20 



WILD FLOWERS AND TREES OF COLORADO 



There is no good reason for thinking that plants develop useful per- 

 manent structures in response to climate. If useful changes in plant 

 structure become developed by chance variation or otherwise it is likely 

 that the plants thus modified will survive and perpetuate their kind. 

 So, in the course of long ages, plants of a region will appear to have 



Fig. 21. — Park Landscape in the Montane Region 

 The view is taken at Tolland on the Moffat Road and shows part of South Boulder 

 Park with its winding, willow-fringed creek flanked by meadow land. Park Lake is at 

 the left. 



adapted themselves to particular surroundings. Altitude, with its 

 accompanying differences in climate, does not change plants — it merely 

 determines where any particular species will grow. 



There are certain other popular misconceptions about plants of 

 Colorado which may be considered briefly. It is a common idea that 



