sadist eas yn he ve BS nan pe oe ae Fh ak 4 tee ha reed heheh ek oe ee ene ioe Sena ore relied ett x PAets 2 Papier el ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY Muna : Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001731300 PROFESSIONAL PAPERS OF THE ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, U.S. ARMY. No. 18. - REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF THE FORTIETH PARALLEL, MADE BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR ACCORDING TO ACTS OF CONGRESS OF MARCH 2, 1867, AND MARCH 3, 1869, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BRIG. AND BYT. MAJOR GENERAL A. A HUMPHREYS, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, BY CLARENCE KING, u. 8. GEOLOGIST. VOLUME V. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL EXPOLRATION OF THE FORTIETH PARALLEL. CLARENCE KING, GEOLOGIST-IN-CHARGE. BOTAN Y. BY SERENO WATSON, AIDED BY PROF. DANIEL C, EATON, AND OTHERS. SUBMITTED TO THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS AND PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR UNDER AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS, ILLUSTRATED BY A MAP AND FORTY PLATES. ee EE od WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. Lez 1. @ 39445 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page INTRODUCTORY GMT TRB 20. ai Luci lae sees Deine eGbindaee aoaweaceselun. ix ChENEB AT: EP Om ac in du.cosss. Gatou aun an de itenk See ee Ode Lea ‘ xili GEOGRAPHICAG NOT esecde sesh a.dsdewasee dausdeecbeansceda us xiii MerRoRnoroetert, NOTEGscc ices ecw eee Aes SA Raw Gea oekacs xvii GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEGETATION ..-.---.-.--- XXil Nae aOhees 6 o24, Aawie datos oho noone heed aaa ee xxix Mounrain FLORA OF THE BASIN s:<.0-<0-nes secede ence Ji? ERI FLoRA oF THE WAHSATCH AND UINTAS AND OF THE WASHOE INI GUNNING ae eie cea Sete epee chau rerewnlcices XXXVli SouTHERN Friora or Nevapa anp Utan ................-2.. xl Intropucep Puants..... .. Ratt en beet eee en eeine ras. xli Résumé oF DistrisuTion AND RANGE .............--.22--00- xli RVETOGAMIO I HONsa hse lhas ee ieeeeae cesar weber deorose.odas xlvii AGRICUMEDRAD RESOURCES) || eiecatersys Urticacese. ..s20ce.40+ 4 4 ; 3 3 1 Ts Neaccca rc) aventec. asel[ cress ial ise navel [anaconda 2 ae ee Cupuliferde ..... ccc ccs eee eeteeeee 2 2 (lisesi yons oe 1 I 1 iG nase ocesassihcei lies aie dual fareroatreaal eve: ane Sell tereierase Betulacez?.........sceceseeeeeaee 2 3 1 I 1 Poa Peseeen, memitn emerae for merd | artes rearcaesl rRerr I Salicacese? saiceds 24.69 venwwsewsaiine 2 12 2 8: eewees Be Ease s¢ Bi Wisvsizcneiai|atadAllon ace ae leiewcsion 4 Grnetaceze ccs eee eee eceeeee tenes 1 L 1 D> Nesectoceapel aps vert |leepsr rei ew ntedve [EORE ic Sese cay ltasen ciate] Shavcemsers Fae aes Goniferces: caine ccennnn teases es 4 14 3 9: seseee 4 1 a "erga a asin -o| bugles al raaueies 9 Lemnaceze 1 4 1 7 ie eros Pesci Pacers erica) ae ecanen Reareetts cari 4 lerarwrevwiateaed seas Typhaceze 2 3 2 Bo |asusiee . Posssc iain | dudsa Sve-ai]e cinjass eff ainda feisioin ee 2 Vasieaiase| esac’ Naiadaceze sccnccaiaas ii esen sa teas 2 9 1 6 1 igh Negmasaneel fis cas’ Ivemerstnalls ee aust [eas Asia 6. | esenites allecarevarse AMSMAG C26% csc.sriscieigss 04 Oo sie eceeisnieisy 3 4 3 Reece sear a mere etree feet. Aer ears 2 Be | |tecscarave alprssacisis Orchidace2 isis: seca eodanaciines 5 7 4 5 1 De WerseerasdElllovase poealllensisiz nual ie: Sisia.e| hesese weed Te jack dvs 4 MV OAG CB2 tt Harscviuacess vn orb ed etnaaaeniien 2 3 2 3. leeeneelize to skewers esaoanl eames [eae lle aes BN Sarerseie [ Dilia Ces 3.3 ta 26 wuse teens 18 | oy 16 2n 4 Git |exeunts 2 2 4 1 2 7 Ir JUN CACO sniiweine os Sova weitebeiices 2 14 2 IO |------ gl aceited pad eeroeie! Peete | Cicer Be il Saabeitings 5 Pontederiacea........ceeeee seen i bi 1 Pa eer epee on (cartel pam nal earericaces| eres AVeesee D eenaxe sense Commely nace ss scid sic seveceeictcere 1 T ..|/ptests lenin 1 HS leeeizetenllecdevese listened] areaate sell ernest |e erasers’ ausiargieleraisiciess TOPE OO ci cknaae eokacankeunns 5 55 5 ea Geers 20h aulterte!lsiccaisiealesa ed ans wale 2 TQ) |ssainience 12 Graminez...... sce ete eee tee e ees 35 68 33 59 2 8b lesice ss |baeeaa | peers I 7 20 13 19 Of the 1141 species given in the lists of the Basin, Wahsatch and Uintas, 687 or 60 per cent. appear to be found upon the Pacific slope, 678 or nearly the same proportion do not pass eastward beyond the Rocky Mountains, 177 or 15 per cent. approach or reach the Mississippi or Saskatchewan, and 287 or 25 per cent. approach the Atlantic; 17 per cent. are Mexican or southern, very nearly 15 per cent. are arctic, and over 8 per cent. more extend north of latitude 55°. Of these 170 arctic and 95 subarctic species 30 per cent. in each class are found among the plants of the valleys and foot-hills, and of these again 80 per cent. are among those species which have the widest range in longi- tude. In the mountains of the Basin 45 per cent. are found, of which 60 per GENERAL REPORT. xlvii cent. belong to the plants of widest range. The flora of the Wahsatch and Uintas contains 75 per cent. of the arctic and 81 per cent. of the subarctic species ;. 