200 



REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL SECITON, 1891 



, {Read Jan. 28th, i8q2.) 



To the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturatists' Club : 



Gentlemen, — The leaders in botany have pleasure in reporting 

 that there has been continued activity in this branch during the past 

 season. Some additional plants have been added to the local list, new 

 localities discovered for rare species previously recorded, and interest- 

 ing observations made in growing native plants from seed. In this 

 connection the leaders would draw attention to the work now being 

 carried on at the botanic garden on the Central Experimental Farm, 

 where a large number of native plants have been grown from seed from 

 various parts of the Dominion, and which are always available for study 

 by visitors and students. A magnificent collection of seeds ot prairie 

 flowers has during the past season been presented to the botanist in 

 charge by Mr. T. N. Willing, of Calgary, N.W T., a member ot the 

 club. Some of these have been sown, and many others are ready for 

 planting in the spring. All members are invited to assist with seeds 

 and roots of rare plants. I'he importance of studying plants in a grow- 

 ing condition cannot be too strongly urged. Of particular interest to 

 botanists are several plants, the seeds of which have been presented by 

 Prof. Macoun, concerning which there was some doubt as to specific 

 identity, or for the observation of other poinis of scientific interest. 

 As an instance of the value of this work mention may be made of an 

 investigation made by Mr. J. M. Macoun last spring, by which it was 

 found that the Cat?iassia, abundant around Victoria, in Vancouver 

 Island, is not, as was supposed, Camassia esculenta but C Leichtlinii, 

 a fact which had previously been suggested by Prof. Macoun. The 

 true C. esculenta was collected by Mr. Macoun near Sproat's Landing, 

 and grows in low land quite close to the river, growing, in fact, in the 

 eirly part of the season when discovered, in the water by the riverside. 

 C. Leichtlinii has larger and darker ])urple flowers, with the lowest 

 segment of the perianth conspicuously deflexed. A collection of great 

 interest to the botanical student is the large collection of native and 

 foreign grasses --about 150 different species — which are being culti 

 vated at the Experimental Farm. 



