38 - THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



common morning-glory prefers. The flower thus presents to 

 view the semblance of a familiar gem in a strange setting. This 

 plant is "perennial from an enormous root," and each narrow 

 leaf exposes to the air the least surface that is consistent with 

 the proper performance of its functions. It is manifest that 

 we have here a species which has accommodated itself to sur- 

 rounding conditions in the most admirable manner. 



Of the fall flowers, the Compositse, or the sunflower 

 family, are, of course the predominant type. Hymenopappus 

 Ulifoliiis, an inhabitant of dry, rocky soil, is with us all sum- 

 mer long, and into September. In July and August the blaz- 

 ing-star {Lacinaria punctata) makes its debut, and is more 

 abundant, as I have noticed, in the sand-hills than elsewhere. 

 The purple cone-flower (Brauneria amgustifolia) is a charac- 

 teristic autumnal species, although it first comes into bloom 

 about the middle of June. Old settlers tell us that to chew 

 the root of this plant will relieve thirst, and that on this account 

 it was useful to those who crossed the plains in early days. The 

 long-'headed cone-flower (Ratibida columnaris) also begins to 

 show itself about this time. The ordinary from of this vege- 

 table — with yellow flowers — abounds everywhere, but variety 

 piilcherrima, or to the beautiful, with handsome brownish-pur- 

 ple rays, is rather rare. Asters and golden-rods, it goes with- 

 out saying, are present in myriads, and the species of both are 

 legion. 



It is a curious fact that although through the ages hun- 

 dreds of forms of plant-life have been adapting themselves to 

 the environment of the dry prairies, and can live in the tough 

 sod that the roots of the buffalo-grass have formed, yet when 

 man alters their conditions of existence — makes them prairies 

 suitable for the growth of domesticated productions by break- 

 ing the sod, and mayhap watering the soil — many of these 

 vegetal children of the Great Plains will take very kindly to 

 the new artificial environment. Witness the prairie evening- 

 primrose, already mentioned. On the virgin plain it occurs 