63 per cent. of the first and one-half of the last are also upon the Atlantic side of the continent. Among the 101 alpine and 77 subalpine species there is a comparatively small proportion of the arctic or higher northern plants. But 46 arctic species were collected in alpine localities and but 19 others could even be considered as subalpine, while but 20 of the subarctic species were either alpine or approaching it. ; ‘In regard to the range of the genera but little can be said. Of the 439 genera of the Catalogue 148, including 288 species, are not found in the United States east of the Mississippi. Of the remaining genera, which are thus found, 109 have their 146 species also all eastern, 96 with 297 species include among them none that occur east of the Mississippi, and 86 are divided in this respect, including 182 eastern and 323 western species. No attempt has been made at giving the range of species beyond the limits of North America. Mr. Ouvey states that of the forty-five species of Carex, named in the Catalogue, fourteen are found in both Europe and Asia, five in Europe only, two in Asia only, and two in South America, of which one also occurs in Europe and Asia. Two of these European species are for the first time identified as American in this collection. The range of the mosses only is given as fully as it could be ascertained. Cryprocamic Frora. The atmospheric conditions are incompatible with even an ordinary development of cryptogamic vegetation in the Basin. Ferns are rare, occasionally found in the higher mountains but in many of the ranges wholly absent. In the Wahsatch and Uintas they are more fre- quent and in a larger number of species. Only twelve species were collected, five of which were confined to Utah. Nine of these range from the Atlantic or from the Great Lakes to the Pacific, of which three are arctic and two subarctic. No opportunity for the collection of mosses was neglected and the material has been most patiently and thoroughly elaborated by Mr. Jamas, who returns an unexpected number of species. Some of them, like the Grimmia, were attached to the driest sun-burned rocks of the valleys, others were found only in early spring under sage-brush and in the meadows near Carson City. Far the larger number were collected on the wet banks of xlviil BOTANY. perennial streams, especially in the East and West Humboldt Monntains or more frequently in the Wahsatch and Uintas, and in the cold springs of Ruby Valley. Of the 97 species 82 are common to Europe, 32 have been found in Arctic America or Greenland, and four are subarctic. Forty-three extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and sixteen others occur in the Eastern States. Of the 15 species not European 8 are considered new, 2 are found in California, 2 in the Rocky Mountains, 2 both in the Rocky Mountains and westward, and one from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Three of the European species had not been before identified as American. The few Hepatice collected were found only in the higher mountains, mostly in the Wahsatch and Uintas. Lichens are sometimes abundant in the the lower ranges of the Basin, but confined to a few well known genera and species. The Lecanore are most conspicuous, covering large surfaces of the rocks and clifts with their bright colors. In other mountains all kinds are rare. Fungi were very seldom met with in any part of the territory. AcricutturaL Resources. It is evident from what has already been said that the agricultural resources of the Basin are not great. The actual limit is fixed by the deficiency of water. With a moderate supply for irrigation during the growing season there is no difficulty in securing good crops of cereals and vegetables in any of the valleys and lower cafions of the territory. The most fertile localities lie at the base of the Sierras, but as a rule there is an apparent absence everywhere of a true soil or mould result- ing from the decomposition of vegetable matter. It is well known, however, that the Artemisia tridentata is always evidence of a considerable degree of fertility, and as also the presence of a moderate amount of alkalies is by no means detrimental it follows that a very large extent of surface must be adapted to agricultural purposes. But with the present actually available supply of water from the rivers and mountain streams, even were the whole of it employed in the most economical manner, it is estimated that out of the 34,000 square miles in Northern Nevada within the limits of the maps of the survey not over 1,000 square miles could ever be brought under culti- vation. The relative amount in Western Utah and in the more southern portions of the Basin must be less. The labor and expense of making canals and ditches, the limited markets for produce, and the competion in those markets of the overflow of California’s abundance will probably long prevent more than a very partial development of the real capabilities of the region. GENERAL REPORT. xlix The larger and more constant supply of water from the Wahsatch ard Uintas renders possible a much more general improvement of the resources of Utah. The lands at the western base of the Wahsatch, large portions of the valleys of the Bear, Weber, and Provo Rivers, and such of the parks as are not too elevated may all be brought under cultivation. Yet the actual cost of bringing water upon these lands, fencing them and putting them in a producing condition, at the ordinary rates of wages, is said to be nearly fifty dollars an acre. For grazing purposes the region is not generally adapted, as