222 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 

 51. TAPE-GRASS; EEL-GRASS; WILD CELERY 



VALLISNERIA SPIRALIS L. 



During 1900 and 1901, eel-grass was noted as rather common 

 in the lake, usually growing in small scattered patches. It grew 

 rather tall and rank in muddy bottom, and dwarf plants grew 

 thinly on sand. Among places where it was observed were: the 

 Weedpatch, a rather thick patch along the east shore of Long 

 Point as along by McSheehy's, Duenwig's and Darnell's, along the 

 depot grounds; in front of the Palmer house, by Farrar's, a long 

 broken patch from the Assembly gi'ounds pier to Kreutzberger's 

 pier, and at the head of the thoroughfare. It grew in the thor- 

 oughfare between the lakes and was rather common in Tippecanoe 

 River into which the outlet of the lakes flows. It was found grow- 

 ing down to a depth of 9 feet. 



It is a favorite food of the coot and ducks ; the rootstock puts 

 out a delicate white stolon in autumn as a starter for the next year's 

 growth. It appears to be this portion that the ducks are especially 

 fond of. Soon after the water-fowl arrive, torn up plants of this 

 species are washed up in great rolls along shore, they probably 

 having been pulled up by these birds. During the first years of 

 the survey but few flowers and no fruit were observed. The 

 patches nearly all disappeared before the ducks left, and the 

 plants hardly seemed to be holding their own. Of late years 

 this species appears to be rapidly gaining and spreading. Blos- 

 soms of both sexes became very abundant. In 1906 from July 

 30 to September 6, the surface of Outlet Bay was frequently densely 

 covered by the staminate blossoms which in places formed a regular 

 scum. The same phenomenon was noted in succeeding years 

 (1907, 1908, 1909 and 1913). The blossoms would frequently be 

 gathered in clumps around floating objects, especially around the 

 pistillate flowers. Considerable patches of the pistillate plants 

 were observed in places with their conspicuous light-colored curious 

 spiral stems as they withdrew into deeper water after being fer- 

 tilized. The fruits are becoming common objects in the lake. They 

 are peculiar, elongate, obtusely triangular green pods, very muci- 

 laginous and with a sprightly acid taste. 



In the autumn of 1906, a very narrow but strikingly dense 

 and long patch was found growing in v/ater five or six feet deep 

 near the Merchants' pier. Its luxuriant growth and small area ex- 

 cited our interest, and, upon dredging it up, it was found to be 

 growing in an old bait-can which had sunk at that place. 



