Prairie Flora 36^ 



flora differs but little from that of the prairie sloughs. Here we find 

 as the prevailing grass Sparatina viichauxiana Hitch, and here it 

 reaches its best development. On higher lying bench lands is found 

 A.ndropogon furcatus, associated, if the soil is pretty dry, with An- 

 dropogon scoparius. In early spring Hierochloe odorata is very no- 

 ticable, and on lower ground later in the season Panicum capillare is 

 common. Several species of Cyperus are found on river banks, and 

 among them C. erythrorhizos and 0. strigosus. The pasque flower is 

 common on bench lands, and on lower levels in early May Anemone 

 caroliniana. the most beautiful of spring flowers, opens its pale blue 

 and white petals. The wild strawberry is now in bloom and appears 

 to be Fragaria virginiana illinoiensis. The violet of our river bottoms 

 has been thought to be Yiola pratinicola Greene; but it needs more 

 study. Some of our plants appear to be Viola cucullata Ait, or Viola 

 papilonacea Pursh. Viola palmata has been collected here but is very 

 rare. Caltha palustris is a common spring flower here, occurring in 

 wet meadows. Sisymhrium incisum Engl, or Sophia incisa Green is 

 common on bench lands. The variety hartwigianum, or Sophia hart- 

 icigiana Greene, has been collected at Big Stone lake. Capsella Bursa- 

 pastoris is an introduced weed, while Ellisia Nyotelea is a very common 

 native, and sometimes becomes a troublesome weed in grain fields and 

 gardens. Gorydalis aurea is plentiful near rocky ledges, blooming in 

 the latter part of May. 



Among the valley flowers of early June are several Senecios. Sen- 

 ecio palustris is found on the shores of lakes, as well as in the val- 

 leys. Senecio integerrimus Nutt and Senecio atriapiculatus Rydb, 

 are both referred by Dr. Greenman in his revision of Senecio in the 

 seventh edition of Gray's manual to Senecio integerrimus, but the Mon- 

 tevideo specimens seem to be quite distinct. Perhaps a further study 

 of a larger number of specimens would show that the two species run 

 into each ether. The wind flowers make a brave show in early June. 

 The most common of these. Anemone canadense L. Anemone vir- 

 bineana L., is quite rare here, but Anew.one cylindrica is quite com- 

 mon. Its fruiting heads continue to elongate after the flowers are 

 gone and become quite conspicuous. The spiderworts are now in 

 bloom. Our plant appears to be Tradescantia hracteata Small. The 

 typical milkweed of the river bottoms U Asclepias syriaca L, although 

 Asclepias ovalifolia is occasionally found. Asclepias speciosa is con- 

 fined to wet places on the high prairie. Erysinum chiranthoides is 

 common along the borders of timber on dry soil. Erysinum styrtico- 

 lum Sheldon has been collected at Ortonville, but in the opinion of Dr. 

 Robinson it should be united with the rather more common Erysimum 

 inconspicum MacM,, and both plants referred to Erysimum parviflorum 

 Nutt, Silene antirrhina L. is more or less common, and Silene nocti- 

 flora L, has been collected on the railroad track at Montevideo. Euphor- 

 bia dictyosperma Fisch & Mey has been collected in the valley both 

 at Montevideo and Granite Falls. The Montevideo Station is the 

 only one referred to in the "Metaspermae of the Minnesota Valley." 

 The new edition of Gray's manual omits Minnesota from its range. 

 This is doubtless due to the reduction of E. arkansana and E. mis- 

 souriensis to the above named species. Potentilla anserina is common 



