DANIELS ON FLORA OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN. 14.^ 



ECOLO(iV OF THE FLOKA OF STUR(iIS. MK 11.. AND VICINITY, 



FRANCIS POTTER DANIELS, A. M. 



1 was at Stursis, .VJich., from July 10, 1898, to May 15, 1899. During Ibis time I 

 made a collection of such plants as I needed for my herbarium, and also an ex- 

 tended and somewhat particular survey of the flora in the vicinity of Sturgis. Alto- 

 gether (570 species were noted. The late spring and early summer vegetation was 

 not studied in flower, and doubtless many species thus escaped my notice. 



Sturgis is situated in the southeastern portion of St. Joseph county, and lies? 

 about three miles north of tlie line separating Michigan from Indiana. It is about 

 fourteen miles south of the 42d parallel and about twenty-four miles west of the 

 85th meridian. The city is huilt on land originally prairie, and the surrounding 

 region for some distance also was once prairie. Intermingled with this were ridges 

 of bur oak openings, boggy meadows, and some swamps surrounded with forests 

 of a distinct alluvial type. Westward there are several lakes, Klinger being the 

 largest, and Minnewaukon the nearest to the city. 



Much of the region is under cultivation: forests are few, and for the most part, 

 freely pastured. The wild vegetation is consequently much compressed, and only 

 the bog flora can be considered virgin. Many plants flee to the railroads, but these 

 have to suffer frequent burnings. Doubtless many species have suffered extinction. 

 The pitcher plant (Sarraceria purpurea, L.) and the painted cup (Castilleia 

 coccinea, Spreng.). I am told, used to be abundant, yet a diligent search failed to 

 find either. The arable prairie years ago was broken up, the bogs have been 

 drained as much as possible, the forests have been cleared except the customary 

 wood lots, and these have been pastured for decades. It is considered a sign of 

 thrift to clear up the roadsides, and the wayside weed steadily crowds out the 

 native survivors. Still the flora cannot be said to be in a state of transition. For 

 years conditions have been as they now are; the losing flght has been fought, and 

 all now is at peace. A few swamps may yet be ditched, but the flora has reached 

 nearly its last possible compression. 



Nevertheless the flora cannot be considered poor, either in the abundance or 

 variety of species. Wherever conditions are favorable, there a uniquely rich vege- 

 tation is found. Probablj' no richer paludose flora can be found elsewhere in the 

 state. It is true that I found but 670 species, but there must be taken in account 

 the fact that the vast timberland flora is almost altogether absent, that there are 

 no coniferous tracts, no hilly barrens or waste sands and dunes, and no proper 

 alluvial hottoms. 



Four floras may be said to intermingle in the vicinity of Sturgis, that of the 

 prairies of the Mississippi valley, that of the oak openin,gs characteristic of Mich- 

 igan, that of the alluvial bottoms, and that of the bogs, swamps, lakes and streams. 

 A considerable proportion of the flora is composed of species proper to the states 

 just south of Michigan. 



The prairie vegetation is perhaps primary to the region, but has suffered most 

 from the presence of man. It is altogether impossible now to determine accu- 

 rately what species should be set down as prairie. In fact the presence of this flora 

 is to be detected only from the fact that certain species peculiar to prairies still 

 linger in congenial places. If man has compressed this flora, he has also scattered 

 it. The clearing (jf forests has given it open sunshine elsewhere, and it follows 

 the railroads for miles beyond its original bounds. Some species like Kuhnia 

 eupatoriodes, L. and Baptisia Cucantha, T. & G., persist by the wayside, and even 

 along the streets of the city, but most find refuge in the open bogs, or fringe the 

 railroad tracks. It has two strata, the upland and the lowland. The former tends 

 to coalesce with the flora of the oak openings, while the latter is still well preserved 

 in the prairie bogs lying south and southwest of the eity. It is here that many of 

 the rarest species of the region are found. 



The oak openings are of two types, that characterized by the bur oak (Quercus 

 macrocarpa, Michx.), whence the adjacent village of Burr Oak gets its name, and 

 that in which black oak species predominate. The former lies next to the prairies 

 and has a rich, heavy soil, the latter lies to the north and northwest ami is of a 



19 



