FLORA OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI. 



pointed, for very few plants have been introduced by the means above 

 mentioned. 



During my three years collecting, I have detected 507 [lowering plants, 

 and twelve ferns and their allies, of which 522 are known to be indigenous, and 

 are without indication in the Flora or with the term (Eu.) occasionally follow- 

 ing, denoting that they are also indigenous to Europe. The remaining eighty- 

 seven are either naturalized, and are indicated thus : (Nat. from Eu.), which 

 denotes that they came from Europe, but are now propagating themselves 

 freely without cultivation, and are fully established,— or are adventive, when 

 they are so marked: (Adv. from Eu.), to indicate that they are not propagating 

 themselves with such freedom as to be considered as fully established. 



As will be seen, our Flora is devoid of Club-mosses, Pines, Spruces and 

 Heaths, contains but few Lilies, Orchids, Polemoniums and Ferns, while it is 

 very rich in Composites, Labiates, Figworts and Solanums. The absence of 

 the Pine family is to be deplored, as there are but few trees that compare with 

 the Firs and Pines in symmetry and freshness. The others being less orna- 

 mental, and of course less conspicuous, are not so much missed. 



Half a century ago Jackson county was almost uninhabited, save by 

 fierce and warlike tribes of Indians. Then there were no naturalized plants, 

 no "weeds, 1 ' and the indigenous plants grew and thrived without molestation. 



But as the tide of immigration set in from the East, one by one the 

 native plants disappeared, the rarer ones first, and as the county became more 

 settled, and the cultivation of fields commenced, they rapidly vanished, to be 

 followed up by a multitude of weeds. 



As the county becomes more settled and the area of cultivated fields 

 increase, the number of indigenous plants will become less, and, correspond- 

 ingly, the number of naturalized plants will become greater. So that after a 

 time, the number of years a county has been settled may be indicated by the 

 number of weeds it contains; every few years witnessing the extinction of one 

 of our native, and the appearance of some naturalized plants. 



In arranging the material for this Flora, I have followed the arrange- 

 ment of Gray's Manual, adopting the nomenclature contained therein, with a 

 few exceptions, and then only where recent changes have been made, and 

 which want of space forbids me mention. 



I shall be pleased to note any correction, alteration or addition, that 

 those who use this little work may make, either in regard to the name, number 

 or locality of any plant it contains, or the discovery of any new species ; all 

 such should be communicated to me as soon as possible, in view of another 

 edition the coming year. 



In the determination of many of our plants, I have been materially 

 assisted by Prof. F. L. Harvey, of Fayette ville, Arkansas, and Dr. George 

 Engelmann, of St. Louis, Mo., to whom, I am under special obligations. 



To those friends who have generously supported me in my botanical 

 pursuits, I return my hearty thanks. 



Hoping that my feeble efforts, in this new field for me, will have some 

 little appreciation, I beg to remain, 



Yours very truly, 



FRANK BUSH. 



