164 



290. SilpMuru laeiniatum., Linn. Called by the inhabitants of the 



country, "Compass plant;" reaches its healthiest growth 

 on the rich fertile bottoms of Missouri, but often found in 

 great abundance on the high prairies. The highest point on 

 the Missouri river that I have observed this plant is near 

 lat. 44°, mouth White river; most abundant in the Platte val- 

 ley and on the broad rich bottoms betAveen Council Bluffs and 

 Niobrara river, where it sometimes occupies large areas to 

 the exclusion of other vegetation. That the leaves of this 

 plant set their faces north and south, may be proved by a 

 pocket compass. Forty-nine plants out of fifty exhibit this, 

 peculiarity. It thus becomes an excellent guide to the 

 traveller across the pathless prairies. 



291. Silphinni perfoliatum^ Linn. Seldom seen above Niobrara. 



292. Iva axillaris, Pursh. Dry argillaceous hills. Fort Pierre and 



Fort Union. 



293. Ambrosia trijida, Linn. Along streams and borders of woods 



from mouth of the Missouri to mountains. Quite abundant. 



294. Ambrosia coronopifolia, Torr. and Gray. Fort Pierre. 



295. Xanthium strumarium, Linn. Sandy bottoms of Yellow-stone. 



296. Echinacea purpurea, Moench. Purple cone flower; called Rattle- 



snake weed in the west, and is found abundantly through- 

 out the country. Root very pungent. Used very effectively 

 by the traders and Indians for the cure of the bite of the 

 rattlesnake. 



297. Lepaeliys columnaris, Torr. and Gray. Common throughout 



the Missouri country, but most abundant from Council 

 Bluffs to Niobrara river, on the rich broad-bottom prairies. 

 In flower July 8th. Rays usually yellow, sometimes of a 

 deep purple velvet. 



298. Lepaclujs pinnata, Torr. and Gray. Vermilion prairie. Rare. 



299. Rudbeclda hirta, Linn. Council Bluffs. 



300. Heliopsis leavis, Pers. Along streams in Kansas and southern 



Nebraska. 

 30L Heliantlms giganteus, Linn. Common on Upper Missouri. 



302. Heliantlms gross -ser rat us, Martens. Common on prairies. 



303. Coreopsis tripteris, Linn. Council Bluffs. 



304. Goreopsis tinctoria, Nutt. James river. Big Sioux, <fec. 



305. Actinomeris squarrosa, Nutt. Common in thickets, and along 



streams in Kansas and Nebraska. 



306. Bidens connata. Muhl. Missouri, and White river Valley. 



307. Bidens Beckii, Torr. Council Bluffs. 



308. Dysodia chrysanthemoide.s, Lag. Very abundant in prairie-dog 



villages on the upper Missouri. 



309. Heleninrn autumnale, Linn. Kansas and southern Nebraska. 



310. Anthemis arvemis, Linn. Naturalized to Fort Leavenworth. 



311. Achillea millefolinm, Linn. Found all over the prairie country 



of the west; must be indigenous west of the Mississippi. 



312. Antenna ria plantaginea, R. Br. Upper Missouri and Black 



Hills. 



