5 MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 26. 



The prairie proper of the first prairie steppe is confined chiefly to 

 what is known as the "Red River Valley," i.e., the low flat plains south 

 and west of Winnipeg. In this region trees are met with only as forming 

 narrow fringes along the rivers. Elm (Ulmus americand), Oak (Quercus 

 macrocarpa), Poplar (Populus tremuloides, P. balsamifera) , Ashleaved 

 Maple (Acer Negundo) are the most abundant. Away from the imme- 

 diate borders of the streams the prairie is treeless. It is covered with an 

 abundance of herbaceous plants, growing in the greatest profusion. 

 The most widely represented families are Composites, Rosacece, Legum- 

 inoscs, Graminece, and Cyperacece, but the species representing them can- 

 not be said to be characteristic of the zone, as practically all of them are 

 found in suitable localities further west. 



Second Prairie Steppe. This extends westward to a line running 

 approximately from the international boundary at long. 103-30' in a 

 northwesterly direction to Battleford. The flora of this zone is rather 

 diversified, and several very different types of plant associations are met 

 with. 



In the north, where the prairie and sub-arctic forest meet, the 

 flora is composed of species characteristic of both zones. This is also 

 true of the northern part of the third prairie steppe. 



In the southwestern part of the zone, i.e., the country southwest of 

 Moose mountains in Saskatchewan, the vegetation is in many respects 

 closely related to that of the dry belt of the third prairie steppe. The 

 grass is very short and the vegetation in general decidedly xerophile in 

 character. In places, large sandy tracts exist which are covered with a 

 profusion of cactus (Mamillaria vivipara), and in others there is no 

 vegetation except that peculiar to arid soil. 



Extending from the bases of the hills forming the boundary between 

 the first and second prairie steppes there is much broken or parklike 

 country. This is also met with in the Qu'Apelle river valley and in 

 other parts of the zone. Poplar and Oak are the chief trees of the bluffs, 

 and the herbaceous vegetation, as might be expected, is made up of a 

 mixture of prairie and woodland forms. 



The greater part of the second prairie steppe is true prairie, where no 

 trees are met with except in the river valleys. Shrubs occur, generally 

 forming low thickets or copses, and very frequently small clumps com- 

 posed of a single species. On the exposed prairie their growth is always 

 stunted. Snowberry (Symphoricarpus occidentalis) , Silver berry (Eloeag- 

 nus argentea}, Buffalo berry (Shepherdia argentea), Saskatoon berry 

 (Amelanchier) and Roses of which there are several species, are the most 

 important. In damper situations, Meadow Sweet (Spiraea salicifolid) 

 occurs, and in wet places, such as borders of ponds and marshes, willows 

 are abundant. The herbaceous vegetation varies somewhat with soil con- 



