PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 167 



Of the herbaceous plants I noted the following: Golden rod (Solidago 

 serotina, S. ulmifolia, S. latifolia), sunflowers (Helianthus strumosus), in 

 woods; (H. grosser ratus), along roadsides; artichoke (Helianthus tuber- 

 osus), bell flower (Campanula americana), white snakeroot (Eupatorium 

 urticaefolium), iron weed (Vernonia Baldwinii), aster (Aster novae 

 angliae, A. sagittifolius), everlasting (Antennaria plantaginifolia), cone 

 flowers (Rudbeckia laciniata, R. triloba, R. hirta Lepachys pinnata), tall 

 coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris), Iowa thistle (Cirsium lowense), wood 

 thistle (.Cirsium discolor), cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), in prairie 

 openings, greater lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica), bell flower (Campanula 

 americana), Spanish needle (Bidens aristosa) ; on low ground, jewel 

 weed (Impatiens pallida), sweet william (Phlox divaricata), prairie open- 

 ings, sweet william (Phlox pilosa). In deep shaded woods, Indian turnip 

 (Arisaema triphyllum), in woods, tick trefoil (Desmodium- nudiflorum). 

 Many other plants occur, but the writer has only noted those he has 

 observed in a single day. 



The region has a typical prairie and woodland flora. It may be of 

 interest to note that Judge Williams, once a member of the probate 

 courts, actively engaged in the nursery business planted a lot of trees 

 over the Devil's Backbone area. One not knowing the circumstances 

 might regard the white pine and paper birch as native. A considerable 

 number of white pine were planted promiscuously in the area. Some 

 of these trees are now 8 to 10 inches in diameter. He also planted some 

 red cedar, paper birch, Douglas fir and white spruce. These latter trees, 

 at once, give a clue to their having been planted. The white pine were 

 planted in places where one not knowing the circumstances might re- 

 gard the trees as native, as some people have supposed. The soil here 

 is limy with a little mixture of sand on the surface. The nearest native 

 white pine is in Hardin county on the Carboniferous sandstone. 



CERRO GORDO, WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES. 

 By L. H. Pammel, Botanist. 



These regions can be discussed together since most of the drainage 

 system is towards the Cedar river and Lime creek, which heads in 

 north Minnesota flows through Winnebago county and northeast Hancock 

 county, then -into Worth county and Cerro Gordo county. This region 

 has not only a number of most unique lakes, but a number of extinct lakes 

 within the memory of man which now have become peat bogs. Through 

 these peat bogs we now find wooded areas which formerly were islands 

 and this reminds one of the lake region of north Minnesota with its 

 numerous lakes and islands. The bogs contain an interesting lot of 

 plants. Rice lake is the most important one of these which should be- 

 come a state park. 



