KEY TO THE SPECIES 67 



1. Lappula occidentalis (Wats.) Greene (Western Stickseed). Annuals, 

 from 1-3 dm. high, more or less branched from the base upward, the branches 

 slender, bracteate-floriferous ; leaves linear, mostly obtuse ; flowers small ; nutlets 

 with 7-11 stoutish marginal prickles (not at all or scarcely connected at base) and 

 numerous small, low, whitish tubercles on the back and sides. Frequent on the 

 plains, 



2. Lappula erecta Aven Nelson (Upright Stickseed). Annual, canescently- 

 pubescent, stoutish, erect, 2-3 dm. high ; stems singly or 2 or more from the 

 crown ; leaves linear-oblanceolate, rosulate on the crown, with numerous stem- 

 leaves passing into the foliar bracts of the branched summit ; nutlets with about 

 10 marginal prickles (connected at the base by an obscure marginal ridgej and 

 minutely and densely muricate on all sides, the murications on the dorsal ridge 

 more prominent. Sandy canons and slopes. 



3. !Lappula floribunda (Lehm.) Greene (Large-flowered Stickseed). 

 Perennial, rough-pubescent, stout, 5-12 dm. high ; stems erect, mostly simple ; 

 leaves oblong to linear-lanceolate, 5-10 cm. long, the basal with margined petioles; 

 flowers blue, often 8-10 mm. broad ; nutlets with flat marginal prickles somewhat 

 confluent, the back elongated-triangular and merely scabrous. Common on moist 

 rich banks. 



3. OREOCARYA (Oreocarya) 



Eough-hispid biennials or perennials, with woody roots, white or yell6w salver- 

 form flowers crested in the throat, 4 acute-margined nutlets attached laterally to a 

 subulate prolongation of the receptacle. 



1. Oreocarya afflnis Greene (Small Oreocarta). Biennial, 1-2 dm. high; 

 stems singly or usually several from the crown {a stoutish, erect central or main 

 stem with 2 or more smaller ones ascending from the base) ; leaves from obovate 

 to lanceolate, canescent and bristly hirsute ; flowers in short racemes forming a 

 sub-cylindric spicate thyrsus for two thirds the length of the stem ; nutlets more 

 or less tuberculate or ridged on the back. Frequent on naked hills and slopes. 



2. Oreocarya tliyrsiflora Greene (Large Oreocarya). Very rough hispid, 

 2-4 dm. high, usually 2 or more equally stout ascending or erect stems from the 

 large woody root ; leaves mostly oblanceolate ; the large paniculate thyrsus with 

 dense tawny hispid pubescence ; corolla-tube shorter than the calyx-segments ; 

 nutlets small, acute-margined, somewhat rugose on the back. Sandy plains and 

 foothills. 



3. Oreocarya virgata (Porter) Greene (Porter's Oreocarya). Bristly his- 

 pid, the hairs mostly from a white pustulate base; 2-6 dm. high; stem single, very 

 stout and erect, or sometimes 2 or more from the base, and then smaller ; leaves 

 oblong-linear, acutish ; inflorescence a long close spicate thyrsus with leafy bracts 

 much longer than the dense flower clusters ; nutlets broadly ovate, somewhat 

 papillose on the back. Open sandy slopes in the foothills and mountains. 



3. MERTENSIA (Mertensia) 



Perennials, smooth or minutely pubescent with alternate leaves, blue funnel- 

 form or tubular showy flowers in racemose panicles or cymes, entire stigma, and 

 4 rugose (when mature) nutlets. 



* Filaments inserted in the tiiroat, enlarged and as broad or broader than the 

 anther ; style exserted. 



1, Mertensia ciliata (Torr.)Don. (Tall Mertensia). Smooth and somewhat 

 glaucous, the stems usually clustered, erect or spreading, 3-10 dm. high, very 



