FLORA OP MOUNT i:\l\lli; \\nox\i PABK. 28 



the spring crop. Later the grass of Parnassus, Parnassia fimbriate, 

 a beautiful plant with renifonn leaves and white fringed potals 

 :ul»>rn these moist areas, coming up here and there among the asters, 

 erigerons, and arnicas about the Latter part of August in time to 

 Balute the last visitors of the season. 



Above these moist meadows arc more extensive grassy areas with 

 better -oil and well drained. Here arc found the real natural Bower 

 gardens of the mountain, surpassing perhaps in beauty oi color, 

 number of species, and luxuriance of growth any other alpine region 

 of the world. 



On passing through a dense cluster of alpine trees and emerging 

 for the firsl time into one of these "gardens" one of the mosl noted 

 of the botanical visitors to t lie park lasl summer stopped and re- 

 peated the word •wonderful! wonderful' wonderful!" This was 

 the verdict of a man whose long and successful life has Keen devoted 

 to botanical research not only in his own fatherland hut in nearly 

 every country of the world. He stood until Ins companions were 

 nearly out of si^ht. hastening on to reach the hotel in time for 

 lunch, hut he breathed in the fragrance of the Bowers and scanned 

 the delightful vista before him unmindful of mere bodily wants. 



A satisfactory description of a natural flower bed has nol conic to 

 the writer- observation nor does he expect t<> write one uow. If 

 by mean- of this article more people shall he broughl in' touch with 

 the mountain and it> wonderful flora he will he satisfied. These 

 flower beds must he -ecu and their fragrance inhaled before a full 

 comprehension of them can he realized. The more one sees them, the 

 more doe- lie realize their infinite beauty and the full significance of 

 the spiritual 1< — on- which these floral emblems teach. 



By numerous photographs and brief descriptions some ides "t 



these natural flower beds may he obtained. In the early spring the 



white mountain deertongue, Eryihroniutn montanum (fig. 17 



by far the most abundant and conspicuous, thrusting it- leaves and 



- up through the -now. Avalanche lily, adder's-tongue and 



ooth violet are other popular name- for this plant. It lias 



two lanceolate leave- with sinuous edges without dark blotches ami 



ral flowers in the form of a raceme. 



sdorfs buttercup, Ranunculus suksdorfii (fig. 18), is an almost 



con-tant companion <>f the deertongue. Though not a- successful 



inmaki g ray through the snow, it is in bloom near the snowbank 



:i after the snow ha- melted from it. This i- the only buttercup 



ith the mountain deertongue so there can he no confusion, 



_ it i- often confused with PotentiUa Habedifolia (fig. 19 . which 



beli g in- rose family. The latter can he identified by It- -mall 



bra the sepals while the Bepals of the buttercup are rolled 



J 



