BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 75 



teum perfoliatum (Horse Gentian); Arisaema triphyllum 

 (Indian Turnip); Hydrophyllum virginicum (Virginia 

 Waterleaf); Thalictrum dioicum (Early Meadow Rue); 

 Urtica (two species) (Nettles); Polygonum virginianum 

 (Virginia Knotweed); Apocynum androsaemifolium 

 (Spreading Dogbane); Zizia aurea (Early Meadow Par- 

 snip); Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine); Onoclea sen- 

 sibilis (Sensitive Fern, Botrychium virginianum (Vir- 

 ginia Grape Fern); Dryopteris sp? (Shield Fern); Adi- 

 antum pedatum (Maiden-hair Fern); Solidago (several 

 species) (Goldenrods); Heliopsis helianthoides (Smooth 

 Oxeye); Hystrix hystrix (Bottle-brush Grass); and Aster 

 (various species) (Asters.) 



In the low portion of the woods were Eupatorium 

 ageratoides (White Snake Root.) 



The following were rare plants not only for this 

 dune complex, but even for this entire vicinity: 



Cypripedium parviflorum (Smaller Yellow Lady's 

 Slipper); Viola pedata (Birds-foot Violet); Unifolium 

 canadense (False Lilly-of-the-Valley); and Panax qnin- 

 quefolium (Ginseng). 



The writer has failed to find the last two specimens 

 anywhere else in this neighborhood during twelve years 

 of botanizing. The first two are rarely found in this 

 vicinity. These are strong witnesses for the compara- 

 tively greater age of the Dune Complex over the others, 

 and also of the varied conditions prevailing upon this 

 area in former times. 



By an inspection of the above lists it will be seen 

 that herbaceous plants are fully four times as numerous 

 on the Miniature Dune Complex as on the West Dune. 



The North Dune contains a few more specimens 

 than the West Dune, but not nearly as many as the 

 Dune Complex. One plant common to the North Dune 

 has not been observed on either of the others, namely: 

 Spathyema foetida (Skunk Cabbage), although it is 

 quite abundant on various portions of the prairie. 



