VIOLET FAMILY—CAPER FAMILY 7 
VIOLET FAMILY 
YELLow VIOLET VIOLA BIFLORA 
Plate 5, fig. 1 
The plants of the Yellow Violet are low and the deep-green leaves 
often form carpet-like masses along the moist edges of brook-banks 
at 7000-11000 ft. The flowers are small and yellow with red-brown 
stripes, the lower petal hanging down in the form of a lip. They 
bloom from spring to early summer. 
PRAIRIE VIOLET VIOLA PEDATIFIDA 
Plate 5, fig. 2 
The flowers of the Prairie Violet are large and deep blue, though 
albino forms are sometimes found. The plants are stemless and only a 
few inches high, blooming on prairies at 3000-6000 ft. from April to 
June. The Prairie Violet may easily be mistaken for the Bird’s-foot 
Violet of the East on account of its deeply cut leaves, which serve also 
to distinguish it from the Blue Violet so common in woodlands. 
CAPER FAMILY 
Rocky MouNTAIN BEE PLANT (CLEOME SERRULATA 
Plate 5, fig. 3 
This plant is a conspicuous feature of disturbed or waste places on 
the plains and in the foothills at 3000-7000 ft. It usually forms dense 
‘clumps or thickets in which the plants may be 6-10 ft. high. The 
flowers occur in large rose-purple, pink or rarely white clusters which 
are found throughout the summer. They contain much nectar and con- 
sequently are great favorites among the bees. This plant is a relative 
of the capers which are cultivated for their pungent flower-buds used 
in salads. 

