Notes on the Flora of Custer Co., Colorado. j: 



hawks sailed around us evenings, catching what few insects they 

 could that I had not caught during the day — altogether I believe 

 they were more successful, certainly more persevering than my- 

 self. Bees were noticed in great numbers on the Dalea bushes 

 that were covered with their indigo blue blossoms at the time 

 (early in July). 



The last Indian had disappeared from these hills (we met him 

 going toward San Bernardino); four weary mules, a dog, and 

 half a dozen examples of the genus Homo, complete my mono- 

 graph on the life in the Chucka wallas — no, I forgot, the mosquito 

 is worthy of respect. C R. Otcutt. 



[P. S. The prospector's long-eared friend, the patient burro, 

 wants to be remembered. He eagerly devoured every word in the 

 Young Men s Journal — paper and all. J 



NOTES ON THE FLORA OF CUSTER COUNTY, 



COLORADO — L 



The present notes are offered as a slight indication of the nature 

 of the flora of the eastern slope of the Sangre de Cristo range, at 

 altitudes varying from 7,500 to 13,000 feet, in Southern Colorado. 

 It was once suggested (I forget by whom) that it would be of. 

 great value to students ot geographical distribution if botanists in 

 different localities would publish lists of the most abundant plants 

 in their immediate neighborhoods, say, for the sake of uniformity 

 in the lists, the twenty commonest species. Now when one 

 comes to study the published records, it becomes exceedingly 

 difficult to ascertain what are the characteristic species of a given 

 country, because the tendency has always been to record only or 

 chiefly the rarieties, making, perhaps, the most fuss over a plant 

 which is properly speaking only an alien and purely accidental. 

 I would, therefore, repeat the suggestion, never yet properly car- 

 ried out, that botanists in various parts of the country should 

 send lists of their most abundant plants, and I am sure, with the 

 consent of the Editor, very valuable contributions to our knowl- 

 edge of geographical distribution might thus be made. But now 

 to proceed to our Custer county flora: 



Clematis douglasii, Hook. 1 his curious plant is very abundant 

 about and below the lower limit of pines, mostly growing in open 

 ground. It commences to flower about the end of April, and 

 continues throughout the summer. A variety, rosea, in which 

 the purple color of the flower is replaced by crimson, occurs, but 

 is extremely rare. 



Anemone patens var. nuttalliana, Gray. This most lovely flower 

 is the first of the year, commencing to flower at the beginning of 

 April, and affording throughout that month a sumptuous repast 

 for the numerous bees (Halictus, Andrena, &c.) which visit it 

 continually. This Anemone, like the Clematis, has an occasional 

 var. rosea, in which pale pink takes the place of lilac on the 



