70 



PASTURE AND RANGE. 



with the exception of two, O. deflexa (Pall.) D C., and 

 O. foliolosa Hook., are acaulescent, i.e., lack stems and 

 have leaves and flower-stalks growing in tufts from the 

 root-crowns. The whole plant, including the leaflets 

 of the pinnately compound leaves, is covered with num- 

 erous whitish hairs. The flowers are of the legume type, 

 ranging from yellowish white to blue and brilliant purple, 



Fig. 13. Flower of Stemless Loco Weed, showing "spur" (centre 

 right), on the keel. 



and borne in spikes or narrow racemes. They are dis- 

 tinguished from those of the closely related genus As- 

 tragalus by the presence of a spur-like point, one-eighth 

 inch long, at the tip of the keel. The flowering season is 

 June and July and it is at this time that the plant is 

 eaten most freely, though animals that have acquired 

 the habit will search out and eat the fruiting plants. 



