Article XL — Vegetation of Skokie Marsh. By Earl E. Sheriff. 



With the rapid encroachment of city and town upon the outlying 

 districts about Chicago, and the consequent despoilation of the native 

 flora, it has seemed to the writer advisable to undertake a careful 

 study of a certain restricted area, while there is yet an opportunity, 

 and to place these results on record. For several reasons, Skokie 

 Marsh was deemed most worthy of study. During the past few 

 years the so-called "North Shore" towns situated in the vicinity of 

 the marsh have grown at a phenomenal rate. Much land but re- 

 cently used in farming is now occupied by residences. Moreover, 

 with further increases in population it appears certain that the whole 

 marsh area will be thoroughly drained and, as a result, its floristic 

 complexion be entirely changed. However, at the present time the 

 flora is still essentially virgin in many places, and it is reasonably 

 sure that the general survey here presented approximates closely to 

 a truthful statement of natural conditions. 



The general features of the flora and topography were studied 

 mainly in the autumn of 1910 and the spring of 191 1. From May 

 to Oetober, 191 1, rather intensive taxonomic and ecological studies 

 of the flora were pursued. Again, in 1912, frequent trips were made 

 through various parts of the marsh to secure additional information 

 as a check upon that already obtained. 



Numerous specimens of plants were gathered from time to time. 

 Of these a considerable number are now in my private herbarium; 

 and many duplicates are in the Herbarium of the Field Museum (Chi- 

 cago), the Missouri Botanical Garden Herbarium (St. Louis), Gray 

 Herbarium of Harvard University (Cambridge), the United States 

 National Herbarium (Washington), and the Herbarium of the Royal 

 Botanic Garden (Edinburgh). The data secured, and here published 

 for the first time in collected form, have already appeared in part in 

 several other publications, which are cited in the appended .list of 

 literature. The map (PI. LXXXVI, Fig. i) is intended to portray 

 merely the general location and extent of Skokie Marsh ; hence cer- 

 tain of the roads running across the marsh are omitted. All the 

 illustrations were made by the writer, resort being had to pen sketches 

 where photographs were found impracticable. 



Grateful acknowledgment is here made of my indebtedness, for 

 many valuable suggestions and much helpful advice, to Dr. Henry C. 

 Cowles and Mr. George D. Fuller, of the L'niversity of Chicago, 