is proven by the absence of all graminivorous animals excepting rabbits in the valleys and rarely a few mountain sheep or antelopes in the higher ranges. In the spring and early summer there is a considerable supply of nourishing grass in many localities, but it is not continuous, and for several months forage is very scanty except as scattered through the mountain cafions. A substitute for grass is sometimes found in the Eurotia lanata, and some other chenopo- diaceous plants are eaten by sheep. Frémont and Carrington Islands in Salt Lake are occupied as sheep pastures by the Mormons, though the amount of grass is small and there is a supply of only brackish water for much of the year. The possibility of the more general cultivation without irrigation of some forms of perennial or woody vegetation is an interesting question. That there can be to a certain extent a vigorous growth of such plants with only the ordinary natural supply of moisture is certain from the number of prevalent species of this character, and it seems not chimerical to believe that with the necessities of a future more crowded population there will be found either profitable use for these or more serviceable substitutes that shall be equally capable of thriving under the present climatic conditions. The source of supply of the moisture by which life is sustained in these plants through the droughts of summer has been a matter of doubt. It has been supposed either that they are in some degree air-plants, drawing the re- quisite moisture from the atmosphere itself, or that the structure of the leaf- surface and the pubescence or glutinous secretion that often covers them prevent in a great measure the usual evaporation of the juices of the plant. It is true that in many of the localities where there is no diminution in the amount of vegetation water cannot be found but by digging to a great depth. At Stockton Station, in a valley 20 miles east of Virginia City, between vil l BOTANY. mountains nearly 3,000 feet high, the depth of the well is 290 feet, though with 150 feet of water on 31st July, 1867. At Nevada Station, six miles distant and 129 feet lower, the well was 110 feet deep with but fifteen inches of water at the same date. In Unionville Valley at Olive Ranch on Coyote Creek, six miles east of the summit of Star Peak, a well was sunk 104 feet through gravel without finding water. In Humboldt Valley east of the Eugene Mountains and in the border of a large sandy plain covered by an unusually‘large growth of Artemisia a well was sunk to as great a depth but without success. Not to multiply instances, it is at least frequently the case that in the deposits which fill the valleys there are no strata of clay or rocks to intercept and retain the water near the surface. To test therefore in a measure the ability of the most prevalent forms of foliage to resist the absorbent power of the air, some experiments were made by Mr. King’s direction, with results as shown in the following table. The specimen of Artemisia selected was young and vigorous, six years old, the weight of the portion above ground being 24 ounces, or 776 grammes, of which the woody portion weighed 384 grammes or nearly 50 per cent. Of the remaining green stems and leaves, the leaves contributed 79 per cent., or nearly 40 per cent. of the whole. Of Tetradymia canescens branches only were taken. One specimen gave 35 per cent. of wood, 8 per cent. of the previous years growth, and 57 per cent. of new.shoots and leaves, and a second specimen 53 per cent. of wood to 47 per cent. of young shoots. A branch of a larger plant gave 150 grammes of young stems to 98 grammes of wood, or over 60 per cent. Smaller branches of a more pubescent form gave 67 per cent., and in a second instance 60 per cent., of young twigs and leaves. Different branches of Linosyris viscidiflora gave 66, 70, and 80 per cent. of leaves and twigs, and a specimen of L. graveolens 55 per cent. Purshia triden- tata in two trials gave 61 per cent., and Prunus demissa 55 and 68 per cent. In all these cases the leaves and twigs were still green and fresh, though in the fourth week of July. In September and October the weight of the leaves and fruit of Obione confertifolia was 82 per cent. of that of the entire branch. It is hence evident that there is no deficiency in the extent of leaf sur- face exposed to the action of the atmosphere, nor in any instance does there seem to have been any unusual want of succulence, the moisture lost amount- ing sometimes to nearly or quite 50 per cent. of the whole substance. GENERAL REPORT. li Plant Evaporation. a. ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, ¥xly 21, 1868. | ; 3 , ! | 5 g Thermometer. : a g . |e a Bb &)#/8 | 8 7 Z B 5 (ee ? ; Portion of plant. || 5 3 When sexe) 40-1 Sg o8.| a E FS g Notes 2 posed, 2 68/8 7)8 a los a 4 ess a 8 3 Hour. Biles si 1 Be 3 P| - 2 | : g|/8/s [3 Pye-| & | H |HAia < A |A —Q him him Re | CR: CEs Young leaves..... 6.62 | 12.45 p. m. | 4 50] 55 |24 00] 5 Ioo p. m. | 81.6 | 21.3 | 156.0 | Stems..... 2.21 | 12.45 p. mM. | 4 50 | 44 | 24 00} 12 200 p.m. | 81.2} 22.5 |] 150.2 Older leaves...... 20.24] 1.15 p.m. | 4 35 | 35 | 24 00] 18 3.00 p.m. | 79.5 | 22.5 | 140.0 Stems eee ee 5-44 T.15 p- m. 4 35 23 | 24 00) I5 400p.m, 79°65 23.1 162.0 Stems and leaves..|/ 50.84} 1.30 p.m. | 4 45 | 34 |24 00/ 16 |) 5 00 p.m, | 77.4 | 22.2 148.0 Flowering stems..|! 