Prairie Flora 363 



around gopher mounds and climbs over Symphoricarpos. Since the 

 cultivation of the country began it has become common in fields. In 

 dry places, Eragrostis purshii often forms a considerable portion of 

 the soil cover, spreading like a mat over the ground. Oerardia tenui- 

 folia, another August flower, is common on bluffs and frequent on 

 level prairie. Th3 earliest sunflower to bloom is Helianthus scaher- 

 rimus, common on prairies, and persistent as a weed in wheat fields. 

 It is commonly called rosin-weed. Closely related to the rag weeds but 

 with broad entire leaves is Ivaxanthifolia growing to the height of 

 six or seven feet in rich locations, and becoming a pernicious weed 

 after the cultivation of the prairie began. The early smooth golden 

 rod has been called SoUdago Missouriensis, but it is clearly different 

 from SoUdago Missouriensis, as it grows on the foot hills of the 

 Rockies, and Dr. Rydberg is of the opinion that it should be referred 

 to Solidago glaberrima of Martens. SoUdago serotina is common in 

 moist places, and on the borders of meadows grows to immense pro- 

 portions. Late in August SoUdago nemoraUs is found in dry places, 

 and is readily identified by its one-sided panicles. Another autumnal 

 golden rod is SoUdago rigida, probably the most common of them all, 

 persisting in old pastures. Perhaps SoUdago canadensis is equally 

 common. In some of its forms it seems to be the variety gilvocanes- 

 cens of Rydberg. Another August plant is the wild liquorice, Glycyr- 

 rhiza lepidota. Its yellowish flowers open in July, but its brown 

 seed pods with glandular prickles make it more noticeable in August. 

 No use is made of it for its medicinal properties. In taste the root 

 resembles the liquorice of commerce, but it is more bitter. Among 

 the tall August grasses may be noted Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum 

 nutans, and Bromus kalmii. The varieties or species of PhysaUs 

 found on the prairies in August are of difiicult limitation. Some seem 

 to be PhysaUs longifoUa, of Nuttall, some approach PhysaUs lanceolata, 

 of Micheaux, and others are clearly PhysaUs virginiana of Miller. 

 Amaranthus hUtoides and Amarantus graecizans are common in waste 

 places, especially on new breaking. The latter forms a bushy clump, 

 and in autumn breaks loose at the root and goes bounding across the 

 prairie before the wind. The Russian thistle, Salsola tragus, is becom- 

 ing a common weed in similar locations and shows the same tendency 

 to become a tumble weed. It is uncertain whether or not the common 

 purslane, Portulaca oleracea, was a native of this region; but it is 

 frequently found in such locations as to suggest that it was here be- 

 fore the advent of white men. The evening primrose is a common 

 August flower and may be called either Onagra strigosa or Oenothera 

 strigosa, but the plant needs more study. A small prostrate spurge, 

 probably Euphorbia glyptosperma, is a common plant on wild prairie, 

 but more noticeable on new breaking. The prairie dock, Rumex mexi- 

 canus, is most common on moist ground. Among the grasses of late 

 summer may be noted Muhlenbergia racemosa and Eragostis major. 

 The latter is common in gardens and on cultivated ground. 



A stately plant of early autumn is Pernathes racemosus, growing 

 on rich ground, sometimes to the height of six feet. The only gen- 

 tian common on the autumnal prairie is the Gentiana puberula, and it 

 opens its blue flowers very late, sometimes blooming even in October, 



