222 THE PLANT WORLD 



pipe." Properly speaking, therefore, these species are dove's or 

 culver's-neck instead of dove's or eagle's foot. 



The columbines of the genus Aquilegia belong to the Crowfoot family 

 (Ranunculaceae), in common with clematis, or virgin 's-bower ; anemone, 

 or wind-flower; hepatica, or liver-leaf; meadow-rue, false bug-bane, 

 monk's-hood and larkspur. 



(to be concluded.) 



A SUMMER OUTING IN IOWA. 



By Chari^otte M. King. 



IT was our privilege to visit, during the summer of 1901, a few points 

 in Iowa of rather exceptional interest from the standpoint of plant 



distribution. 



Near Steamboat Rock, in Hardin County, is one of the few pine-tree 

 regions of the state. North of the town the Iowa River threads its way 

 along the edge of the Altamont Moraine, with barriers of hills on either 

 side. A moisture-bearing stratum, a few feet above the level of the 

 stream's bed, accounts for numerous springs and marshes along its 

 course. Southwest of the town rise bluffs of red sandstone ninety feet 

 or more in height; along the base of these the stream continues on its 

 way. 



In favorable seasons, as one may suppose, the vegetation of this 

 strip of wooded country bordering the Iowa River is varied and abun- 

 dant ; although here, as over all parts of Iowa, the cattle pastured are 

 destroying natural conditions, and injuring the woods to an alarming 

 extent. The bed and shores of the stream afford a characteristic example 

 of aquatic vegetation; the hill-tops and prairie borders have drought-en- 

 during forms ; while intermediate plant-formations lie between these 

 two extremes. The richest locality is, perhaps, the " Fern Glen," vritli 

 its floor the bed of fallen and disintegrated sandstone from the imping- 

 ing cliff; below the gleu the river flows over a rocky bed. The extreme 

 dryness of the season was favorable to the water plants only; in the low- 

 ered stream the Potamogeton, CJiara and their associates thrived in 

 abundance. 



Along the brow of the cliffs and on steep northern exposures, is the 

 white pine standing alone or in groups and growing to considerable size. 

 Dr. Pammel records this as the western limit of this tree in Iowa. As- 

 sociated with it is the paper birch and cherry birch. 



The glen is so shaded by the overhanging cliffs and the birches, that 

 it has become carpeted with ferns and mosses. Here is growing Lyco- 

 podium lucidulum, a club moss common further north and east, but very 



