60 Trans Acad. JSci. of St. Louis. 



patches of shrubs will usually occur reed swamp vegetation. 

 The most common shrub is Gephalanthus occidentalis . In 

 southeastern Kansas, the tall herb Hibiscus mililaris often 

 occurs in the community. Salix longifolia may occur in 

 swamps, but forms characteristic communities along river 

 banks, especially portions liable to inundation. 



Xerophytes. 



As one would suppose from its geographical position, the 

 flora of Kansas is largely xerophytic. The group may be 

 conveniently divided into three classes : A. Rock vegetation. 

 B. Sand vegetation. C. Prairie. 



CLASS V. ROCK VEGETATION. 



The exposed rock is chiefly limestone. There is some 

 <rypsum in western Kansas and sandstone in the Dakota 

 formation, and the Red-beds, also considerable through the 

 region of Chautauqua County and many other localities. 

 However, the composition of the rock seems to have little 

 influence upon the vegetation, other influences being more 

 important in determining the distribution. Ferns are found 

 crowing in the crevices of naked rock in some localities in 

 eastern Kansas, as Chautauqua County and " Rock City," 

 Ottawa County: Notholaena dealbata, Pellaea alropurpurea, 

 Camptosorus rhizophyllus. The limestone hills found in 

 abundance through the State have frequently considerable 

 soil scattered over them. The characteristic flora of this 

 formation includes quite a long list. In eastern Kansas are 

 the following : Peialoslemon muUiflorus, Astragalus lotiflorus, 

 Oenothera Missouriensis, Stenosiphon virgatus, Mentzelia 

 oligosperma, Peucedanum foeniculaceum, Houstonia angusti- 

 folia, Amphiachyris dracunculoides, Aster oblongifolius 

 rigidulus, A. sericeus, Echinacea angustifolia, Helianthus 

 orgyalis, Hymenopappus corymbosus, Senecio Balsamitae, 

 Heliotropium tenellum, Lithospermum angustifolium, Pent- 

 stemon Cobaea, Euphorbia zygophylloides, Croton mon- 

 anthogynus, Tragia stylaris, Camassia Fraseri, Zygadenus 

 JSTuttallii, Bouteloua hirsuta. 



