THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 19 



black knapweed, a plant which has advanced from Europe 

 to the Eastern States where it had become a rather bad weed. 

 Cyiwsitnis cc/iinafiis, commonly called the dog's tail 

 grass, I considered a lucky find. It is also a recent arrival 

 from Europe. In the Mediterranean region, I am told, it is 

 a troublesome weed. I do not think that it has been found in 

 Oregon before. However, I believe it has been collected in 

 British Columbia, bv Prof. Henry. Here it is somewhat 

 abundant on a slope on skinner's Butte, which overlooks the 

 railroad. Some six miles away on Spencer's Butte, I have also 

 observed it in an open place surrounded by dense woods. The 

 city of Eugene is situated between these two buttes. It would 

 be interesting to know how the grass got to the two places 

 mentioned. 



SOME TEXAS WILDFLOWERS 



By Mrs. D. C. Hackxey 



MY home is on a prairie that extends to the Gulf of Mexi- 

 co, fifty miles away. The region was once the bottom 

 of the ocean. The soil is cold and heavily sodded, but it is 

 productive when well cultivated and is glorified the major part 

 of the year by many different kinds of wildflowers. 



The latter part of February or earlier if the winter has 

 been mild, the fragile prairie violets are in bloom, being the 

 immediate successors of blue and yellow crocuses. If, when 

 gathering violets, a lambent, vivid flame is seen in the new 

 short grass, one's allegiance is immediately transferred. The 

 brittle stalk of the "flame" is broken close to the ground and 

 soon one has a handful of the beautiful wild Indian pinks 

 ( Castillejia. ) 



I have seen Indian pinks bloom as early as January along 

 the side of bridges and in thick clumps of grass. If the soil 

 is fertile, there is a great bunch of vivid dark red stalks; if the 



