THE BOTANY OF THE ROUTE. 
57 
E. paniculatum, Nutt. (G.) With E. coloratura, but less common; June to August. (E. 
luteum, said to be found there, I never met with.) 
E. luteum, Pursh. ? (G.) Without flowers. (Steilacoom, S.) 
GSnothera biennis, Linn. (T.) Very common on every prairie throughout the country. A 
very large flowered variety grows in meadows at the mouth of the Columbia, with low, spread¬ 
ing, slender branches, not more than a foot in length, in habit resembling (E. fruticosa. 
(E. vinosa, Lindl. (G.) 0. Romanzovii? On the prairies near Vancouver and Steilacoom 
I collected two quite distinct purple species growing in the same soil , and apparently holding 
their characters well. The present grew two feet high, slender ; leaves distinctly peduncled, 
lanceolate, linear, an inch long or more, alternate; capsule sub-pedunculate, as long as the 
leaves, very narrow; tube of the calyx half as long as the petals; flowers an inch in breadth, 
pale purple, not spotted. The other : 
(E. quadrivulnera, (G.) Dougl. (0. amaena? 0. Lindleyi?) moi’e branching and shorter; 
leaves sessile, oblong, lanceolate, half as long as in the preceding ; capsule much thicker, 
shorter, closely sessile, pubescent; calyx half as long as the dark purple petals, which have a 
deep red spot at their base. 
Both vary much in size with soil, but seem always to be in company, and to show the same 
relative distinctions. Neither is found west of the Coast range. The color of the stigma, I 
think, varies with the time of expansion, and thus several species appear to have been made 
of these two. My specimens do not agree exactly with the descriptions of either of those they 
are referred to, but have some characters of the others quoted with them. (Steilacoom, S.) 
(E. vinosa, Lindl.? (G.) (Steilacoom, S.) 
(E. lepida, Lindl. (G.) (Steilacoom, S.) 
Circa3A alpina, Linn. Not rare in dark, damp woods about Puget Sound ; July. 
Megarrhiza Oregona, Torr. & Gray. (G.) Common in the western portions of the Territory. 
On the dry prairies about Puget Sound it forms bushy tufts, two feet high and four or more 
wide, being evidently somewhat stunted. Where the soil is richer, and in the shade, it climbs 
thirty or forty feet over trees, &c., and has much larger leaves. Though nearly ripe, the fruit 
in July is as large as the fist, round, with three or four grooves and scattered, weak, soft 
prickles. The rind is about £ of an inch thick, and the inside entirely filled by the large seeds ; 
root sometimes large enough to fill a flour barrel, tough, white, and very bitter. It is said to 
have strong cathartic properties. That of the Californian plant has been used to make 
“Stoughton’s bitters!” 
Kibes diyaricatum, Dougl. (G.) The most abundant species throughout the forest region, 
growing on borders of woods, shores, &c. ; flowers in April; color deep purple, sometimes 
yellowish ; fruit ripe in July, small, but good. 
R. niveum? Lindl. A species grows in the Coast mountains, about the head of the Chehalis, 
which may be this. I saw the unripe fruit in July, then as large as a musket ball, slightly 
crisped, and said to be excellent when ripe ; plant shrubby, spiny; leaves small, trifid, and 
toothed. It is now cultivated by Mr. Durgin in his nursery, by Mr. Gibbs and others. 
R. lacustre, Poir. Whidby’s island, in damp woods; rare; April 15; also in the higher parts 
of the mountains southward. 
R. laxiflorum, Pursh. A common species in damp maple groves along the coast; flowers 
April 1; lurid purple, smell unpleasant; fruit nauseous, small. 
