58 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELI.AN i:()US COI-I-ECTIONS \OL. 66 



Beyond the stream banks the meadows extend for varying' 

 distances. They are characterized by numerous grasses, especially 

 blue grama, and by many showy-tlowered herbs 'which exhibit a 

 wealth of color found only in mountains at high altitudes. Beyond 

 the meadows on one side rise low sandstone mountains covered with 

 cedar and pinyon, and with many characteristic southwestern plants, 

 such as cacti, yuccas, and bear grass. On the other side of the valley 

 rise high mountains of igneous origin, covered with typical Rocky 

 Mountain forests of yellow, white, and foxtail pine, Douglas and 

 other spruces, fir, and aspen. One of the common trees is the cork- 

 bark fir (Abies ariaoiiica), a comparatively little known tree, whose 



Fig. 6o.— Utc Park, N. Mex. Cottonwood tree felled by beavers. The largest 

 trunk felled in this manner was slightly over 2 feet in diameter. 



bark, instead of being thick and hard, as in most of the conifers of 

 the region, is soft and thin. After the trees have been dead for 

 some time the bark separates from the wood in great cork-like sheets. 



The highest mountain in the vicinity of Ute Park is Baldy Peak, 

 which rises to 12,490 feet. Its top is well above timber line and 

 supports an Arctic- Alpine vegetation. 



During the time spent in the region about 5,000 specimens were 

 secured, representing 1,540 collection numbers. Among the flowering- 

 plants several genera new to the State were obtained, and many 

 additional s])ecies. Special attention was devoted to the cryptogams, 

 and the collection of these i.^ by far the largest ever obtained in the 



