74 STUDIES IN THE VEGETATION OF THE STATE 



Euhnistera Candida ranges from 150-600 individuals to the 

 five-meter square in the low prairies, averaging 250-275, and 

 from 4-45 individuals on the ridges and exposed slopes. In- 

 dividuals of K. purpurea number 150 to 1,000 to the quadrat 

 in the higher prairies about Great ridge and 5-50 in the low 

 prairies. The average of the plant under normal conditions 

 is about 350 to the quadrat. The prairie clovers are peren- 

 nial, so that their distribution in the formation is rather per- 

 manent and dictated perhaps wholly by the water-content, 

 since conditions frequently obtain where the two species oc- 

 cur in equal numbers. The showy white or purple flowers of 

 these species are arranged in compact cylindrical spikes ; an- 

 thesis begins from below, extending upward over a zone of 

 about one centimeter daily. The Kuhnisteras have proter- 

 androus, pollen flowers, the stamens of which become exserted 

 during the morning hours (5:00-7:00 a.m.) and disappear 

 very soon, while the styles elongate in the afternoon or on the 

 following morning. Allogamy, xenogamous or geitonoga- 

 mous, obtains through insect agency. The orange anthers of 

 K. purpurea produce copious masses of globose, roughened 

 pollen cells covered with a yellowish viscin. On high prairies 

 Amorpha canescens ranges from 125-500 individuals per 

 quadrat, averaging perhaps 300, while on low prairies from 

 12-50 plants are counted in the five-meter plot. Its abun- 

 dance is sparse to subcopious in meadows. The leadplant or 

 shoestring is a low undershrub controlling by virtue of its 

 deep-seated, woody roots, which eminently fit it for xerophy- 

 tic conditions. The leaves and stem of this plant are lead- 

 colored, and when the terminal, clustered blue racemes ap- 

 pear it becomes one of the most conspicuous plants in the 

 aspect. The flowers are proterogynous and accordingly allo- 

 gamous. The yellow anthers with red filaments are exserted 

 during the early morning hours and by noon have mostly dis- 

 appeared. 



Coreopsis pabnata occurs in definite patches on Great 

 ridge, ranging from 200-1,400 individuals per quadrat, the 



