BoT.-Voi-. I.] EASTWOOD-STUDIES FROM THE HERBARIUM. \1% 



III.— THE COLORADO ALPINE SPECIES OF SYNTHYRIS. 



One alpine species of Synthyris is now recognized from 

 the mountains of Colorado. This has been aptly named 

 S . alfina. 



I. Synthyris alpina Gray. 



Plate IX, Figs, \a-\d. 



This is found on most of the high peaks of Colorado, 

 growing above timber line, in loose, rocky soil. Its low 

 stature and short spike of dark purple flowers superficially 

 distinguish it from the other species. There are always 

 four calyx divisions, variable in shape and size even in 

 flowers from the same spike, and conspicuously fringed 

 with long white hairs. The corolla consists of two parts, 

 united at the base; the upper broadly obovate, entire, and 

 slightly concave; the lower two or three cleft, with laciniate 

 or entire divisions varying in length and breadth. The sta- 

 mens and style are moderately exserted and the flowers are 

 erect. 



In the little-explored mountains of southwestern Colorado 

 two different species are found above the tree limit. One 

 of these is so distinct that in a group so closely related as 

 that to which Synthyris belongs, it might be taken as the 

 type of a new genus; the other approaches S. alpina. 



The placing of these two species in Synthyris necessi- 

 tates a change in the generic characterization of the 

 calyx. Instead of "calyx with four divisions" it must 

 become "calyx with two, three, or four divisions." This 

 difference in the number of calyx divisions arises probably 

 from a union of parts not infrequent in other genera. 



2. Synthyris Ritteriana, sp. nov. 



Plate IX, Figs. 2a-2e. 



Sparingly pubescent with short, scattered hairs ; scape stout, nearly 3 dm. 

 high, closely covered from the middle of the stem to the spike with foliaceous 

 bracts : leaves radical, 8-10 cm. long, ^/i cm. wide, oblong-elliptical, obtuse, 



