186 ANNUAL REPORT 



your request, Mr. President, I will attempt, at this time, to des- 

 cribe some of the eight huudred species of wild flowering plants 

 we have in this state. In doing so, I bring to my aid Dr. Chas. L. 

 Anderson, now of California, but at an early day a distinguished cit- 

 izen of Minneapolis, and a botanist of a high order. First, then, the 



SPRING FLOWERS. 



1 Pulsatilla Nuttalliana. Pasqueflower. — Gray. Pulsatilla 

 Patens — 1st ed Gray. Anemone Patens — Hooker. Anemone 

 Nuttalliana — De Candolle. Anemone Ludoviciana — Nuttall. 



Appears about Easter, hence its common name. At first a mere 

 flower bud, thickly coated with long silky hairs, raising its head 

 perhaps near a snow bank, light purple, borne on a long scape, as the 

 season advances, twelve or fifteen inches high. The flower, at first 

 closed, soon spreads and becomes about two inches in diameter, 

 with an involucre made up of very narrow leafllets, forming 

 a cup around the stem. The scape issuing from this, gradually 

 lengthens until the flower is six or eight inches above it. The 

 sepals of the calyx — for it has no petals — in the course of two or 

 three weeks fall off, leaving the fruit or seeds with long tails, the 

 head resembling somewhat a ripe dandelion head. The leaves are 

 all from the root. This is the first wild flower that gladdens the 

 heart of the florist. The Fort Snelling prairie used to be covered 

 with them. It grows in sandy soil on the prairies and in the oak 

 openings. It is handsome and attractive. The root has a strong 

 acid odor, and is used by the Indians for headaches. 



2. Ranunculus rhomboid eus. Rhomboid leaved crowfoot. — 

 Goldie. 



Almost as early as the Pasque flower, is seen this little Ranun- 

 culus, with its bright yellow flowers, in the moist places on the 

 prairies. The root leaves and lower stem leaves are roundish and 

 notched — the upper stem leaves are three to five parted, and ses- 

 sile. The seeds in round heads are eye shaped, with a minute 

 beak, stems three to six inches high, sometimes not larger than the 

 root leaves; petals large, exceedingly small calyx. This description 

 will distinguish the rhomboid from other species of the Ranun- 

 culus. It is the first Eanunculus that appears in this vicinity, and 

 although of little interest, it often puzzles the botanist to find its 

 scientific name. 



3. Hepatica triloba. Liverwort. — Chaix.' A beautiful early 

 flower found in the woods, on the banks of streams, early in the 

 season. Flowers, one inch in diameter, pale blue, varying to white 

 — on scapes three or four inches long. Leaves all from the root — 

 three lobed — the involucre also is three lobed like the leaves. 



4. Iospyr urn biternatuni. Enemion. A very handsome 

 little flower found very early and in localities with the liver- 

 wort, of which it is a cotemporary. No petals, pistils about 

 four, spreading in fruit, two or three seeded. Flowers white, ax- 

 illary and terminal, three-quarters of an inch in diameter, five 

 petal-like sepals, — stamens numerous. Plant six inches high, re- 

 sembling the rose anemone. Fibers of the root thickened here and 

 there with little tubers. Has no common name. Leaves from 

 root and stem, biternate. Leaflets two and three lobed. 



