The Plant World 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF POPULAR BOTANY. 



Vol. I. MARCH, 1898. No. 6. 



BOTANIZING IN THE DALLES OF THE WISCONSIN 



RIVER. 



By Rodney H. True, Ph.D. 



ALTHOUGH Mrs. Britton has introduced the readers of the 

 Plant World, in its initial number, to this weird and enchant- 

 ing spot, it may perhaps not be without interest should the 

 writer tell somewhat more concerning the floral population of 

 these picturesque gorges. 



As one rows from Kilbourn City up through the Dalles, or popu- 

 larly, the Dells, between the perpendicular sandstone cliffs which in 

 places rise to a height of more than one hundred feet, the smooth 

 faces of Potsdam formation exhibit most interesting sights. He who 

 has an inclination towards geology will find his attention attracted by 

 the strata sometimes as much as twelve feet in thickness, showing 

 cross laminations terminated sharply both above and below by hori- 

 zontally-bedded strata. 



The botanist cannot fail at any season of the year to find these cliff 

 faces and the damp, dark crannies, beneath frequent projecting shelves, 

 of great interest. It was once my good fortune to walk on the ice 

 through a part of this wonderful gorge and examine these surfaces. 

 At that time of the year, of course, few of the higher plants could be 

 studied to advantage. In places where the texture is suificiently firm, 

 the surfaces support a growth composed mainly of tufts of GymnostOr 

 nrnm and other mosses of similar habits. Certain thalloid liverworts, 

 and the ubiquitous Marchantia, small ferns, PelUva atropurpurea, and, 

 more rarely, the dainty, fragrant Dryopteris fragrans\Neve. to be seen. 

 The surfaces protected by overhanging shelves were fairly covered 

 with a thick growth of Gymnostonmin and, in places, with sheets of 

 the rare Sword-moss [Bryoziphiiun Norvegiciim). The purpose of my 

 excursion was to collect, if possible, fruiting specimens of this latter 



