68 
FRANCIS RAMALEY 
The Erigeron-Castilleja-Ligusticum consociation of the meadow develops 
on fine-grained soil with abundant moisture, and well drained. The 
dominant species are Erigeron salsuginosus, Castilleja confusa and C. lauta, 
and Ligusticum tenuifolium. Among other plants are Potentilla diversifolia, 
Amarella strictiflora, Achillea lanulosa, Artemisia saxicola and ^. scopulorum, 
Veronica Wormskjoldii, Phleum alpinum, Carex festivella, Bistorta histor- 
toides, Antennaria umbrinella, and those mentioned in the following para- 
graph. 
The Pedicularis-Vaccinium consociation is on drier ground than the 
community just described. Pedicularis Parryi and P. Grayi are important. 
Vaccinium oreophilum, a typical plant under Engelmann spruces, is usually 
present here at the edge of the forest. Vaccinium scopdrium and V. 
oreophilum may also be present. All of these species of Vaccinium may 
at times be found sparingly in the Kalmia heath consociation. Many 
subordinate species of the Pedicularis-Vaccinium consociation are plants 
common in the forest or in forest openings, such as Thlaspi Nuttallii, 
Chamaenerion spicatum, Koeleria gracilis, Micranthes rhomboidea, Aquilegia 
coerulea. Then there are such meadow plants of the montane zone as 
Dasystephana Parryi and Troximon glaucum, and such plants of alpine 
meadow as Trifolium dasyphyllum and T. nanum. In addition there may 
be any of the species mentioned in the preceding paragraph. 
Table 9. Meter quadrat in suhalpine meadow at Burgrass Lake {one of the Forest Lakes) 
in Gilpin County, Colorado, August 77, IQ18. The figures indicate per- 
centages of ground covered 
Bare ground and rocks 10 
Ligusticum tenuifolium 12 
Erigeron salsuginosus : 8 
Castilleja confusa 7 
Castilleja lauta 7 
Artemisia scopulorum and A. saxicola 6 
Potentilla diversifolia 5 
Arnica fulgens 5 
Agrostis humilis 5 
Mosses 5 
Amarella plebeja 4 
Veronica Wormskjoldii 4 
Vaccinium caespitosum 4 
Hieracium gracile 3 
Viola bellidifolia 3 
Phleum alpinum 3 
Sihhaldia procumbens 3 
Trifolium dasyphyllum 3 
Chamaenerion spicatum 2 
Juncus Drummondii i 
100 
An idea of the composition of the meadow may be gained from a quadrat 
