

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST 



Vol. XXX. FEBRUARY, 1917. No. 11. 



NOTES ON SOME OTTAWA DISTRICT PLANTS. 



By W. Hague Harrington, F.R.S.C. 



My former contributions to The Ottawa Naturalist having 

 been chiefly of an entomological nature, it may appear presumptuous 

 for me to offer a botanical one, but the following explanation may 

 serve as my excuse and apology. About ten years ago .it became 

 evident that the insect studies, to which much of my spare time was 

 then largely devoted, would be materially aided by a fuller acquaintance 

 with the flora of the district. The identification of plants on which 

 insects were captured would then be speedier and more satisfactory, 

 and errors would be avoided to a greater degree. A partial knowledge 

 of our flowering plants had already been obtained at outings and 

 botanical meetings of The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club, and more 

 especially from rambles with Prof. Macoun and the late Dr. Fletcher. 

 The latter had been my instructor and co-worker since 1877 in these 

 studies and his wide knowledge of botany was ever at my disposal in 

 any difficulties. It seemed, however, time to have a more systematic 

 knowledge of our plants, and a collection of them for reference. During 

 all available time for several seasons close examinations were made of 

 the surrounding district, especially the section northward from the 

 Ottawa river to Aylmer, Kingsmere, Chelsea and beyond. The result- 

 ing collections eventually included nearly all the plants of the Flora 

 Ottawaensis, and the majority of them were examined and had the 

 determinations verified by Fletcher. Some species afterwards collected, 

 especially grasses, were kindly named by Prof. Macoun and J. M. 

 Macoun. On the issue of Gray's New Manual of Botany, the collec- 

 tion was arranged and labelled in conformity therewith, and a list 

 was kept of some species which seemed of special interest. The list, 

 with some notes, was then intended for publication in The Ottawa 

 Naturalist, but was withheld in view of the proposed issue of a re- 

 vised Flora Ottawaensis. That has not yet appeared and it is hoped that 

 these notes may still have some interest and possible value. The sub- 

 joined list of fifty species includes some unrecorded ones, which 



