IOWA ACADEMY Of SCIENCES. 85 



Pynis coronarktt, L. Since this paper has been written Prof. L. H. Bailey* 

 has worked out our Wild Crab and established several species. I have 

 not had an opportunity to study carefully the character of the Wild Crabs 

 found about La Crosse. The Pyrtis co7'onaria as described in older sys- 

 tematic works is very common in thickets, sometimes forming large groves. 

 Beautiful large trees occur in isolated places. 



Plum {Prunus americanot, Marshall) is widely distril)uted. It comes up 

 spontaneously everywhere. In rich bottom lauds, clay soil, black sandy 

 loam and rocky .soils. Clieuey Plum, now well known in cultivation, occurs 

 wild near Chaseburgh and elsewhere on the ridges. The species, if it be 

 one, and there is certainly much doubt, is a very variable one. Prof. Bailey 

 informs me that there are sevei'al good species in Prumis americana. Near 

 La Crosse occur several distinct forms. I remember a case where one 

 form occurring on a sunny hillside and ripens in August; the fruit is yel- 

 lowish red. On the same sunny side of the hill, but some three quarters of 

 a mile farther north, is another group. The plums are sevei-al weeks later, 

 are longer and red. 



Choke Cherry {Prunus virginiana, L.) is a very commons pecies, forming 

 small groves in clay and black soil. It frequently occurs at the bases of 

 gullies or ravines. The Wild Red Cherry [Prumts j^ennsylvanica, L.) occurs 

 in State Road Cooley near La Crosse on rocky hills in woods. 



Wild Black Cherry [Prunus serotina, Ehr.) is widely distributed, though 

 somewhat local. In Coon Valley it is abundant, forming quite an extensive 

 grove. Trees from six to eight inches in diameter occur, though the tree 

 never attains the size it does in Missouri and Illinois. Several species of 

 Crataegus ai-e common, but as I have not worked over my material care- 

 fully they are omitted. 



Basswood (Tilia amerirana) is largely intlueuced ])y moisture. Rich, 

 damp, grounds, sloping to the north, are favorable situations for it, and it 

 is commonly found along the rich bottoms of the smaller streams and creeks. 

 On the low l^luffs and rivers of the Kickapoo river it is abundant. 



The American Elm, or White Elm [Ulvius americana, L.), is a common 

 tree everywhere along the creeks and streams near springs; occasionally, 

 also, in upland woods in dry soil. The Red Elm ( Ulmus fulva, Michx.) is 

 not uncommon on the rocky slopes of hills along the Mississippi. It is 

 absent or rare in the interior of the country. The Cork Elm (Ubnus 

 racemosa, Thomas) is far less common than U. Americana. It occurs near 

 La Crosse, especially in the Kickapoo valley near Bloomingdale, and I 

 observed it also near Turkey River Junction, Iowa. 



According to Mr. J. S. Harris, the Red Mulberry formerly grew in the Root 

 river bottoms. I have not, however, seen it growing wild, though speci- 

 mens said to have been brought from there are gi'owing in Hon. J. W. 

 Losey's old lot on Fifth street. Scattei-ed specimens were found at North 

 McGregor, Iowa. Since writing the above 1 have learned of its occui-rence 

 at McGregor also, though evidently it onlj' grows in sheltered situations as 

 Mr. Kennyou writes. It is more numerous near Dubuque. 



Two other conspicuous deciduous trees occur in rocky woods and shaded 

 north slopes, Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginica, Willd.) and Hornbeam 

 [Carj)inus caroliniana, Walter). 



♦American Garden, Vol. XII. No. 8, 1891. p. 469, 



