Lake Maxin'kuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 427 

 751. WESTERN RAGWEED 



AMBROSIA PSILOSTACHYA DC. 



Noted in one place only, on the west side of the railroad em- 

 bankment between the lakes, or a little south of the Outlet of Lake 

 Maxinkuckee. Probably introduced by the passing of trains. In 

 1904 there was a good patch in the same place. This is a rare 

 plant in Indiana, and was first reported in the state by Dr. Robert 

 Hessler, who found it in Marshall County, very likely the identical 

 patch referred to here, and from Marion County. There is another 

 long patch along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad between Lapaz 

 and Bremen, Indiana. 



752. AMERICAN COCKLEBUR 



XANTHIUM AMERICANUM Walt. 



The most common and abundant plant at the base of the ice 

 beaches and along the sandy shore on the west side of the lake. 

 Not nearly so common on the east side of the lake, and not noted 

 on the shore of Lost Lake at all ; not common back from the lake. 

 It was also found in Walley's marsh along the railroad. In many 

 parts of the state this is one of the most pernicious weeds, es- 

 pecially where sheep are pastured. The seeds germinate almost 

 any time through the summer until killing frosts in autumn. In 

 the spring the seeds begin germinating early in June. Each burr 

 bears two seeds, and it is a common opinion among farmers that 

 one of the seeds germinates one year and the other the next. Occa- 

 sionally one sees plants of the same age from a single burr, but 

 this is not commonly the case. The burrs or seeds are often eaten 

 by fox squirrels and perhaps by other rodents. 



FAMILY 143. COMPOSITE. THISTLE FAMILY 



753. TALL IRON-WEED 



VERNONIA ALTISSIMA Nutt. 



Rather common in moist ground near the lake, as along the 

 shore of Outlet Bay, etc. They were still in blossom September 

 28, and where it had been mown along the railroad back of Win- 

 field's. Here it made a second growth and bloomed much later than 

 its ordinary season. 



754. WESTERN IRON-WEED 



VERNONIA FASCICULATA- Michx. 



In flat moist ground, among the other species (altissima) but 

 apparently more abundant. Although quite common here the ver- 