19.33 | 1.45 p. m. | 4 30 | 30 | 24 00! 15 600 p.m. | 73.3 | 19.7 |......+- 2. TETRADYMIA CANESCENS, ¥uly 22, 1868. Branch ........... 26.29] 9.15 a. mM. | 3 45} 30] 5 45| 12 goo a. Mm. | 74.3 | 14.0] 154.8 Branch .........65 THB! FAB Pio Ms, ||) 5: || Be fires vice -++-[| I0 00 a. m, | 80.1 | 20.8! 156.2 || Older plant. Branch ........... 15.46 | 3.45 p.m. | 3 15 | 25 |....0. «eee|| 12 00 Mm. 83.7 | 26.9 | 155.0 Branch:.e..cscien es 13.18 | 3.55 p.m. ] 3 5] 17 |...68. seeel| 4.00 p.m. | 80.9 | 25.5 | 155.0 |} More pubescent va- riety. Branchins ienasces us 16.19] 3.55 p.m.|3 5/15 |...... seal] 6°00 Py MO. | 7563. | 1969! [neceeees 3) 4. LINOSYRIS VISCIDIFLORA AND GRAVEOLENS. %¥%z/y 23. 1868.* 6.48 | 8.50 a. m. wins cy sce 224 ne eae tg kL. viscidiflora. g-24] 8.55 a.m.]1 5] Q |..eeee aS 30.19 | 10.00 a. m. | 1 15 | 26 |...... L. graveolens. 19.23 | 10.45 a.m. }o.5| 3] 022| 4 In shade. st inlcaie teat ha uintiielociacaseae seve] 2 4BL 29 fevcccseccccecclecceeeleceeceleceeeeee|! IN SUN, 5. Prunus DEMISSA. Same day. Branch ........065 19.73 | 4.10 p.m. |o17| 3|...... sidigal leatoaiuecnasen argu lonccsisie|aueinnel samtioreien Branch « ose vie 5.12 | 4.15 P.M. | 03r] gf... craaats\| | aveateetals iors startet darts ars atareuall amatoransyaes Leaves ........005- 34.77 | 4.20p.Mm.j}/ 024] 4]...... ave Inns cracoedriyn sa av tcPaxey eral nye ezae erode 6. OBIONE CONFERTIFOLIA. Sept. 27 and Oct. 5, 1868. Leaves ........04. : 5 - [200] 2]...... fe te f 8. BB [Sas stare av 41.71 I2.co M 2 00 22 iz 00 mM 7807 21.2 | Sept. 27, sky clouded. Stems..... g.22 | 12.00 m. 2 00 roo p.m. | 80.4 | 23.6 |........ Leaves and fruit...|| 70.22 | 9.30 a. m. | 5 00 9 30a. Mm. | 67.7 | 11.7 |.....0ee Loct Stems..... 14.81 | 9.30 a. m. | 5 00 I jo Pp. M. ] 75.0! 15.5 Jaeeeeeee rey *The thermometrical record for this date is given in full in the table on page xxii. It must be confessed that these experiments were conducted with too little method and are too incomplete to be fully satisfactory. The amount of loss as here shown is doubtless greater than it would have been from the same leaves and stems when attached to the plant, yet making a probably full allowance for this source of error it appears that the ordinary drain upon the juices of these plants must be large. Comparing the recorded amounts of water evaporated from an open vessel during the same hours with that ii BOTANY. for the whole 24 hours and making it the basis of a calculation of the daily loss of the plant, the first mentioned specimen of Artemisia appears to have exhaled 9 ounces of water daily, or an amount equal to three-eighths of its weight. Even in the last trials later in the season, when leaves and stems had probably their fullest dryness and hardness, with one of the most waxy and scurfy of the Obiones, and moreover under atmospheric conditions more favorable for the plant, the loss was at least half as great. Notwithstanding therefore the apparent want of moisture in the soil, it must be the reservoir from which vegetation draws its entire supply. The loose character of the deposits which fill the valleys and form the foothills not only allows a ready passage for the roots to any necessary depth but especially, through the force of capillary attraction, compels the retention or absorption from beneath of a sufficient amount of water for the tem- porary extraordinary needs of these perennial species. And this natural resource of the vegetation must be taken into account as greatly favoring the possibility of the successful introduction of orchard, vineyard or other tree- culture in these at present desert territories. Conctusion. The present condition of the Botany of our western flora is such as to render a satisfactory determination of the species of any col- lection a matter of some difficulty. The descriptions of many of the genera and species are scattered, without clue to guide in the search for them, through numerous volumes of government reports and periodical publications of this country and of Europe, not always readily accessible. The synonomy is somewhat confused, and in thé case of various genera revisions are much needed, with a collation of all the existing materials, a work which is going on under the hands of Dr. Gray, Dr. EnceLMann and others. In the examination of the present collection use has heen made almost exclusively of the herbariums of Dr. Gray, Dr. Torrey and Prof. Eaton, which are the richest in original and authenticated specimens of western species and to which, with their accompanying libraries, free access was most gener- ously given with every facility for study and comparison. So far as the work has been performed by others the names carry their own sufficient authority. As for the rest it can only be claimed that care and effort have not been spared to secure correctness. The trouble experienced in making available the authorities upon western species gradually suggested the extension of the Catalogue beyond the usual GENERAL REPORT, lit limits of such papers, including in it descriptions generic and specific when- ever they are not to be found in the popular manuals of the eastern floras. The method pursued is that which seemed simplest and best adapted to the end in view, and scarcely needs elucidation. To this have been added in the Appendix concise synopses of most of the more recently revised genera, thus bringing together a considerable