Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-03-27

1itea VI e"O hiSIa; Will tAS HOVER
!, wedged in between the leaves so a
] scarcely to be recognized. This plan
+ blossoms early in April, probably th
first Of all it's kind, so abundant il
t TIE West. The ripe seeds in the pod
of many species having stems an,
} branches, sway back and forth ant
} rattle IN the passing breeze, whenc
. the plant takes its name of rattle
weed, but little less than an eartl
quake would be required to sway th,
) pods of this particular kind.
OF wild parsley, a species of Hogs
} Fennel, or Peucedannm (P. villosum
may be cited, with its bright yellow
clusters of small flowers almost resting
on the ground Several other earl,
species of this family are quite simi
lar with their low, spreading foliage
and blossoms. Among composites i.
a species of Townsendia CT, sericea,
with several clustered, white, aster
like blossoms, scarcely peeping out
above the surface OF the earth. The
leaves are so reduced in size as to be
scarcely recognizable, and the whole
plant when dug up proves to be little
more than blossoms and roots. Sew
eral specimens Of this last, almost in
bloom, were found during the warm
weather in February of this year.
The tigwort family has an early re-
preventative in what is known as Syn
thyris, IS alpina) The first speci-
mems found are only few inches high
and we'll protected by covering of
dense, woolly hairs The flowers are
purplish, crowded together in a short
spike. Then there is the Moss Pink,
(Phlox Douglasii) belonging to the
polemonium family, frequently to be
found by the last OF March in full
bloom. 1t acquires the name moss
from the dense, mat-like appearance
of it's stems and leaves. The flowers
themselves resemble in form those of
the taller cultivated species of phlox
of the gardens. Two other very early
spring flowers, but mostly confined in
this country to the mountains, belong
to the crowfoot family. One is small
battereup (Ranuneesus glaberfinus,)
specimens Of which / have collected
as early as April 9th. The other is
the common Wipd-fower already men
toned, and appearing at about the
same time, or even earlier than the
preceding.
Before the close Of April q good
variety Of plants may be found in
bloom, but new forms do not seem to
appear as rapidly as in regions where
the weather is less subject to sudden
changes One of the most SNOWY
plants Of the latter part of this month
is species Of pulse known as Therm-
opsis &C. rhombifolia.) The bright
yellow cluster of flowers much resem-
bles the cultivated pea in form and
has delicate perfume not common
among Montana plants Another
plant growing on the elevated prairies
towards the mountains is Balsamor-
rhiza (B. saggitta.) A cluster of
coarse, more Or less arrow shaped
leaves, surround stem bearing rather
large, usually solitary heads of yellow
flowers, not uni Ike sunfowers. Often
the plants are IN full bloom the last
week Of April, and later in the season
when all traces of flowers and seeds
have disappeared, the harsh, dried
leaves still remain to rustic in the au-
tumn breezes, and but recall to mind
the rapid changes Of everything hav-
ing life. The roots Of this plant con
stitute an article of food among
various Indians.
A family of plants not yet noticed
are the yiolets, at least three species
of which may be found in bloom in
April The yelloWfowered kind (V. |
Nuttallii) is the most widely distribut-
ed, growing everywhere On hillsides.
4 blue violet ". Gamma var. adunca)
and larger growing species with
white flowers (V. Canadensis) are
limited to damper grounds.
And last, but not least Of April |
blossoms, is the Yellow Fritillaria e. |
pudica, of the lily family. It is usual
ly formed on damp and more or less
shaded slopes, The handsome, solit-
ary flower nods upon its stalk. but as
the pistil enlarges and ripens, the stem
straightens out, bearing the large, egg
shaped pod erect.
The above is not complete list of |
plants blooming in April, but simply |
includes some Of the common and
more striking forms,
r. S. ".
--e,-