102 THE PLANT WQKLD. 



Arenzville in Cass Co., where there are conical shaped hills of pure 

 sand over a hundred feet in heisrht. 



While the flora of this region cannot be termed rich, it is cer- 

 tainly peculiar and characteristic when compared with the usual prairie 

 flora of the Illinois Valley, The only arboreal vegetation, are groves 

 sometimes of considearble extent, composed solely of Quercus Mary- 

 landica, an oak characteristic of a barren soil. The underbrush is 

 restricted to seedlinos of the aOove and liJiiis arowatica. 



From a botanical standpoint these wastes appear at their l)est in 

 the spring and early summer, when abundant rains luring forth a varied 

 herbaceous flora. An early liloomer and a common plant is PJilox 

 hljidd. It is of a bushy spreading habit covered with a profusion of 

 star-like flowers, varying through all shades of lavender to white. It 

 oTows here under the same conditions as it grows alono- the sandy 

 shores of Lake Michigan. Near Peoria, it confines itself to the pre' 

 cipitous rocky sides of deep defiles. With in can be noted, Yhda pe- 

 data, Draha CaroUnimia, ArahtK Jijrata and Astragalus distortvs. 

 Baptlsla leuc(>ph(Pa is a conspicuous object with ilfe ample racemes of 

 showy cream colored flowers almost rcclinin<r on the sand. Passinof 

 over many common species that help to enliven these wastes in early 

 spring, we will })ass on to June when Ki'ijK/nnini axjxriim comes into 

 flower. It is not reported from elsewhere in Illinois, Init here it must 

 find a congenial home as it is very abundant. With its wand like 

 stem frequently four feet in hight, terminated by a raceme of most 

 ijLtense orange colored flowers, it makes a very effective bit of color 

 in these barren wastes. It is a showy plant and very easy and deserv- 

 ino; of cultivation. 



With it grows Lltlio^per'mvm Jurtinit equally intense in color. In 

 charming contrast, is CalHrhoc tr'tangidata with its showy purple blos- 

 soms. De-wiodium llliiioenst^ is common, orowing; on the barrenest of 

 knolls. This species is so markedly distinct that it is surprising that it 

 remained undescribed until a comparatively recent date. Its peculiar 

 spike like racemes, often two feet in length, alone distinguish it from 

 any other species. It is our earliest flowering Desmodiiun, commenc- 

 ing to bloom the fore part of Jidy. I have met with it in widely 

 separated localities in Illinois, and have always found it growing under 

 the same conditions. It delights in an abundance of sunshine, and a 

 sandy soil, while our other species prefer a rich soil and usually shade. 

 Growing with above will be noticed Te^hrosa Virginiana, Desmanthits 



