90 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



dense tufts of basal leaves, and when the ring is small the leaves 

 from opposite sides generally meet across the middle, and one 

 must then part the leaves with the hands in order to reveal the 

 ring-like growth. But, as the size increases with the slow 

 spreading of the plants, the interior of the ring becomes ex- 

 posed. The maximum diameter of these rings is about three 

 feet, and it is very seldom that one finds the central portion oc- 

 cupied by any other plants. 



Two of our largest prairie grasses, the blue-joint, Andro- 

 pogon furcatus, and the Indian grass, Sorghastrum avenacenin 

 are also ring-formers, but in a less conspicuous way. As the 

 diameter of the colony increases the central portions do not die 

 away completely, and the patch remains solid. But only the 

 outer, younger parts send up the flowering stems which con- 

 sequently appear as a ring around the margin. These species 

 are two of our largest grasses, sending up flowering stems four 

 to seven feet high, and forming rings four to six feet across. 



For fear that some may not understand the purpose of 

 this department, let it be repeated that it is to awaken an in- 

 terest in the out-of-door, first-hand study of botany. The 

 editor stands ready to identify plants or answer questions on 

 any phase of field work. And at the same time your own 

 notes and experiences are desired for publication. If you have 

 had an interesting field experience, send it in; it will interest 

 others as well as yourself. 



There is a rush, Junciis halticus, which is very common 

 along the sandy beaches of our Great Lakes, and which is strik- 

 ing for its growth, not in rings, but in straight lines. The plant 

 spreads by an under-ground stem, which grows perfectly 

 straight and sends up erect stems at regular intervals, about 

 an inch apart. These stems, therefore, appear along the sand 



