Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 403 



from dwellings. In spite of its powers of distribution, it never 

 becomes a bad weed, but is content with waste places and fence 

 corners. About Lake Maxinkuckee it shows a marked preference 

 for slopes. 



The plant is quite hardy ; the leaves stay green all winter, even 

 during- very severe winters, and are apparently unhurt by freezing. 

 Seedlings come up thickly about the old plants either in autumn 

 or early spring. The blossoms, which are a favorite with honey 

 bees, are present from July until frost, and a great number of 

 seeds are produced. 



649. GROUND IVY 



GLECOMA HEDERACEA L. 



Occasional in waste places ; a small patch along the shore near 

 the Morris boathouse, east of the depot grounds ; another patch near 

 Knapp's ; found growing on a bank in woods along the Tippecanoe 

 River. 



An introduced plant, common about old homesteads. As in the 

 case of the catnep its broad distribution is rather hard to account 

 for; one sometimes finds it on banks in open woodlands far from 

 any dwelling. Small fragments of the plant, however, will root 

 and spread, and the plant is often a nuisance in swards and grassy 

 places as it soon crowds everything else out. It and the money- 

 wort or yellow myrtle are very much alike in this respect. 



There is a variegated-leaved form in cultivation which is more 

 attractive ; but this species needs discouragement rather than en- 

 couragement everywhere. Noted in blossom by Knapp's about the 

 middle of May. The small blue flowers are borne abundantly 

 throughout the spring — from March until the end of May. 



650. HEAL-ALL; SELF-HEAL 



PRUNELLA VULGARIS L. 



Common about the lake in both dry and moist grounds. Be- 

 gins blooming in May, and continues, especially in moist grounds, 

 until after frosts have killed most other flowers. Noted in flower 

 as late as October 25. Found on each side of the lake, east of Lost 

 Lake, and especially common on the ridge south of the road along 

 the shore of Outlet Bay. As its popular name suggests, it was once 

 in great repute among herb doctors and was a famous ingredient 

 of homemade salves. Common in fields and open woods every- 

 where, so familiar and apparently native that it is difficult to think 

 of it as an introduced plant. 



