THE PLANTS OF SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS. ^5 



distinctively shore plants. The ground rises rather abruptly. The 

 chief plants are as follows: Asperclla Jiystrix, Leersia Virginica^ Pani- 

 ciiui capillar e, Viola pubescens, V. cucullata, Triosteiim perfoliatui/i, 

 Geum album, Teiicriuni Canadensis, Sumach {Rli us glabra), Overcup 

 Oak {Querais viacrocarpd), Cniciis altissinms, Bidens frondosa, Eii pa- 

 tor iuni ageratflides, Solidago Canadensis, Solanuinnigrnm, Astragalus 

 Canadoisis, American Elm {Ubinis Americana), Slippery Elm {U. 

 fulva)^ Chokecherry {Prunus Virginiana), Basswood {Tilia Ameri- 

 cana), Green Ash [Fraxinus viridis). Columbine {Aguilegia Canaden- 

 sis), Ranancnlus abortivns. Fox Grape {Vitis riparia), Polygonum con- 

 volvus, EcJii)iospermum Virginicum, Pigweed {Cheiiopodium album). 

 Elder {Sambucus Canadensis), Black Walnut [Juglans nigra), Lophan- 

 tJius scrophularicEfolius, and Hackberry {Celtis occidentalis) . 



High Prairies. The high prairies rise considerably above tlie 

 island hills and differ materially from the other portions here con- 

 sidered. Of the grasses Cluvtochloa glaiica, Panicum capillare, Sporo- 

 bolus Hookerii, Elymus robustus, Bouteloua racemosa are common. 

 Solidago rigida, S. nemoralis. Aster multiflorus, A. azureus, A. hevis. 

 Ambrosia artemisicefolia are common. The most common of all the 

 golden-rods is Solidago rigida. Many of the more interesting plants 

 are rapidly disappearing. In the marshes surrounding- these lakes 

 Cypripedium candidum \^si% common atone time; now, however, the 

 plant has become rare. The Gentiana crinita occurs in places. It 

 has not been found for some years in the vicinity of these old lakes. 



Ames, Iowa, Sept. 27, 189S. 



CONCERNING THE PLANTS OF SOUTHWESTERN 



ARKANSAS. 

 By E. N. Plank. 



FOR a botanist, few parts of our country so far east afford a more 

 pleasant and profitable field of research than southwestern 

 Arkansas. The region is well diversified by mountains and 

 valleys. It is largely a wooded region, with a great variety of 

 soil, and rock formation. Up to a very short tiine ago it has been an 

 almost unexplored region to naturalists, but the construction of the 

 Pittsburg & Gulf Railway has made it pleasantly accessible to tour- 

 ists of all professions. 



During the later days of Septernber of last year the writer trav- 

 eled over the route of the new railway, stopping at different stations, 

 but spending most of his time in Polk county, and in the vicinity of 



