BOTANY OF THE ROUTE. 
55 
Eriogonum niveum, Dougl. Found abundantly near the Columbia, about latitude 48°, 
growing in dry soil on hill sides, which looked as if covered with buckwheabin flower. A 
pretty species, a foot high ; flowers large, white. September 22. 
E. microthecum, Nutt. Common in the Yakima valley, flowering in August. Flowers 
small, and very caducous; not ornamental. 
E. Heracleoides, Nutt. On the wet, stony shore of the Columbia, about latitude 48°. 
Second flowering ; stems two feet high, woody; flowers pale yellow, large. September 25. 
E. nudum, Dougl. A common species on the higher slopes east of the mountains. Stems 
four feet high, naked; leaves mostly radical and large, nearly all faded; flowers white, with 
purple veins. August 12. 
Euphorbia maculata, Linn. Collected, apparently indigenous, and of very large size, on 
the sandy desert south of the Columbia. November 8. 
Spiranthes cernua, Richardson. Abundant on damp prairies on top of the Cascade range, 
and westward. August 10. 
Calochortus elegans, Pursh. A single specimen only, found under pines on the top of the 
Cascades. August 8. 
C. macrocarpus, Dougl. Common in flower in the pine forest east of Mount Adams, growing 
two feet high ; the flowers single, but very large, and rich purple. August 12. 
PLANTS COLLECTED WEST OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS DURING 1854-’55. 
Note. —S. or G. indicates that Dr. Suckley or Mr. Gibbs collected the plant or the informa¬ 
tion as to its range and uses. Twelve species, included in brackets, were collected only by 
Dr. Suckley at Fort Steilacoom. 
Ranunculus aquatilis, Linn.; var. Jieterophyllus , T. & G., (T.;) on mud prairie, near Steila¬ 
coom ; June 1, rare. 
R. reptans, Linn., (G.;) wet grounds near Puget Sound and coast. 
R. OCCIDENTALIS, Nutt., (G.;) dry prairies about Puget Sound, common; March 28 to June, 
2 feet high. 
R. recurvatus, Poir.; spring on Whidby’s I.; April 20, rare. 
R. orthorhynchus, Hook.; wet grounds in shade, near Steilacoom. 
[R. tenellus, ? Nutt., (G.:) Steilacoom, S.] 
Aquilegia Canadensis, (Linn.;) var. formosa , Fischer. Common everywhere on dry prairies 
to elevation of 4,000 feet; April to August. [Steilacoom, S.] “Root edible,” G. 
Delphinium menziesii, (DC.;) Whidby’s I.; April 20, 1 foot, rare; a large form, flowers 
deep blue. 
D. azureum, (Mich.) Common in prairies near Columbia river and eastward. 
Act^ia arguta, (Nutt.) Common in fir forests, Vancouver to Olympia ; 4 feet high. Flowers 
in May, white ; fruit ripe in July, both red and white on different plants. 
Berberis aquipolium, (Pursh.) Abundant in fir forests and across Cascade mountains east¬ 
ward, not west of Coast mountains; flowers in March, fruit ripe in July; called “Oregon 
grape ;” eatable when cooked. Fort Steilacoom, (S.) 
