GILMoRE] TAXONOMIC LIST OF PLANTS 129 
small in size, and has deep-red flesh of finest quality. . . . The seed of Baby 
Delight, you will note, is not black, but of a light brown... . 
JANUARY 14, 1914. W. ATLEE BurRPEE & Co., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
Your letter received. I did not answer at once because I wished to confer 
with Prof. Thoburn, who has been absent from the university investigating 
some mounds supposed to be of historical interest. 
He agrees with me that the watermelons to which you refer in your letter 
are what are popularly known as the “ volunteer melon.” I have a ranch in 
an Indian neighborhood and the so-called “ pie melon” or citron is almost a 
pest. The “volunteer melons.” are not unusual and they often hybridize 
with the “pie melon.” This may account for the fact that the ‘“ volunteer 
melon ” differs from the ordinary melon of commerce. While I have no proof 
to sustain my statement, I do not believe that the melon is indigenous to 
Oklahoma. 
Should there develop any further information in regard to the subject I 
shall be glad to communicate with you further. I shall be much interested 
in the results of your investigation and hope to keep in touch with the work 
which you are doing in this line. 
JANUARY 23, 1914. A. H. VAN VLEET, 
Professor of Biology and Dean of the Graduate 
School, the University of Oklahoma. 
Micrampenis topata (Michx.) Greene. Wild Cucumber. 
Waknaknahecha (Dakota). 
Wata"gtha (Omaha-Ponca), from wata", squash or melon, and 
ingtha, ghost; ghost melon. 
An Oglala said the seeds were used for beads. 
CAMPANULACEAE 
Lospeia cArpDINALIs L. Red Lobelia, Cardinal Flower, Red Betty. 
This species is peculiar in its situation in Nebraska, in that it is 
found in some isolated areas, all within the ancient domain of the 
Pawnee Nation. These areas are far distant from any other region 
in which the species is found. It is listed among “ Species peculiar 
to the Republican District.”? Again “ Lobelia cardinalis and L. 
iaflata, which are known for one or two stations in IIT [Sand Hill 
region] along the southern edge of the State.” ? 
In another part of the present work the suggestion is made that 
the presence of this species in the Pawnee country may be due to 
introduction by Pawnee medicine-men. This explanation is sug- 
gested in view of the value placed on the mystic powers attributed 
to the species by that people. One use of this plant was in the 
composition of a love charm. The roots and flowers were the parts 
used. Other plants combined with Lobelia in compounding this 
charm were roots of Panax quinquefolium and Angelica* and the 
seed of Cogswellia daucifolia. 
1Clements and Pound, Phytogeography of Nebraska, p. 81. 
*Tbid, p. 297. 
*Sce discussion of Panac. 
74936°—19—33 ETH 9 
