344 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



patch on the hill south of the ice-houses and near the road leading- 

 up to Culver. A peculiarity about this patch was that while some 

 of the plants looked green from a distance, a large number were 

 whitish, and from a distance appeared as if mildewed. This mil- 

 dewed appearance, however, was due to the plants being clothed 

 with dense white silky hairs. 



459. VEINY PEA 



LATHYRUS VENOSUS Muhl. 



One small patch near Walley's birch swamp, on the east side 

 of the railroad in a flat, marshy stretch of sand. In flower May 

 23 to June 12. Flowers quite attractive. The plants are quite 

 leafy and make a good growth after being cut. It is possible they 

 would make a good hay crop. 



460. MARSH VETCHLING 



LATHYRUS PALUSTRIS L. 



A few plants scattered among grasses and sedges in the north 

 end of Green's marsh. Noted in blossom June 5, 1901. The pur- 

 ple flowers are attractive. In low places where it is common this 

 plant is the most valuable ingredient in prairie or marsh hay. 



461. GROUND-NUT; "WILD POTATO" 



GLYCINE APIOS L. 



Rather common in low rich black ground along the bank of 

 the lake ; noted at Long Point by McSheehy's pier and in low woods 

 by Overmyer's. Abundant near the railroad at the Outlet; here 

 it bore great racemes of its fragrant brownish purple flowers. 



This plant is known as "wild potato" in some parts of the 

 state, because of its tubers which somewhat resemble small po- 

 tatoes, but are borne diff'erently, being simple swellings of the root- 

 stock, the "potatoes" being borne in rows like the beads of a rosary 

 or necklace. In most parts of the state where they have been ex- 

 amined the tubers reached fair size but the blossoms usually 

 dropped oflt without perfecting any fruit. In a marsh near Wash- 

 ington, D. C, the tubers were very small but the pods, full of beans, 

 were abundant. The plant is said to furnish good food for pigs. 

 Some of the tubers were boiled and experimented with as an article 

 of diet. The majority of persons who tried them did not relish 

 them, though one might go farther and fare worse. On account 

 of the food stored up within the tubers the plants come up early in 



