132 MISC. PUBLICATION 101, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
also occurring at higher elevations in the mountains inland, in the 
lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and western larch belts, ranging 
eastward to the Yellowstone Park region of Wyoming, to western 
Montana and Alberta. 
Smocth menziesia (/. glabella) seems to coincide largely in range 
with M. ferruginea, except that its occurrence in Alaska is perhaps 
questionable, and it probably does not grow west of the Coast Range. 
Because of the confusion existing in the literature respecting these — 
two species it is difficult, if not impossible, to give their separate 
ranges with any great accuracy. 
All the literature (80, 81, 76) on menziesia poisoning thus far 
seems to relate to smooth menziesia. Marsh states that menziesia 
seems not to be a very virulent poison and must be ingested in quan- 
tity before serious symptoms ensue. Losses are, as far as known, 
confined to sheep and are most apt to occur about bed grounds and 
along trails. The treatment, of course, is one of proper management. - 
Unpublished reports (1916) from the Wenatchee Forest, Wash., 
state that rusty menziesia is “ very plentiful in the higher timbered 
valleys; not eaten unless sheep are hungry; if eaten in quantity is 
poisonous.” Stockmen of the Santiam National Forest., Oreg., con- 
sider it poisonous to their flocks. 
MOUNTAIN HEATHS (PHYLLODOCE SPP., SYN. BRYANTHUS SPP.) 
The mountain heaths are a small group of 9 northern species, 
of which about 2 are indigenous to the Alaska region, 3 or 4 others in 
the Western States, and 1 species in the high mountains of New Eng- 
land and the far North generally. These plants are usually called 
mountain heathers (3). However, they resemble heaths (rica 
spp.), having linear leaves, rather than heather (Calluna vulgaris) 
which has imbricated, scalelike leaves. They are small shrubs, with 
evergreen, hemlocklike or yewlike foliage, and occur in swamps or 
other moist acid soils. They are largely subalpine or alpine in dis- 
tribution, being frequently met on steep slopes near the summits 
or vegetative limits of western peaks. All are ordinarily accounted 
worthless as forage. 
The common species are Brewer mountain heath (P. brewer), 
red mountain heath (P. empetriformis) (pl. 10, C), and cream 
mountain heath (P. glanduliflora). Ptarmigan are fond of the 
flowers of these plants. Red mountain heath is reported by Lenzie 
sometimes to cause sickness when sheep are forced to eat it in consid- 
erable quantity, as along driveways. 
RHODODENDEOGNS (RHODODENDRON SPP.) 
Rhododendron is a large, essentially montane or boreal, genus of 
at least 100 species, excluding the azaleas (Azalea spp.) and false- 
azaleas (Azaleastrum spp.), which are merged by some authors with 
Rhododendron. It is largely Asiatic in distribution, but several 
species are found in the Eastern States, one in the Western States, 
and two in Alaska. Honey made from the blossoms of rhododen- 
drons has long been known to have a poisonous effect on the consumer. 
Coast rhododendron (Rhododendron californicum) (pl. 10, A), 
known also as California rhododendron and California rosebay, is 
