Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 169 



floating near shore ; or when left on shore, doing very well, creeping 

 along on the wet mud banks without any marked change of ap- 

 pearance. 



In the temporary woodland ponds near the lake is a remarkable 

 form, a rather close relative to R. natans, Riccia lutescens, which is 

 a true aquatic during the wet portion of the year, and a true land 

 plant, wholly different in appearance during the dry season, which 

 one cannot forbear mentioning- at this place but which space for- 

 bids enlarging upon. 



9. EEL-GRASS PONDWEED 



POTAMOGETON COMPRESSUS (Linnwus) 



According to Dr. Scovell's records this species exceeds any other 

 of the lake in the depth to which it grows, examples having been 

 taken at a depth of 26 feet, and the range extending from 26 to 

 2 feet, the plants being most abundant between 10 and 16 feet. It 

 does not form dense patches but grows scattered among other 

 plants. Its rather small size and relatively narrow leaves, together 

 with its habit of being wholly submerged, make it rather incon- 

 spicuous. It is most common in the southeastern part of the lake 

 and seems to prefer muddy bottom. It is pretty easily recognized 

 by its much flattened stem and grass-like leaves. Although the 

 plants in shallow water produce flowers and seeds, a very common 

 form of propagation is by means of peculiar fan-shaped winter 

 buds in which the 2-ranked flat leaves are closely appressed. Many 

 such buds were raked up during the winter of 1900 and 1901 and 

 it is doubtless from such buds being carried to the deeper portions 

 of the lake that the deeper seated plants owe their origin. The 

 buds have a habit of becoming very crooked during their early 

 growth, the delicate internodes perhaps strongly curving toward 

 the light. Two such very crooked buds were raked up in the spring 

 of 1901, one on April 13 and the other on May 29. The new leafy 

 stem springs from the apex of the bud and the roots from the axils 

 of old leaves. 



10. FRIES' PONDWEED 



POTAMOGETON FRIESII Ruprecht 



This is another pondweed thriving in deep water, being widely 

 distributed in water from 8 to 25 feet but most abundant in water 

 from 12 to 16 feet deep. It also grows in shallow water, in which 

 case it often blossoms and bears fruit. It is also disseminated by 

 means of propagating buds but these are not formed so frequently 

 as in P. compressus. It was frequently obtained in dredge hauls. 



