308 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



The pawpaw has many points which commend it for experi- 

 ments in domestication. The bush is one of the most handsome 

 and striking of our native shrubs. It is by far the largest of our 

 wild fruits, larger perhaps than the original apple from which 

 all our modern varieties have sprung. It is at the start far supe- 

 rior in flavor to the early apple which is said to have been ex- 

 asperatingly sour. If it could be as greatly improved over the wild 

 stock as was the apple, we would have one of the most remarkable 

 fruits, as large perhaps as pumpkins, and of multitudinous flavors 

 to the rich custard of its fruit. 



There is a general opinion among woodsmen that there are 

 two kinds of pawpaws, a yellow, which is delicious, and a white, 

 which is inferior in flavor. This is probably due to the fact that 

 considerable critical attention is paid to the first and minor dif- 

 ferences are easily noticed. Everybody knows that the persim- 

 mon is even more variable, and we have summer and autumn per- 

 simmons, winter persimmons, flat or long, yellowish or reddish, and 

 sweet or puckery. Any one who pays especial attention to any of 

 our fruits will find similar wide range of variations. 



The following are some of the more important field notes: 



September 30, 1900, plentiful by Tippecanoe River; October 11, 

 a barren grove in Overmyer's woods ; October 3, seen along Yellow 

 River; May 14, 1901, in flower south of the lake; October 25, 1904, 

 leaves mostly green. August 16, 1906, leaves beginning to turn 

 golden. September 18, leaves beautifully golden, and fruits ripe. 

 October 6 and 14, 1906. still a few found, some fine ones gotten ; 

 October 30, all gone. 



Family 58. Ranunculace^. Crowfoot Family 

 334. yellow-eoot; golden seal 



HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS L. 



This plant, once fairly common throughout the state, is now be- 

 coming rare in most places. It is one of the important drug plants 

 of the country and the root is demanding an increasing price on 

 the market. It is gradually coming into cultivation in gardens of 

 medicinal plants. The ginseng-grower at Plymouth, Indiana, had 

 a fine patch in cultivation. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is not very 

 common. A few plants were found out of flower along Overmyer's 

 creek May 31, 1901. 



