VI KEY TO THE SPECIES 



few hundred that should give a considerable range of choice to 

 the many schools of this vast intermountain country has been 

 no easy matter. If it has been successfully done, much of the 

 credit is due to the following persons, who have kindly sup- 

 plied lists of plants that it seemed to them well to include : 

 Mr. George E. Osterhout, New Windsor, Col. ; Prof. Eugene 

 Beardsley, Colorado State Normal School ; Prof. Francis Rama- 

 ley, University of Colorado ; Prof. Ellsworth Bethel, Denver 

 High School ; Mr. H. L. Shantz, Colorado College ; to each of 

 whom the author's thanks are due. By this co-operation it is 

 thought that a list has been secured that will prove useful from 

 Montana to New Mexico, and with a somewhat variable east- 

 ward and westward extension. In spite of the care that has 

 been exercised, some species that would be particularly availa- 

 ble in some localities have no doubt been omitted. It will be 

 greatly appreciated if teachers will report such species so that 

 they may be included in subsequent editions. 



To secure the best results from the use of this Key in the 

 classroom, the teacher must keep in mind the following things : 

 (1) That the number of species included is limited. Therefore it 

 would be very unwise to permit students to attempt to name a 

 miscellaneous collection of plants by means of it — a practice 

 that would surely result in confusion and discouragement. 

 Much better lay before the class material of such species only 

 as are known to be included. These will furnish the discipline 

 sought, with the added enthusiasm that comes from something 

 actually accomplished. (2) That the descriptions are brief, no 

 attempt having been made to distinguish a given species froin 

 all other species in that genus, but only from the other species 

 in this Key. To do even this it will sometimes be necessary to 

 keep in mind that the analytical keys are an essential part of 

 the description, since the statements in the keys are not usually 

 repeated. (3) That while the aim has been to avoid as far as 

 possible strictly technical terms, yet conciseness has necessi- 