amount of material that may be found of use by those who have not ready access to the fuller original papers. Among these synopses are revisions of a few genera, (Orthocarpus, Abronia and Aldhum,) which were prepared in connection with the present work. The collection, comprising about 19,000 specimens available for study, but not all ranking as herbarium specimens, is distributed into sets, of which the most complete belongs to the Herbarium of the Agricultural Department at Washington. The second is due to Prof. Eaton at Yale Col- lege, and the remaining sets will be donated to such herbariums as may be designated. There now remains but the pleasant duty of grateful acknowledgment of favors and assistance received during the course of the work. Especially to Prof. Danret C. Earon is the fullest expression of thanks due for all the facilities afforded by his well-appointed herbarium-room, placed at my com- mand from the outset of the work, for the constant use of his library and the procurement of needed books of reference, and for assistance of every kind rendered in innumerable instances, always most kindly and generously. By him also the Composite of the collection, comprising of one-seventh of the whole, were carefully determined and the resulting paper forms one of the most valuable portions of the Catalogue. Assistance in various portions of the work has likewise been received from Dr. Gray and Dr. Torrey, in addition to the free use of their herbariums whenever desired. Dr. Gzorce EncEL- MANN, also, of St. Louis, has made ready response to every application for information and aid, and the articles of Col. OtNey on the Carices, of Mr. James on the Mosses, of Dr. Ropsins on Potamogeton, and of Prof. TuckErR- MAN on the Lichens, all prompt and thorough in whatever they have under- taken, show that the most that was possible has been made by them of the material that was furnished. SERENO WATSON. Aveust 26, 1871. Viii Missing Page CATALOGUE OF THE KNOWN PLANTS OF NEVADA AND UTAH, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SUCH OF THE PHANOGAMOUS GENERA AND SPECIES AS DO NOT OCCUR EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE CACTACE 2ie =o ssa ceagae ae ce a@eaeinea es oc ceeete By Dr. GEORGE ENGELMANN, THE COMPOSIT AD o65:0.05 o2 ee sw se cesar wens By ProF. DANIEL C. EATON. THE POLEMONIACEH AND ERIOGONEA ..........2222..00000- By Dr. ASA GRAY. THE NATADACWAL ..2).c05.0oicace cesiomisae $4 seit ree Sew e Se ReeeS By Dr. J. W. ROBBINS. THE CARICES....-- 02-020 2-0 e eee ee eee eee eee eee By STEPHEN T. OLNEY, Esq. STS gEV TST OBIS -oce sive iaedet cad a ase veeandicecediayisccee eet mca eee sess aa By Pror. DANIEL OC. EATON. ON Ie SR gh chahcin dae inom een By Tuomas P. Jamus, Esq. THE LIGHENE Nc sa sense eseers Seas rere oe eee eee By PrRoF. EDWARD TUCKERMAN. CATALOGUE, &c. RANUNCULACEZ. Cuematis Doverasi, Hook. Stem herbaceous, erect, 1-2° high, simple, 1-flowered; leaves 2—3-pinnatifid, (or the lower ones more simple,) the segments linear or linear-lanceolate, both stem and leaves more or less hairy ; flower nodding, the naked peduncle erect and elongated in fruit ; sepals thick, woolly at the apex, more or less spreading, deep brownish- purple, paler externally—The specimens resemble those from Oregon de- scribed by Nuttall under the name of C. Wyethii, differing from the form figured by Hooker and of the eastern Rocky Mountain collections only in the broader divisions of the leaves. In the mountains from Washington Territory to Colorado. Found in the Wahsatch and Uintas, Utah, at an altitude of 6-7,000 feet ; July, in flower and fruit. (1.)? CLEMATIS LIGUSTICIFOLIA, Nutt. Climbing, somewhat pubescent; flowers white, dicecious, in paniculate corymbs; leaves pinnate and ternate, (mostly 5-foliolate,) the coriaceous leaflets usually oblong, lanceolate, more or less laciniately toothed and trifid; petals and stamens equal. Var. BREVIFOLIA, T.& G. With nearly smooth broadly ovate subcordate 3-lobed leaflets —On the banks of mountain streams from Washington Territory to the Saskatche- wan, and southward to Lower California and New Mexico. Frequent in the lower cations of the West Humboldt Mountains and found in a single locality in the East Humboldt range, Nevada—the broad-leaved variety only; altitude, 5-6,000 feet; August-October. An approach to the typical form was also found at City of Rocks, in Southeastern Idaho. (2.) Criematis ALPINA, Mill. DC. Prodr.1.10. Leaves bi-ternately divided ; segments ovate or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, frequently 3-lobed, irregularly 1A large portion of the described species up to the end of the Composite are to be found in Torrey and Gray’s Flora of North America, and a general reference to that work for the synonymy, &c., is to be understood. In case of other species not occurring in the Flora, express reference is usually made simply to De Candolle’s Prodromus ; or to still later revisions, or for more recent species, to the publications in which they are described. 2 Figures in parentheses, at the close of a paragraph, indicate the number under which the speci- mens of the collection are distributed. 4 BOTANY. toothed. Var. Ocnorensis, with linear antheriferous petals—A trailing woody-stemmed plant, 6’ high, glabrous but for a few scattered silky hairs. C. alpina and Sibirica, Mill., and Ochotensis, Poir., differ only in the degree of development of the petals. Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. In Utah it was seen only in the Wahsatch Mountains, (Cottonwood Cafion,) at an altitude of 8-9,000 feet; July, in flower and fruit. (8.) CLEMATIS VERTICILLARIS, DC. On wooded mountain sides; a low climber. From North Carolina to Maine, along the great lakes, northward to latitude 54°, and west to the Rocky Mountains and Washington Territory ; also found in Northern California. Not rare in the Wahsatch and Uinta Mountains, Utah, at an altitude of 7-9,000 feet ; in flower and fruit, July to August. The specimens accord with the description of C. Columbiana, 'T. & G., having rather small, more narrowly sepaled flowers, but it scarcely de- serves to rank as a distinct variety. (4.) THALICTRUM ALPINUM, L. Stem simple, nearly naked ; leaves 2—3-ternate; leaflets roundish, somewhat lobed, crenately toothed; flowers perfect, in a simple raceme, nodding; filaments filiform; anthers oblong-linear; carpels few, ovate, sessile; stigmas thick and pubescent.—Low, stems 2-8’ high, much exceeding the mostly radical leaves ; slightly pubescent. Islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Greenland; Behring Strait; and Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Found in the Clover Mountains, Nevada, on a damp grassy. bank, at an altitude of 10,000 feet, with Vaccinium cespitosum, and Salix reticulata ; in fruit, September. (5.) THALICTRUM SPARSIFLORUM, T'urcz. (J. clavatum, Hook., not of DG 1-2° high; panicle loosely few-flowered, long pedicelled; flowers perfect; filaments clavate; anthers elliptical, pointless; ovaries 8-10; carpels com- pressed, dimidiate, not striate, short-stipitate, thrice longer than the persistent style; upper leaves sessile, 2-3-ternate; leaflets often small—Collected by Dr. Richardson in the Saskatchewan region, latitude 57°, and by Dr. Parry and others in Colorado. Found in the Uinta Mountains, only in Provo River Cafion, at an altitude of 7,000 feet; July. Identical with Siberian specimens. (6.) Tuauicrrum Fenpuert, Eng. Pl. Fendi, p. 5. Dicecious, glabrous; leaves petioled or the uppermost sessile; filaments capillary ; anthers linear, mucronate ; carpels ovate, compressed, oblique, sharp-edged, with 4—6 strong lateral ribs, tapering into the long persistent style; sessile or shortly stipitate— CATALOGUE. 5 Very near T. diotcum, from which it is most readily distinguished by the car- pels; 2-3° high; somewhat variable in its foliage. From New Mexico to Cali- fornia and northward to British America. Rare in the East Humboldt Mountains ; more frequent in the Wahsatch, at an elevation of 6-9,000 feet ; June-August. It is the T. Cornuti of Lyall’s Oregon collection, 7. hetero- phyllum, Nutt. MSS. in Herb. Gray, and probably 7. megacarpum, Torr., of Frémont’s Report. (7.) A form was also collected with the leaflets nearly orbicular, entire or 3-lobed. (8.) Var. (?) With stamens mingled with the less compressed strongly ribbed fruit, the styles deciduous, the raceme short and dense, and the leaves ex- tremely large, 1’ or more in diameter; a very doubtful form. Wahsatch Mountains, Provo Cafion; 6,000 feet altitude. (9.) ANEMONE MULTIFIDA, DC. Most of the specimens have buta single head ; flowers light-purple. It is the same as the South American plant, but seems clearly distinct from A. decapetala, with which it is united by Dr. Hooker. It is the A. lanigera, Gay, of Chili. From Vermont and Canada to Oregon and Arctic America. Found on the East Humboldt and Clover Mountains of Nevada, and more frequently in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, on dry rocky ridges, at an elevation of 9-12,000 feet; July-September. (10.) ANEMONE DECAPETALA, L. (A. Caroliniana, Walt.) Two imperfect fruiting specimens (one with four heads) of what appears to be this species were found on Stansbury’s Island in Salt Lake, Utah; altitude 4,500 feet; June. From the Carolinas to Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. (11.) Myosurus mimimus, L. From Georgia and Illinois westward to the Pacific. Found only in a meadow near the mouth of Jordan River, Salt Lake Valley, with the next. (12.) Myosvrus aristatus, Benth. Lond. Jour. Bot. 6.458. Spikes oblong or linear, with few to very many achenia, which are beaked with a divergent per- sistent style nearly equaling the achenium.—Ordinary starved specimens have short few-carpeled heads, but under favoring circumstances it sends up numer- ous sub-decumbent scapes, with linear many-fruited heads, as in M. minimus. Found growing in the shade of sage-brush in the valley of Carson River, Nevada, and of Salt Lake; 4,500 feet altitude; collected also by Ives in Western Arizona. April-June. A Chilian species. (13.) Ranuncutus aquarius, L., Var. TRICHOPHYLLUS, Chaix. The most com- mon form of the species; from the Eastern States and the Alleghany region 6 BOTANY. north to the Arctic Sea and Greenland, and west to California. Found in Truckee and Ruby Valleys, Nevada, and in Parley’s Park, Utah; altitude, 4,300-6,000 feet; May-September. Var. brachypus, T. & G., from California, is a short-peduncled form of this. (14.) Var. stacnaTiuis, DC. (R. divaricatus, of Gray’s Manual.) Frequent forms occur connecting this variety with the last. It can hardly be R. divaricatus, Schrank, as European and Asiatic specimens of that species show a well-defined lamina to the segments of the leaves, while in American speci- mens they are always filiform. The fruit of the two varieties varies in the degree of hispidness and acuteness of the achenia, and affords no reliable distinctions. Northern States and British America. Collected in Secret Val- ley, Nevada, and near Salt Lake City, Utah; 4,300—6,000 feet altitude; May- September. (15.) Ranuncutus Anpersonu, Gray. Proc. Amer. Acad. 7. 