Excerpt from The University of Colorado Studies, Vol. 6

The small amount of work done in Colorado botany, other than that of coll ceting and naming species, is seen by reference to the Bibliography and History of Colorado Botany, pp. 51-76. In this number of these Studies.

Rydberg, Flora o} Colo., Bull. 100, Colo. Agr. Exp. Sta., 1906.

The importance of local lists is very great in such a geographical area, for they could be used by the student of distribution in working out the large problems in which he is interested. In Colorado, as in any mountainous region, the historical factors such as glaciation, climatic changes and physiographic processes are all Of particular consequence. They enter into all discussions of distribution. Every local flora in its composition bears witness to their importance. Hence a series Of lists for representative localities throughout the state could be made highly useful. How the plants came to be here, where they came from, why they are found in one locality and not in another - these problems can only be attacked after much more information is gathered in regard to their present - day distribution.

It is Often Observed that a given species of plant very common in a certain locality is entirely absent in an adjacent area, although no natural barriers to migration intervene. N O doubt Often this is to be explained on historical grounds. The species is extending its range from an earlier home and has not thus far reached the area where its absence is noted. In other cases no such explanation can be made, since the identical species is also present at a more distant point. Here, undoubt edly, the effects Of competition with other plants have been important. Just what competition really is and how it works are little known. The student in the field can find here an opportunity for the collection and interpretation Of evidence which will lead to interesting conclusions.

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