Alpine Characteristics of the Coteau des Prairies. 61 



Amelanchier canadensis Torr. and Gray is occasionally 

 met with, as also Salix longi folia Muhl. and Populus trem- 

 u hides Michx. 



The above which we know ordinarily attain to a consid- 

 erable height, here present a bushy, shrubby appearance, 

 and are commonly to be found flowering and fruiting at 

 from one-fourth to one-third their normal height. 



Many of the prairie pulses were noted : Psoralea eseu- 

 lenta Pursh., a characteristic plant of the Cotea, was, at the 

 time of my visit, just breaking loose from its summer moor- 

 ings and preparing to scatter its seeds according to the cus- 

 tom of tumble weeds. Its near relation, Psoralea argophylla 

 Pursh., was frequently found at from five to eight inches in 

 height. The Astragali come in for their due share of consid- 

 eration. 



Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. was of course plentiful,, 

 but with peculiarly dwarfed and densely hirsute leaves. 



Astragalus laxmanni Jacq. is quite common at from 3 

 to 4 inches high. 



Astragalus hypoglottis L. and Astragalus lotitlorus 

 Hook, are more rare plants of these prairie slopes. 



Nearly related to the above is Spissia lamberti (Pursh.) 

 O. K., which is often abundant and covered with a plentiful 

 growth oi Erysiphe. 



Very peculiar are the forms of Petalostemon violaceus 

 Michx. and Petalostemon candidus Michx. Low, dwarfed, 

 and often bushy, their crowded, subglobose heads have 

 more the appearance of a pink or a bachelor's- button 

 escaped from our gardens. 



Many other pulses were found, and as respecting their 

 habits of growth, I must particularly mention two more. 

 Glycyrrhiza lepidota Nutt. is found growing abundantly on 

 the crest in low depressions and scatters its cockle-like burs 

 through the agency of every passerby. Parosela daleai (L.) 

 Britt. crowds out almost every other plant in many places 

 on the sandy shores of lake Benton, where it is found fruiting 

 at from two to twelve inclies high. 



Traveling up the *'Hole in the Mountain" one early 

 morning I met my first specimens of Pentstemon acuminatus 

 Dougl. This plant prefers lower and somewhat moister 



