PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 75 



(Oxalis violacea), Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis), trillium (Trillium 

 sessile, T. grand iflo rum), false Solomon's seal (Smilacina stellata, S. race- 

 mosa), Solomon's seal (Polygonatum commutatum), bellwort (Uvularia 

 grandiflora), dog toothed violet (Erythronium albidum), violets (Viola 

 cucullata, V. pubescens, V. striata, V. pedata, V. pedatifida), yellow grass 

 (Hypoxis orecta), blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolia), golden 

 rods. (Solidago latifolia, S. ulmifolia), asters (Aster sagittifolius, A. 

 Drummodii, A. laevis), Bishop's cap (Mitel-la diphylla), vetch (Vicia 

 arnericana), milk vetch (Astragalus canadensis), meadow grass (Poa 

 debilis), Tick trefoil (Desmodium Dillenii), hog pea (Amphicarpaea 

 Pitcheri), bjue grass (Poa pratensis, P. compressa), ginseng (Panax quin- 

 quefolium), wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), Saint Jacob's ladder 

 (Polemonium reptans), Sweet William (Phlox divaricata, Phlox pio- 

 losa), water leaf (Hydrophyllm virginicum), prairie clovers (Lespedeza 

 violacea and L. reticulata) occur in drier soil. Chickweed (Cerastium 

 nutans), sand wort (Arenaria latifolia), rattlesnake plaintain (Goodyera 

 pubescens), strawberry (Fragaria vesca), morning glory (Convolvulus 

 spithamaeus), agrimony (Agrimonia parviflora), goat's beard (Spirea 

 arumcus), aster (Aster cordifolius, A. macrophyllus), turtle- head (Che- 

 lone glabra), false fox glove (Gerardia tenuifolia var aspera), small 

 false Solomon's seal (Maianthemum canadense), wild hyacinth (Camassia 

 fraseri) are other species of the region. 



Of the rarer plants occurring in this vicinity, but not on these sand- 

 stone bluffs, mention may be made of Rhexia virginica, Phlox bifida 

 along the Cedar river; Symplocarpus foetidus, Allium tricoccum, Calo- 

 pogon pulchellus in boggy places in the Cedar river region; Dodecatheon 

 meadia is rather common on prairies; Angelica atropurpurea and cow- 

 bane (Cicuta bulbifera) in low grounds. Pentstemon grandiflorus, Brew- 

 eria pickeringii, Cristatella jamesii, Helianthus petiolaris and Panicum 

 autumnale is more or less common on Muscatine Island. 



Above the alluvial drift to the edge of the timbered area at Wyoming 

 Hill, tall red top (Triodia cuprea) grows in large masses. The dry lands 

 are covered with this beautiful grass. It has spread for some miles north 

 and south along the railroad. Liatris culindracea, Andropogon furcatus 

 and Koeleria cristata are fcftind, but less commonly. The wooded area 

 is marked by the abundance of prairie clover (Lespedeza procumbens), 

 bottle grass (Asprella hystrix), red oak (Quercus rubra) and hickory 

 (Gary a alba). 



Carboniferous Sandstone Vegetation. The region here considered is 

 locally known as "Wild Cat Den," and occurs along Pine creek north of 

 Sweetland. The region is an extremely interesting one. The flora rep- 

 resents an island where some northern and southern species have been 

 preserved. It is isolated from the prairie species to the west and the 

 common woodland forms along the river. The region owes its peculiar 

 vegetation to climate, as well as physiographic conditions prevailing. 



The sandstone is retentive of moisture and releases its moisture more 

 slowly than limestone rock of the prairie region. iSince it is densely 

 covered with timber, snow remains longer during the spring and the 

 plants are better protected than on the treeless prairies. 



This region not only contains grasses which occur elsewhere in the 



