BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS IN WESTERN WYOMING. 
BY DR. C. C, PARRY. 
No. 3. 
Tue very full botanical list contained in Hayden’s Reports for 
1871-72 includes most of the plants met with in the Upper Yel- 
lowstone basin, being comprised within the limits of the Yellow- 
stone National Park. But as no attempt is made in the above 
reports to present the subject in its physiographical aspects, and 
the list as a whole embraces plants derived from other distinct 
botanical districts, I propose to continue the itinerary sketch of 
the botanical features presented on our route, noting the charac- 
teristic, peculiar, or undescribed plants as they are cursorily 
‘brought to view. 
The elevated, irregular and bare mountain ridges that bound 
the Upper Yellowstone basin on the east command by far the 
finest prospect of this remarkable district. In approaching from 
any other direction, the distant view is mainly shut off by the 
dense pine forests that almost continuously cover the adjoining 
country ; but from the Stinking Water divide, reaching above the 
timber line, the unobstructed view takes in the whole scope of 
adjoining woodland, the broad expanse of the lake with its deeply 
indented shores and rocky islets, and on a clear morning wreaths 
of misty. fog, which, rising here and there out of the forest depths, 
reveal the locality of steam | jets or boiling springs. 
On leaving these attractive heights to plunge into the sombre 
forests, we soon lose the peculiar subalpine flora, which gives 
place to more common woodland forms. 
Aquilegia flavescens of Watson is especially abundant with its 
loose straggling habit and light yellow blossoms, less showy than 
most species of this attractive genus. 
Ledum glandulosum Nutt. is here noticed for the first time on 
our route, forming bushy clumps with laurel-shaped leaves, and 
_ Scant clustered heads of white flowers. 
~ Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh here presents in form and 
_ habit an exact western counterpart, on a larger scale, of our well 
gid eastern species. Mosses and wood Sora in greater "E 
on) 
