STATE GEOLOGIST. 159 



C. oligosperma, Michx. Sedge. 



Agate bay, lake Superior Juni. Infrequent. North. 



C. saxatilis, L.. var. miliaris, Bailey. (C. miliaris, Michx. C. rotundata, 

 Wahl . ?, in Manual. ) Sedge. 

 Collected in Minnesota by Dr. J. Leidy; determined by S. T. Olney. Bot. Bep. of 

 King's Expl. of the Fortieth Parallel. 



C. longirostris^ Torr. Sedge. 



Throughout the state. Minneapolis, Juni, Kassuhe; Mankato (common), Leiberg; 

 also common in Martin county, and in Emmet county, Iowa, Cratty. 



[A considerable number of species of Carex not here recorded will doubtless be 

 added by future observers in this state, who should look for all such as approach, or 

 are especially northern, in their geographic range, given in Gray's Manual.] 



GRAMINEJE. Geass Family. 



LEERSIA, Swartz. Whtte Grass. False Rice. 



L, Vii'ginica, Willd. White Grass. 



Ramsey and Goodhue counties, Oestlundi Minneapolis, Simmons; Blue Earth 

 county, ieiberfif; Emmet county, Iowa (rare), Cratty, South. 



Li. oryzoides, Swartz. Rice Cut-grass. 



Common in sloughs through the south half of the state and in the Ked river valley, 

 Juni, Upham; Ramsey and Goodhue counties, Oestlund; Blue Earth county. Leiberg. 



Ij. lenticularis, Michx. Fly-catch Grass. 

 Lapham. South . 



ZIZANIAjL. Water or Indian Rice. 



Z.aquatica, L. Wild Rice. Indian Rice. Water Oats. Folie Avoine 

 (of the French voyageurs). 



Common, or frequent, in favorable situations, throughout the state ; sometimes 

 attaining, in Brown county, a hight of 13 feet, with leaves 4 feet long, Juni. 



" Wild rice ; Pshu of the Sioux ; M.anominoi the Chippewas. This aquatic grass, 

 not uncommon in the Northern United States, acquires in the Northwest an economi- 

 cal importance second to no other spontaneous production. It is the ouly instance in 

 this region of a native grain, occui-ring in sufficient quantity to supply the wants of 

 ordinary consumption. It is particularly abundant on the lake-like expansions of 

 rivers, towards their sources, which give such a marked feature to the distribution of 

 these northern streams, and is so grandly illustrated in their main type, the Missis- 

 sippi. It seems to select, by preference, the lower terminations of these expansions, 

 which generally debouch by a narrowed outlet and considerable fall, constituting rap- 

 ids. It is in these situations best exposed to the proper degree of inundation, and finds 

 a suitable bed of the slimy sand, in which it grows most readily. It is rarely met with 

 on inland lakes which have no outlet. As an article of food it is highly palatable and 

 nutritious, being generally preferred to the commercial rice . The grain is long, slender, 

 of a brown color. In boiling, it puffs out to a pultaceous mass, and increases its bulk 

 several times. It flowers in August, and is ready for gathering in September, which is 

 conveniently done in canoes, the standing stalks being bent over the sides, and the 

 grain beaten in. Its productive fields, at this season, harbour a great number of wild 

 fowls, which obliges those who wish to secure a full crop, to anticipate the gathering 

 season, by tying up the standing grain into bundles, which gives at the same time a 

 claim to the crop. When gathered it is subjected to a process of parching and thrash- 

 ing, which, with the imperfect means at the command of the Indians, is the most tedi- 

 ous part of the business." Parry, 



