Acknowledgments:

The original color films used for the plates on pages 15 and 26, wereheretofore reproduced in different form in “American Wild Flowers”—Moldenke,published in 1949 by D. Van Nostrand Co., New York, withwhose permission they are again reproduced here.

The pen and ink diagrams and sketches on pages 3, 60, 61, 62 andinside back cover, were prepared by Mary Chilton Gray, of the staff ofDenver Museum of Natural History.

Lily Family
Yucca or Spanish Bayonet, Yucca glauca, NUTT.

⇐FRONT COVER

Flowers, closely arranged along a tall woody bloom stalk, are eachformed by 6 petals and sepals (perianth segments) surrounding a largefleshy pistil. The 3 outer segments often have mahogany brown shadingon the back, the 3 inner are creamy white, or greenish white. They look likedrooping bells in the daytime, but spread to a total width of 3 to 4 incheswhen fully open in late evening. Pollination is accomplished only by thedeliberate work of a Pronuba moth. Total height of plant, including blossomstalk, is about 4 feet; leaves narrow, stiff and yellowish green, with asharp spine at tip. Grows on plains, particularly in sandy areas, and extendsinto foothills. Blooms June-July.

SOME COMMON COLORADO WILD FLOWERS

By
Harold and Rhoda Roberts

FOREWORD

The generous acceptance of the first seven numbers ofMUSEUM PICTORIAL convinced the Trustees of theDenver Museum of Natural History that the publicationis filling a definite need in the field of natural history reports.The subjects are so varied that a wealth of materialis available.

The present issue is the first printed in color, andwill, we hope, be followed by others. The authors, Haroldand Rhoda Roberts, probably are the foremost photographersof wild flowers of Colorado and the Southwest. This fieldwork has carried them from the tops of the highest mountainsof Colorado to the depths of Death Valley. Their outstandingKodachrome slides have been shown to many audiences andhave appeared in publications. It is hoped that MuseumPictorial No. 8 will be the first of a series on Colorado wildflowers by the authors, which may eventually be compiledinto book form.

Harold Roberts, prominent Denver attorney, is aTrustee of the Museum, and chairman of its BuildingCommittee.

Alfred M. Bailey, Director