Hitchcock — Ecological Plant Geography of Kansas. 65 



The physiognomy of the western plains is peculiar. The 

 predominant plant is buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) with 

 often considerable grama grass (Bouteloua oligostachya). 

 This forms a close mat two or three inches high of a grayish- 

 green color. The other plants are scattered here and there in 

 this sod. The Opuntias are conspicuous though they creep 

 along edgewise, and rise but little above the grass. The 

 most conspicuous plants are Asclepias Jamesii and Cnicus 

 ochrocentrus, which are one to two feet high. 



Certain of the plants in the list are found chiefly in new 

 ground, such as fire-guards and prairie-dog towns. These 

 are: Echinospermum, Krynilzkia, Solatium triflorum, S.ros- 

 tratum, Chamaesaracha, Verbena, Cladothrix, Chenopodium 

 Fremonti incanum, Schedonnardus, Munroa. 



I have spoken previously of the xerophytic character of the 

 plants of the plains (Contr. Nat. Herb. 3: 538). Though 

 the species vary somewhat as one goes west, the physiognomy 

 remains the same and the community cannot be broken up 

 readily into subformations, as is the case with most of the 

 other classes. 



In eastern Kansas the species in addition to those mentioned 

 above are: Anemone decapetala, Delphinium azureum, Cal- 

 lirrhoe triangulata, C. alcaeoides, Linum sulcatum, Baptisia 

 auslralis, B. leucophaea, Psoralea argophylla , P . jioribunda , 

 P. esculenta, Petalostemon violaceus, P. candidus, Astragalus 

 caryocarpus, A. Platlensis, Desmodium Illinoense, Lespedeza 

 capitata, Schrankia uncinata, Liatris pycnostachya, L, scari- 

 osi, Grindelia squarrosa, Solidago rigida, Silphium lacini- 

 atum (compass plant), Helianthus rigidus, Coreopsis palmata, 

 Cnicus undulatus, Asclepiodora viridis, Lithospermum an- 

 gustifolium, Salvia azurea grandiflora, Panicum scopariitm, 

 P. depauperatum, Stipa spartea. 



Through eastern Kansas occur small areas the vegetation 

 of which probably should be classed with the xerophytes. 

 They are usually referred to as " sterile places.' ' They are 

 open barren spots owing their dryness to the character of the 

 soil. The following plants are frequently found in such 

 localities: Draba Caroliniana, Silene antirrhina, Sagina 

 decumbens, Hypericum Drummondii, Stylosanthes elatior, 



