228 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



to be a great nuisance. It reaches its maximum abundance in the 

 sandy fields along the east side of the outlet of Lost Lake, and here 

 it is abundant enough at times to make passage through the fields 

 quite vexatious. The grass comes up in spring, handsome and in- 

 viting, and suggests good pasturage, and the small grain within the 

 bur is pleasant in taste and texture, somewhat resembling rice ; but 

 even at the best, little good can be said of this plant, and the 

 principal problem is its extinction. The burs become conspicuous 

 about the middle of July, but it is after they have ripened that they 

 are especially obnoxious. 



68. WILD RICE 



ZIZANIA AQUATICA L. 



With the possible exception of the reed, Phragmites, the wild 

 rice when well developed, is one of the most handsome of our native 

 grasses. Its tall stately appearance, the rich golden yellow of its 

 widely spreading staminate flowers which droop gracefully around 

 the sides of the panicle, contrasting with the stiff erect pyramidal 

 heads of pistillate flowers, make the first sight of these plants one 

 to be long remembered. Each looks like a vegetable fountain, with 

 a straight silvery jet in the center, the outer circle of spray toward 

 the base sparkling in the sunlight. It is not very abundant in 

 the vicinity of the lake. A few tall stately plants, representing the 

 species at its best, were observed near Norris Inlet in 1900, but 

 none has been seen in recent years, and it is probable that the wild 

 fowl gathered all the seed. It is fairly common at Twin Lakes, 

 several miles to the north, and around pools in the tamaracks west 

 of the lake. 



What was taken for a dwarfed form of Z. aquatica was observed 

 in the neighborhood of Winfield's, also along the thoroughfare be- 

 tween the lakes, and along the outlet for nearly its whole length. It 

 was not noted during the earlier years of the survey, but was first 

 seen in 1906. In 1907, 1908, and 1909, increasing quantities were 

 seen and it was becoming quite common, indicating that it was of 

 recent introduction and was gaining ground. In some places it was 

 badly affected by ergot. Unfortunately, none of this dwarf grass 

 was collected. It may possibly have been Zizaniopsis miliacea 

 Drell & Aschers. 



Wild rice is valuable as an attraction to wild ducks and it would 

 be well worth while to sow an abundance of seed in both the Inlet 

 region and on Green's marsh, where it would be likely to thrive. 

 It would add greatly to the appearance of these marshes, beside 

 furnishing food and cover to ducks and geese. 



