54 
THE BOTANY OF THE ROUTE. 
C. thyrsiflorus, (?) Esch., (T.) Found by me only on gravelly banks near Steilacoom; differs 
from the California plant in size, (only four feet;) round branches and white flowers; May 15. 
Vicia gigantea, Hooker. Common along coast and at Steilacoom in sand, climbing for 20 
feet over bushes, &c.; May 10; seeds eatable. 
V. oregana, Nutt., (T.) “Small form.” A variety of V americana, according to Dr. Gray. 
Lathyrus maritimus, Bigel., (G.) Abundant on sandy prairies along sea-shore; April to 
July. 
L. polyphyllus, Nutt., (T.) Abundant in fir forests from Columbia river north, presenting 
several varieties; June to July; purple. 
L. venosus, Muhl., var., (T.) Fir forests Vancouver to Steilacoom; June; common. 
L. palustris, Linn., (G.) vars. a. /?. Common everywhere in wet ground; May to October. 
L. (?) villosus, Torr., (Expl. Exped. coll, ined.,) (T.) Dry, shady fir forest near Steilacoom; 
May 23; rare. 
Orobus littoralis, Gray , Plate VI. Astrophia littoralis, Nutt. Sandy sea-shore near 
mouth of Columbia river at high water mark; common; flowers pale blue and white; seeds few, 
as large as small peas; collected in flower May 23. “Villous; canescent all over; stems 
numerous from creeping root stocks, decumbent or ascending; stipules almost as long as the 
leaf, ovate or oblong, obtuse, the upper semihastate; leaflets one to three pairs, and with a 
usually smaller or imperfect terminal one or a pair of such, linear spatulate; racemes, five to ten 
flowered, dense, on an elongated peduncle; legume oblong, villous. Astrophia littoralis, Nutt, 
in Torr. & Gray , FI. 1, p. 278. The specimens are in blossom, (while those of Nuttall were 
in fruit,) and the flowers are just those of Orobus, to which genus the plant undoubtedly 
belongs. The style accords with that of Orobus vernus, except, perhaps, the dilated and 
flattened portion extends further down; nor does the pod furnish any distinctive character.”— 
Gray. 
Psroalea physodes, Dougl. (G.) Common on prairie near Steilacoom; June, whitish yellow, 
(S.) “Leaves used as a poultice.’ 7 —Gibbs. 
Trifolium microcephalum, Pursli. (G.) Common on inland prairies; 2 feet high. (Steila¬ 
coom, S.) 
T. fimbriatum, Lindl. var. (G.) Pi’airies of interior and dry parts of marshes near coast; 
June, flowers purple, very variable, 1—2 feet, (S.) 
T. procumbens, Linn. (G.) Cultivated ground; probably introduced; June. 
(Medicago sativa, Linn. (G.) Steilacoom, introduced, S.) 
M. parviflora, Desf. (G.) About houses, Shoalwater bay, introduced. 
Hosackia bicolor, Dougl. (G.) Common on prairie near Steilacoom; June, in wet soil, 
flowers yellow and white. 
II. decumbens, Benth. In dry soil with preceding; June, flowers yellow and red, (S.) 
H. parviflora, Benth. (G.) On sandy prairie, Steilacoom and along the coast; June, flowers 
very small, red and yellow. 
Lupinus micranthus, Dougl. (T. & G.) Common in gravelly soil under shade, on prairie 
near Steilacoom; May 20th, flowers blue, white, or pink on different plants, size and shape of 
leaves variable. 
L. lepidus, Dougl. (G.) Open gravelly prairies about Puget Sound. About a foot high, 
in flower; June 10th, violet purple. The only fragrant species I found.—(S.) 
