14 Charles E. Bessey 



wide, and 0.5 thick), contain ten or more very hard, flat seeds, 

 bedded in a sweet pulp. The pods fall from the tree during the 

 winter and are picked up and partly eaten by the larger quadru- 

 peds, as swine, cattle, etc., and doubtless were also by deer, buffa- 

 loes, and other wild animals before the advent of white men. The 

 hardness of the seeds preserves them from injury. The tree is 

 common in the forests of Missouri, and has been carried up the 

 Missouri River and its tributaries so that now it occurs as far 

 west as Franklin County in the Republican valley, and Holt 

 County along the Niobrara River (35). It has also passed up 

 the Nemaha and the Blue rivers to Gage and Lancaster counties. 



Buckthorns (Rhamniis spp.). The small drupe contains two 

 to four very hard one-seeded stones, surrounded by a thin flesh. 

 When these drupes are eaten by birds the seeds are preserved 

 from injury by their hard covering. 



Buckthorn (Rhamiiiis lanceolata Pursh) is common in the 

 Missouri forests, from which it has moved up along the eastern 

 border of the state to Cherry County on the Niobrara River. It ■ 

 has followed the tributaries of the Missouri River (Nemaha and 

 Blue rivers) to Gage, and (Platte River) Saunders counties 



(38)- 



Indian Cherry (Rhanimis caroliniana Walt.) occurs somewhat 

 sparingly in the Missouri forests, from which it has advanced 

 into eastern Nebraska (39) having been noticed at two stations 

 (Cass and Saunders counties). 



Buffalo Berry {Lepargyraca argciitca (Pursh) Greene). The 

 small red or amber one-seeded drupes are edible, and are eaten 

 by birds and thus carried away. The seed is protected from 

 injury in the alimentary canal by its hard covering. This small 

 tree is a native of the Rocky Mountain region and westward, 

 from which it has been carried eastward across the state (40) to 

 the banks of the Missouri River (Nemaha County). 



Sumach (Rhus copallina L.). The small one-seeded drupes 

 are crimson in color and liave an acid flavor. They are eaten bv 

 birds, and their seeds are protected from injury by the bony seed 

 coat. This species occurs in the Missouri forests, and has been 

 carried northward (45) ,to the extreme southeastern corner of 

 the state (Richardson County). 



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