327. Leaves radical, palmately 2-ternate, segments laciniately cleft, petiolulate; scape 1-flowered ; calyx glabrous, persistent; achenia 4-5” long, thin and vesicular, obovate, compressed, with a narrow ventral wing and slightly margined dor- sally, glabrous, mucronate with a very small subulate recurved style; seed cylindrical, (1-14” long,) narrowly winged along the entire ventral margin, attached above the base of the achenium.—Plant 3-6’ high, with a coarsely fibrous, almost fascicled root, either wholly glabrous or the dilated petioles and lobes of the leaves sparingly ciliate with whitish deciduous hairs; scape’ exceeding the somewhat fleshy leaves; flower 1’ in diameter, with occasionally a lobed bract near the base; petals suborbicular, with a nar- row claw and small nectariferous scale, deep-pink, the nearly equal sepals margined with the same color; wing of the seed extending beyond the rhaphe both above and below. The somewhat petaloid sepals and the withered petals are persistent at the base of the dense globular heads (9” in diameter) of maturing fruit. In several respects this is a remarkable species in the genus Ranunculus. ‘The fruit of this species, now first collected, is strikingly different from that of R. glacialis and Chamissonis, yet of the same type, showing that the affinity of the species had been rightly esti- mated. The akenes are several times larger, thinner, and more bladdery, tipped with a proportionally very short style, the dorsal edge more or less margined toward the base, but without the wing which is so conspicuous in R. glacialis. The long and terete seed, very small in proportion to the cavity, 1-7 RANUNCULUS ANDERSONIL 8-10. Varn TENELLUS. CATALOGUE. 7 is inserted above the base, often very considerably so.” (Gray, MSS.) From the east foot of the Sierras to Salt Lake, on the foot hills, and occasionally in the cafions, at an altitude of 5-9,000 feet. May—July. Puate I. Fig. 1. A plant in flower; natural size. Fig. 2 and 3. Sepal and petal; enlarged two diameters. Fig. 4. Matured head, showing the receptacle, the per- sistent calyx and marcescent corolla, and a portion of the achenia; natural size. Fig. 5. Achenium, twice the natural size, with one side removed, show- ing the seed in position and the ventral wing. Fig. 6 and 7. The winged seed with its rhaphe, and the embryo; enlarged four diameters. (16.) Var. TENELLUS. More delicate and slender; stems 1° high, with some- times a leaflet above the middle similar to the radical leaves; petals and achenia rather smaller, and the latter less numerous and crowded. Pilot Rock Point, Salt Lake, Utah. Prate I. Fig. 8. Plant; natural size. Fig. 9 and 10. Petal and sepal; enlarged two diameters. (17.) RANUNCULUS ALISMHFOLIUs, Geyer., Var. Montanus. Low (6’ high,) alpine; stems ascending; leaves entire; carpels rather shorter-beaked than usual in the species.—It is 79 Parry and 15 Vasey, from Colorado, and 1684 Brewer, from Lake Tenago, in the Sierra Nevada. The species is dis- tinguished from R. Flammula not only by the longer-beaked achenia, but also by the more prominent scale and deeper nectary of the larger petal. Shore of Marian Lake in the East Humboldt Mountains, Nevada, and at the head of Provo River in the Uintas; 9,000 feet altitude; June-August (18.) Ranuncutus Fuamuuta, L., Var. REprans, Gray. New England to Cal- ifornia and northward to the Arctic Ocean. Found only on the upper Bear River in the Uinta Mountains, Utah; 8,000 feet altitude; August. (19.) Ranunoutus Cympauaria, Pursh. The most abundant of the species occurring in Nevada and Utah, preferring subsaline or alkaline soils; 4-6,000 feet altitude; May—September. From New Jersey and the Great Lakes to California, and northward to the Arctic Circle. (20.) Ranuncuuws AFFinis, Br. Radical leaves petioled, usually pedately mul- tifid ; cauline ones subsessile, digitate, with broadly linear lobes; stem erect, few-flowered ; carpels with recurved beaks, in oblong-cylindrical heads ; more or less pubescent throughout.—Referred by Dr. Hooker to &. auricomus, from which it differs only in its oblong heads. Var. Lerocarpus, Trautv., with the lower leaves less divided, slightly lobed or only deeply crenate; 1-14° high; flowers rather small and carpels somewhat pubescent Growing in the Uinta g BOTANY. and Wahsatch Mountains, at an altitude of 6-9,000 feet; July, August. It is 15 Hall & Harbour, 13 Vasey, and 80 Parry in part, from Colorado; pre- viously reported only from the Arctic coast. (21.) RaNuNcuLUS GLABERRIMUS, Hook. Glabrous; leaves petioled, entire or 3-toothed, or the cauline ones 8-cleft, oblong or lanceolate, obtuse ; heads globose.—Root fibrous-fascicled; stem 2-4’ high, 1-3-flowered; corolla an inch in diameter; petals broadly obovate, twice the length of the calyx, the nectary a broad tube 1” in depth—in this respect resembling A. Lingua. In the Rocky Mountains of Oregon, Washington Territory, and Idaho. Washoe Mountains, near Carson City, Nevada, where it was also found by Dr. Anderson; 5-6,000 feet altitude; April, May. (22.) RanuncuLus sceLeratus, L. Atlantic States and Canada to the Arctic Circle; collected by Bourgeau and Geyer, in the Rocky Mountains, and also by Nuttall and Frémont on the head-waters of the North Platte. Found in Ruby Valley, Nevada, and in Salt Lake Valley, Utah; altitude 5—-6,000 feet ; May-October. (23.) 