturists in the United States and Europe. Some uncer- 

 tainty has existed in the minds of a number of stockmen regarding the 

 identity of the loco weeds and lupines. In a few instances illustrations 

 have been noticed in agricultural papers of the white loco weed 

 {Aragallus spicatu4) which were labeled "loco weed or lupine." But 

 loco weeds and lupines are not at all alike either in their effects or in 

 their appearance. A glance at the yjhotographs of these two plants 

 will show at once the "striking differences in their leaf characters and 

 should enable anyone to distinguish them (Pis. IX to XV). 



The third of the lupines above mentioned, L. eyaneus^ is abundant 

 around Livingston and Bigtimber and probably elsewhere in the 

 State. In this paper it is generally not distinguished from L. leuco- 

 jjhyllus, with which it is practically identical. As regards L. leuco- 

 phyUiis and Z. .^ericeus^ no good evidence could be obtained that the 

 preferred soil and climatic conditions of these two species differ to 

 any noticeable degree. The species, however, are not usually found 

 growing in the same localities. Lupinus leucojohyllus is found in 

 Yellowstone, Sweet Grass, Park, Gallatin, Madison, Meagher, Jef- 

 ferson, Deerlodge, Ravalli, Plathead, Teton, Choteau, Lewis and 

 Clarke, Cascade, and Fergus counties. This species is the most 

 widely distributed and most abundant of all lupines which grow in the 

 State. Lux>tnus sericeus was found in Carbon, Park, Gallatin, 

 Meagher, Cascade, Choteau, and Teton counties. Both these species 

 are found ranging from the lowest valleys to an altitude of 8,000 feet. 

 As a rule the lupines do not grow in the flat river bottoms. The 

 usual location in which they are abundant is on sloping hillsides or 

 upon parts of mountain ranges at moderate elevations. In many 

 parts of the State these plants grow so profusely in such localities as 

 to cover the ground completely, and when the lupines are in full 

 l)loom, these areas are visible from distances of several miles. The 

 innnense tracts of lupines, with their bright blue flowers, are familiar 

 to all stockmen. 



HISTORY AS POISONOUS PLANTS. 



Circumstances affecting tJieir injurious character. — During the season 

 of 1900 these plants began to bloom about May 20, and the first full 

 pods were collected on June 5. As already stated, the season was 



