50 BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 



(Ditch Stone-crop); Cardamine pennsylvanica Muhl. 

 (Pennsylvanica Bitter-Cress); Epilobium lineare Muhl. 

 (Linear-leaf Willow-herb); Polygonum (4 species); 

 Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (Garden Tickseed); Iris versi- 

 color Lf. (Large Blue-flag); Geum virginianum L. 

 (Rough Avens); Urtica gracilis L. (Slender Nettle); 

 Scrophularia marylandica L- (Maryland Figwort); An- 

 gelica purpurea L. (Purple-stem Angelica); Mentha pi- 

 perita L. (Peppermint); Scutellaria galericulata L- 

 (Marsh Skullcap); Phytolacca decandra L. (Pokeweed); 

 Carduus muticus (Michx) Pers. (Swamp Thistle); Card- 

 uus lanceolatus L. (Common Spear Thistle); Erechtites 

 hieracifolia (L.) Raf. (Fire-weed); Xanthium canadense 

 Mill. (American Cocklebur and Ambrosia artemisaefo- 

 lia L. (Ragweed). The Mimulus, Penthorum, Carda- 

 mine and Iris testify to the former marshy condition; 

 the Epilobium and Erechtites, to the presence of fire. 



The Xanthium owes its presence most likely to ani- 

 mals, as this field has been used extensively for pastur- 

 age. Species formerly fairly abundant in this meadow, 

 but now rare are the following: Lobelia cardinalis 

 (Cardinal Flower); Lobelia syphilitica (Blue Lobelia); 

 Lobelia Kalmii (Kalm's Lobelia. Brook Lobelia) Naum- 

 bergia thyrsiflora (Tufted Loose-strife); all witnesses of 

 the former marsh condition. Along the margins of 

 the depressions the following shrubs occur: 



Rosa Carolina L. (Swamp Rose); Ribes floridum L. 

 Her. (Wild Black Currant) and Salix (several species) 

 (Willows). Potentilla fruticosa so common on other 

 portions of prairie is not found in this meadow. 



The wooded clay island will be taken up under the 

 subject of Tree encroachment upon prairie. 



FIELDS G. AND C. 



These were heath-like areas covered chiefly with 

 the following shrubs: Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby 

 Cinquefoil); Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry); Salix 

 (several species, Willows) Populus deltoides and tremu- 



