1913] LAND—EPHEDRA 443 
individuals ofa group are either actually connected by means 
of underground stems or that traces of a former connection could 
be made out. Sections show that these underground connections 
are stems and not roots. 
Large boulders and masses of friable rocks are continually being 
detached from the cafion walls, and these, together with deep 
accumulations of snow, are sufficient to overthrow even the largest 
plants of Ephedra, as is shown in fig. 4. At the right, in this figure, 
aut “Ee 
3 aif 
Fic. 4.—A clump of Ephedra showing large plants being overthrown by boulders 
two boulders are bending down one of the largest plants of the 
clump. The branches of this plant will finally be forced into con- 
tact with the soil, most likely be covered with talus, take root, and 
give rise to a new cluster of plants. An almost completely decayed 
trunk was found under the boulder shown at the extreme left of the 
figure. This trunk had given rise to a small clump not shown. 
Young plants are so slender that they are easily overthrown and 
buried by small landslides. On a loose and rapidly moving slope 
composed of small stones and coarse sand, underground connec- 
tions were traced for 5 meters. The oldest plant showing five 
