Part 4

FLAX FAMILY

Blue Flax Linum perenne

Plate 7, fig. 1

The delicate blue flowers of the Flax open soon after sunrise, and the petals drop late in the morning, so that the plant is hardly noticeable for the rest of the day. The plants are found on the plains and in the foothills at 5000-10000 ft. and bloom all summer. The Blue Flax is grown in gardens for ornamental purposes and is cultivated by the Indians for the sake of its remarkably strong fibres. The Klamath Indians make these into string and cords which are then used in baskets and mats, fish nets, the meshes of snow-shoes, etc. General cultivation of this native species has not proven profitable, however, since the common flax excels it both in fibre and in seeds, and is commercially one of our most useful plants.

OXALIS FAMILY

Wood Sorrel Oxalis stricta

Plate 7, fig. 2

Children call this Wood Sorrel with yellow blossoms “Snake Sorrel” and think it poisonous, though without reason. It blooms all summer in woods, fallow fields and along roadsides at 4000-8000 ft. The leaflets fold together and “sleep” at night, as the clovers do. Both the common and the botanical names refer to the sour juice of the stems and leaves, and it is this quality that causes the Violet Wood Sorrel to be used in salads and pies.

FLAX FAMILY

1 Blue Flax: Linum perenne

OXALIS FAMILY

2 Wood Sorrel: Oxalis stricta

MALLOW FAMILY

3 Rose Mallow: Sidalcea neo-mexicana 7 Red Mallow: Malvastrum coccineum 8 Poppy Mallow: Callirhoe involucrata

SPURGE FAMILY

4 Snow-on-the-Mountain: Euphorbia marginata

GERANIUM FAMILY

5 Storksbill, Alfilaria: Erodium cicutarium 6 Geranium, Cranesbill: Geranium caespitosum]

MALLOW FAMILY

Rose Mallow Sidalcea neo-mexicana

Plate 7, fig. 3

The Rose Mallow bears rose-colored or rose-purple flowers from early summer to midsummer. The plants are 1-2 ft. tall and usually grow scattered. They are found in foothills and mountain valleys at 6000-10000 ft.

Red Mallow Malvastrum coccineum

Plate 7, fig. 7

The Red Mallow is one of the most striking flowers of the plains and foothills. The vermilion blossoms grow in clusters which often give a vivid color to extensive areas. The plants occur at 3000-9000 ft. and bloom throughout the summer.

Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata

Plate 7, fig. 8

The crimson blossoms of the Poppy Mallow are abundant on prairies and plains at 3000-6000 ft. They bloom in early summer and midsummer and usually make deep masses of color among the grasses. Their beauty amply warrants introduction into home gardens.