DEAN W. TAYLOR. PLANTS OF .ROCK CREEK LAKE BASIN INYO COUNTY,, CALIFORNIA A CHECK LIST ay FRASK W. PEIRSON ine by QGAMONT ADUET EVENING SCHOOL PRINT SHOP Los Angeles, California fi, LessINTRODUCTION Rock Creek Lake Basin in extreme northwest Inyo County differs in its physiographic features from any oth- er Boreal region along the east slope nf the Sierras, It opens to the north along an exis almost exactly north and south and the upper basin is surrounded on three sides by lofty peaks several of which exceed 18700 ft, ‘The grad~ ient of the upper basin is very low considering its altitude; it is exactly two miles from the 10500 ft, contour at Heart Lake southward alone the axis to the 11000 ft, contour. A large open basin is thus formed with numerous lakes and a great variety of conditions suitable for different plants. In Pleistocene times the basin was occupied by far the largest glacier along the east slope. Evidence of its ac- tion are everywhere strikingly apparent. Several small elaciers still subsist on the surrounding peaks and m seems very probable that up to comparatively recent times gla- ciers of considerable extent, occupied the southern peri- meter of the basin; proof of this lies in the character of the terrain above 12600 ft, (in some places 11500 ft.) ; loose piled boulders occupy the entire surface with no deposit of soil and with no footing for plants. ‘The chief interest in the following list will probably be found im the altitudinal range of plants. That plants grow higher along the east slope of the Sierras than on the west slope is well nown, but in this resion they grow higher than at any other location along the east slope. ‘The reasom for this is not entirely clear, however, two causes are suggested: first, favorable habitats in a rather large area and second, the fact that while the region en- Joys the general climatic conditions incident to the east Slope it is also largely protected from the prevalent winds. ‘Several features of the region which will be mentioned in the text are here briefly described. Ruhy Lake at 11150 ff. lies in a basin of its own, west of and about 600 st. above the main basi, It likewise opens to the north and on the three other sides is surrounded by high walls of rock. Tt is tributary to Heart Lake. Several strong springs issue from the steep slope above its west shoreand form boggy places and small meadows on their way to the lake; these are occupied by many species of plants as are also the drier portions of the shore line. It is quite conceivable that many plants find in this locality their highest home in the state of California, ‘My naming, East Recess describes a small eirque along the east wall of the basin which opens into it at about, 11300 ft, this being also about the elevation of the sur- face of the old glacier. ‘The Transverse Ridge projects from the south wall of the basin at about 11800 ft. It is a massive ridge of stroxgly glaciated rocks and separates the Hidden Lake Valley from the upper basin; as it approaches the axis of the basin below Heart Lake it gradually swings toward the north and becomes merged in the general topography. ‘The Glacial Lakes are three small lakes at the upper end of the basin at about 11100 ft. ‘Their water has the peculiar whitish green eolor of glacial streams. With one or two exceptions the Grasses have been de- termined by Mrs. Agnes Chase and the Carices with the very efficient assistance of Mr. J. W. Stacey. ‘The Arnicas and_Antennarias have been determined in part. by Dr. S. FP. Bike. In several genera the determinations are doubtful or provisional or omitted. ‘The most difficult of these genera ave Arabis and Arnica. The list is confined to the region above the 10500 ft contour which is just below Heart Lake. Whenever I re- turn to this region I always succeed in finding new plants though T have collected here in many years. My conclu- sion is that this list is not complete. Frank W. Peirson Altadena, California