28 Muhlenbergia, Volume 3 
a ptotected canyon. LZrstocoma Webber is also a rare grass. It 
occurs at the base of rocky promontories in the foothills north 
of Reno. Melia stricta and M. fugax madophylla are frequent 
in the pockets of soils on the sides of rocky canyons, while the 
following blue-grasses are quite abundant throughout the sage- 
brush areas in certain suitable soils: Poa Fendleriana, Sand- 
bergut, Nevadensts, Buckleyana, laevigata. In early spring Fes- 
tuca microstachya covers the ground wherever there is a space 
left for it underneath the sagebrush and other plants. A Sztan- 
ton near S. flecuosum Piper, is plentiful in rocky situations, but 
the tufts are never in close proximity. Ad/ium atrorubens is 
not an uncommon plant in dry places in the foothills, while 4. 
parvum, also inconspicuous, prefers hard ground among the 
sagebrush. Allium anceps, by far the most abundant of the 
onions, occurs in large patches of an acre or less in extent on the 
thyolite hills to the north, giving them in early spring the ap- 
pearance of grassy slopes. yretillaria pudica occurs in a few 
places in the foothills near Verdi, and is, in all probability, a 
_visitor from the Sierras. Lewzsta redeviva evidently comes in 
‘from the north and seems to thrive if given plenty of sunshine 
in poor rocky soil where the sagebrush has a struggle. 
SWAMPS AND MEADOWS 
_ Many hundreds of acres in the Truckee Valley are still 
under water in winter time, a large proportion partially drying 
out by evaporation during the summer months. The lowest 
portion consists of a dense wilderness of 7ypha latifolia. On 
the borders of this belt we find Sagzttarza latifolia, Sparganium 
simplex, and in moist localities where there is more or less alkali 
present, Scerfus Nevadensis and Distichis spicata. In strongly 
alkaline localities, where a white crust forms on the ground dur- 
ing the summer, the more common plants are Salicornia her- 
bacea, Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Dondia diffusa. ‘The te- 
maining portions somewhat higher up are used for the produc- 
tion of native hay and are irrigated by flooding several times 
during the summer. The following species are found in greater 
