8 BOTANY. 



the greater crowding of its leaves as you reach the still luxuriant though 

 more alpine forms. The herbaceous vegetation is represented by Primula 

 Parryi, Adoxa Moschatellina, Trollius laxus, var. albiflorus, Caltha Ivptosepala, 

 and TrifoUum Parryi ; the first four finding in the cold streams and snow- 

 fed hogs most congenial homes. 



At timber-line, a most complete change comes over the landscape and 

 with it, over the flora. Pinus Balfouriana, after becoming more and more 

 common as we ascended the last thousand feet, has now attained the supreme 

 place in the tree-flora. Except it, all other trees have disappeared under 

 the increasing rigor of the alpine surroundings. It, too, has been dwarfed 

 to the last degree compatible with the dignity of a tree. Where timber-line 

 coincides nearly enough with the summit of the mountain to allow the 

 strong west winds of the region to exert their full force upon the tree, it 

 lies prostrate, with the top always pointing eastward, and having just 

 enough of leaves, often, on its stunted branches to give sign of life. When 

 some high cliff affords a shelter, the tree rises perpendicularly until the top 

 is above the protection afforded, and it is then forced to take the eastward 

 inclination 



From timber-line up, the surface may be bare of all vegetation, and 

 simply a mass of rocks (often volcanic), or it may be more or less densely 

 covered with a mixed sward of grass and sedges. Here and there, blooming 

 in profusion, will be found clumps of Bryas octopetala, TrifoUum nanum, 

 Saxifraga Hir cuius and flagellaris and serpyllifolia, Actinella grandi flora, and 

 Gcntiana Parryi. The last-named was found in full bloom near the summit 

 of Red Mountain in August. Dwarfed specimens of Solidago Virga-aurea 

 and Salix reticulata mingle themselves with the grass of the sward, and 

 almost escape detection until looked for closely. Even these disappear as 

 we approach an altitude of 14,000 feet, and there remains then hardly any- 

 thing except Claytonia arctica, which sends its long, thick root deeply down 

 among the rocks after its nourishment. 



Pinus contorta, Dougl. — ("Twisted-branch Pine;" "Red Pine.") — 

 This tree grows 40 feet high, and has a diameter of about a foot ; wood 



