96 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
The stemless loco-weeds, S. Lamberti and its somewhat earlier 
flowering and more abundant silky variety, S. Lamberti sericea, are 
acaulescent perennial herbs from thick deep roots. Their dense 
spikes of dark-purplish flowers borne on long peduncles, a restricted 
though subcopious distribution upon the higher slopes, and silky 
pubescence make them very conspicuous, easily dominating in the 
aspect. The middle of the aspect is controlled by the variety, but 
the type, which flowers some ten days later, holds the floral dominance 
for the remainder of the vernal aspect. The type is decidedly more 
mesophytic in its structure and distribution, and it seems evident 
that the variety is very possibly a xerophytic mutant of S. Lamberi. — 
Propagation occurs through fragmentation of the perennial root, pro- 
ducing as in Astragalus a gregarious habit. A limited seed dispersal 
furthers this patchy distribution. 
Noteworthy on account of their rarity in the aspect are Astragalus 
platiensis, A. hypoglottis, and Viola cucullata, all flowering toward 
the end of the second week in May. ‘The Astragali occur only in opel 
association toward the crest and are strikingly inconspicuous. ‘They 
are both decumbent and perennial. The two-valved pod of 4: 
plattensis is fleshy and dehiscent and its seed dispersal is accomplished 
through limited propulsion. Viola cucullata is noteworthy, as only 
single individual has been recorded in the area and that on the middle 
slope of a northwest exposure, doubtless the result of fortuitous dis 
tribution. : 
The third week is characterized by the blooming of Antennari@ 
neodtoica, Carex Meadii, C. jestucacea, Vicia linearis, Senecio plat- 
tensts, and Pentstemon gracilis, Early in the third week Antennari@ 
neodioica flowers; it appears to be more mesophytic than A. campes- 
tris, occupying the lower slopes, and it occurs less abundantly, but 
with the fruiting scapes of the earlier species the antennarlas = 
scarcely second to any forms in conspicuousness. A. neodiowd ef 
stoloniferous perennial and forms mats, its rosettes living over wie 
It is easily distinguished even at a distance by its large and lighter 
colored mats, and by the fact that it flowers while the other species 
is undergoing maturation and distribution. 
The carices appear at about the same time toward the last of = 
week. C. Meadii, however, is earlier and occurs sparsely of lo 