7 RanyuncuLus MULTIFIDUS, Pursh., Var. ¢ REPENS, Hook. Creeping, with the leaves all round-reniform, palmately 3—-5-cleft—Arctic America; also Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Weber Valley, Utah; altitude 5,500 feet; August. &. limosus, Nutt., from the head-waters of the Snake River, has still more divided leaves and is Var. 7, Hook. (24.) Ranuncuuus pieiratus, Hook. Kew. Jour. Bot. 3. 124, t. 4. Dwarf; very glabrous; root grumous; leaves few, petioled, digitately or somewhat pedately lobed, the 3—5-segments narrowly lanceolate, or oblong-spatulate, obtuse ; flowers 2-3, terminal, with reflexed sepals and 7-11 oblong cuneate petals; fruit subglobose, the carpels beaked with the subulate recurved style—Stem 2-3' high, simple; flowers 9’ in diameter. Collected previ- ously only by Burke, near Fort Hall, in Southeastern Idaho; now found on Mt. Tobin Range, above Cumberland, Nevada, and by Prof. D. C. Eaton, in the Wahsatch, near Cottonwood Lake; altitude 9,000 feet; June. (25.) RaNUNCULUS NIVALIS, Br. Radical leaves dilated, lobed ; lobes somewhat ovate; cauline leaves palmate; stem about 1-flowered; calyx very hirsute, shorter than the petals; style equaling the glabrous ovaries; heads subglobose. Var. Escuscnoitzu. (I. Eschscholtzii, Schlecht.) Radical leaves 3-lobed, lateral lobes somewhat divided, sparsely ciliate; calyx less hirsute, with whitish hairs; styles shorter than the achenia.—The stems are described as CATALOGUE. 9 erect, but are more usually ascending or decumbent; flowers larger than in 2. affinis, small forms of which it approaches, but from which it is easily distin- guished. Rocky Mountains of Colorado and British America to Alaska. It is 80 Parry, 14 Hall & Harbour, and 17 Vasey. Found on the East Hum- boldt and Clover Mountains, Nevada, and on the Uintas, at an elevation of 9-10,000 feet ; July-September. (26.) Ranuncuus REPENS, L. From Canada and the Atlantic States to the Pacific. Found in the valleys of Northeastern Nevada, and the cafions of the Wahsatch Mountains; altitude, 6,000 feet; usually with small flowers and growing in much wetter localities than the next. (27.) RaNuNCULUS MACRANTHUS, Scheele. Linnea, 21.585. Root fascicled ; stem erect, more or less hirsute with spreading hairs; branches short, erect, few-flowered; leaves ternately, or, more frequently, bi-ternately divided ; segments usually petiolulate, laciniately lobed and toothed; flowers large, with the sepals strictly reflexed; carpels (12 long) crowded in subglobose heads, about equaling the broad subulate beaks.—This is R. repens, Var. macranthus, Gray, but it seems sufficiently well marked to retain its place as a distinct species by its stout erect habit, uniformly large flowers with re- flexed sepals, and especially by the long diverging beaks of the carpels. Texas, California, (4,729 Bolander,) and Oregon, (Lyall.) Streambanks in the Wahsatch and Uintas; 5-8,000 feet altitude; June, July. (28.) RANUNCULUS FASCICULARIS, Muhl. The leaves are less divided than usual; radical ones ternate, leaflets 3-lobed, lobes mostly entire; cauline ones with the leaflets linear-lanceolate and nearly entire; flower small. Canada to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin; collected by Lyall in Washington Territory, and California by Mrs. A. J. Davis, and Professor Brewer (4,631.) Foot of the Washoe Mountains, near Carson City, Nevada; May. (29.) RaNuNCULUS ORTHORHYNCHUS, Hook. Erect, slender, sparsely hirsute with appressed hairs; radical leaves petioled, upper ones sessile, 3-foliolate, leaflets linearly many-cleft, with white callous points; sepals reflexed, half the length of the petals; carpels glabrous, compressed, strongly margined, shorter than the nearly straight style. Var. aLpinus; low, nearly or quite glabrous, stems ascending.—The large form occurs in low lands in Washing- ton Territory; the variety, in the Wahsatch Mountains, at an altitude of 10,000 feet; July. It is perhaps R. amenus, Gray, of the Colorado collec- tions, which has been found only with immature fruit. (30.) 2 10 BOTANY. Carus LEPTOSEPALA, DO. Stems (3/-1° high) erect, 1-flowered; leaves radical, ovate-cordate, obscurely crenate; carpels beaked with the short recurved style; sepals white, or tinged with blue—Subalpine swamps, Colorado to California and Washington Territory. Found in the East Hum- boldt and Clover Mountains, Nevada, and in the Wahsatch, Utah; 9-10, 000 feet altitude ; July-September. (31.) TROLLIUS LAXUS, Salisb. Sepals dull greenish-white or yellowish. New Hampshire to Delaware and Michigan, and on the eastern slope of the Rocky . Mountains, from Colorado to latitude 55°. Uinta Mountains, Utah; 9,000 feet altitude; July, August. (82.) Aquinecia Canapensis, L., Var. rormosa, Torr. Tall, 2-3° high, nearly naked above, the limb of the petals 1-2” long, the spurs never greatly exceeding the reflexed sepals; styles shorter than the stamens.—The parts of the flower of this prevalent and perhaps distinct western Aquilegia are so variable that A. truncata, Fisch. & Mey., (A. Californica, Lindl. and