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. [Illustration: Plate 7 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