88 Premonfs Expedition 



tinella grandiflora, T. 6^ G. ; which is, perhaps, a variety 

 of A. Torreydna, with the heads immersed among the 

 leaves." "Calhachyris Fremontn, T. & G.. — gathered in 

 the mountains of CaUfornia, in March;" probably distinct, 

 as a genus and species. For particulars, and detailed de- 

 scriptions, the reader is referred, in the number of the Boston 

 Journal^ cited above, pp. 104 — 111. 



Returning to the subject matter of this notice, we find Dr. 

 Torrey's list of plants, collected in the first expedition, pre- 

 faced by some very interesting remarks. From this, we 

 gather, that the " expedition left the mouth of the Kansas, 

 on the 10th of June, 1842, and. proceeding up that river, 

 about one hundred miles, they continued its course, generally 

 along the " bottoms''' of the Kansas' tributaries, but sometimes 

 passing over the upper prairies. The soil of the river bot- 

 toms is always rich, but generally well timbered ; though the 

 whole region is what is called a prairie country. The upper 

 prairies are an immense deposit of sand and gravel, covered 

 with a good, and, very generally, a rich soil. Along the 

 road, on reaching the little stream, called Sandy Creek, (a 

 tributary of the Kansas,) the soil becomes more sandy. The 

 rock formations of this region, are limestone and sandstone. 

 The Amorpha canescens was the characteristic plant ; it be- 

 ing, in many places, as abundant as grass. 



Crossing over from the waters of the Kansas, Lieutenant 

 Fremont arrived at the Great Platte, 210 miles from its junc- 

 tion with the Missouri. The valley of this river, from its 

 mouth to the Great Forks, is about four miles broad, and 

 three hundred and fifteen miles long. It is rich, well-timbered, 

 and covered with luxuriant grasses. The purple Z/iatris 

 scariosa, and several asters were here conspicuous features of 

 the vegetation. On the Lower Platte, and all the way to the 

 Sweet Water, the showy Cleome integrifolia occurred in 

 abundance. From the Forks to the Laramie River, a dis- 

 tance of about 200 miles, the country may be called a sandy 

 one. The valley of the North Fork is without timber ; but 

 the grasses are fine, and the herbaceous plants abundant. 

 On the return of the expedition, in September, Lieutenant 

 Fremont says, the whole country resembled a vast garden : 

 but the prevailing plants were two or three species of the 

 heliantlius (sun-flower.) ***** 



