ocT., 1899.) PLANTS. 145 
associate Polygonum newberryt, and few species bear a closer resem- 
blance than P. shastense and its geographically remote relative P. paro- 
nychia. The resemblance is not only most striking, but is exceedingly, 
interesting from the standpoint of geographic distribution. Polygonum 
shastense lives at high altitudes in the High Sierra and Cascade Range, 
while P. paronychia inhabits the outer sea beach in northern California 
and Oregon, where it is bathed in the chilly fogs of the Pacitic Ocean. 
The root of Polygonum shastense is of moderate size and slopes very 
obliquely into the soil. It divides into half a dozen long slender rootlets, 
which penetrate to a depth of 550 millimeters or more. One specimen 
examined divided into three main roots of rather large size, which 
tapered very graduelly and reached a length of 750 millimeters. The 
branches are prostrate and usually form loosely intertwined mats 300: 
to 500 millimeters in diameter, rising in some cases 40 to 50 millimeters 
above the surface, but usually flattened on the gronnd. 
Polygonum newberryi Small. Broad-leaf Polygonum. 
Abundant from the lower edge of the Hudsonian zone up to a little 
above timberline, where its big green leaves are very conspicuous on 
the pale pumice soil and among the broken fragments of gray lava rock. 
About the middle of September the leaves turn red—often a deep 
handsome red—and begin to fall, so that by the end of the month the 
plant has practically disappeared. Its buckwheat-like fruit is a favorite 
food of the mice inhabiting the higher slopes. 
Oreobroma triphylla (Wats.) Howell. Dwarf Alpine Spring Beauty. 
This tiny inconspicuous plant was found near timberline north and 
northwest of Red Butte. (Identified by Professor Greene.) 
Spraguea umbellata Torr. Pussy-paws. 
Abundant on the pumice slopes of the [Iudsonian zone, beyond which 
it pushes both upward and downward on suitable soils. The highest 
altitude at which it was noted is 9,400 feet on the east side of Mud 
Creek Canyon, but it was rarely seen above 9,000 feet. On the other 
hand, a form of it descends in suitable spots to the lower edge of the 
Canadian zone near Wagon Camp (altitude 5,600 feet), and to the same 
altitude in the lower part of Mud Creek Canyon. 
Stellaria crispa C. & S. 
Collected by Vernon Bailey and Miss Wilkins in Mud Creek Canyon 
near the junction of Clear Creek. (Identified by Professor Greene.) 
Sagina saginoides (L.) Brit. 
Occurs above timberline; collected by Miss Wilkins. 
Silene grayi Watson. Hudsonian Catchfly. 
Common in stony places and along streams below timberline in the 
Hudsonian zone. Found both in the stony pumice soil and in the 
heather beds. (Identified by Miss Eastwood and Dr. B. L. Robinson.) 
21753—No. 16——19 
