DIVISION OF BOTANY 493 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



(F. Fyles, B.A.) 



IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



The numerous inquiries received year by year and the ever increasing number of 

 plants sent in for classification, are~ sufficient evidence that the work of this branch of 

 the Division is being appreciated by the general public. The number of specimens 

 identified during the past fiscal year was four times that of the year ending March 

 31, 1910. 



A large proportion of these specimens were plants of the woods in the spring and 

 early summer, as it is very natural that such plants should attract attention. Many 

 medicinal and poisonous plants were also received, with requests for information or 

 literature regarding their identity and qualities. But the greater part of them con- 

 sisted of weeds sent in by farmers seeking advice as to the best methods for their 

 eradication. 



WEEDS. 



Those weeds most frequently sent in were: — Canada Fleabane, Sow Thistles, 

 Field Cress, Toadflax, Orange Hawkweed, Campions, Couch-grass, Biennial Worm- 

 wood, Barnyard Grass and Cinquefoil. 



The Prairie Cone-flower (Lepachys columnaris (Sims) T. and G.) and the Western 

 Gum Weed (Grindelia squamosa (Pursh) Dunal.), were reported from Toronto. 

 Although this is not the first time that the latter has been found in Ontario, it is 

 well to point out that these undesirable weeds are spreading. No doubt their increase 

 is largely due to the transportation of commercial seeds. Such was the case in the 

 appearance of Bromus arvensis L. (Field Brome Grass) and Polypogon monspeliensis 

 (L.) Desf. (Beard Grass) at St. Thomas, Ont., and in regard to Tussilago Farfara L. 

 (Coltsfoot) reported from St. John, N.B. 



A WEED NEW TO CANADA. 



The Thorny Amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus L.) 



The Thorny Amaranth, which as far as we know, made its first appearance in 

 Canada at St. Thomas, Ontario, last summer, is a coarse annual plant belonging to 

 the Pigweed Family (Amaranthacece). It is a native of tropical America and has 

 become naturalized in the north-eastern United States, where. it has caused consider- 

 able damage. Like its allied species, Red-root Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) 

 and Tumble-weed (A. grascizans L), the Thorny Amaranth produces annually a large 

 quantity of small, black, highly polished, lens-shaped seeds, and by this means of 

 propagation spreads rapidly. The plant, which grows to a height of three feet or more, 

 is very bushy in general appearance, often having as many as six stout branches from 

 the base of the stem, varying in diameter from one-half to three-quarters of an inch. 

 Being of rank and succulent growth, it deprives useful plants in its proximity of neces- 

 sary moisture and nourishment. Farmers are advised to make a point of destroying 

 this weed on its first appearance. It is easily distinguished from the other species of, 

 Pigweed by the rigid spines at the base of each leaf-stalk. These measure from one- 



