56 



SMITHSOXIAX MISCELLAXEfJUS COLLI-XTIOXS 



VOL. 70 



around Lon.^'s I'eak Inn and the lower sloj^es of the mountains. 

 At the higher ahitudes the hmber pine (Piiiits fhwilis) is frequent. 

 This species is recog'nized by its very elastic " limber " branchlets 

 which bend without breakin,^'. 



1'he herbaceous ])lants with showy llowers, the real " flowers " 

 of the tourist, are abundant and attractive. (Jne of the most con- 

 spicuous ]jlants is the screen gentian (Frascra spcciosa), not so much 

 for the flowers as for its stately appearance. It grows to the 

 height of 2 to 4 feet, a single erect stem with numerous leaves 

 and. masses of green flowers from their axils. There are several 



Fig. 62. — A young growth of lodgepole pine (Finns coiitorta), the com- 

 mon pine of Estes Park. Altitude 9,000 feet. One peak of Twin Sisters 

 rising at the right. 



species of gentian, some rare, some abunrlant, all much sought by 

 tourists. The lupine (Liipiniis dentuibens) , with racemes of blue 

 flowers, the harebell (Campanula rutitndifolia ) . with delicate stems 

 and large blue bell-shajjed flowers, and several species of daisies 

 {Erigerun ) are among the more showy of the late summer flowers. 

 Above timber-line are the aljjine meadows, boggy areas supporting 

 a growth of grasses and sedges with other jjlants intermixed. There 

 are no trees, but shrubs extend upward in the protected valleys or 

 de])ressions. The pine and spruce are found in the form of " krum- 

 holz," stunted growths in the lee of rocks, as described in a preceding 



