620 E N D G E N U S P L A N T S. 



MelanthacEjE. — Uvularia grandiflora, (Smith.) May. Hills and rales. Iowa. Uvularia sessifolia, 

 (L.) Woods and copses. Iowa. Zigadenus glaucus, (Nutt.) June. Prairies. St. Peter's. Tofieldia 

 glutinosa, (Willd.) Moist grounds near Stillwater, Minnesota. 



Juncace.e. — Juncus tenuis, (Willd.) Moist roadsides. Common. Juncus Conradi, (Tuckcrm.) 

 St. Croix. Juncus nodosus, (L.) Edges of ponds. 



Pontedertace^e. — Pontederia cordata, (L.) Mouth of Bad River. Lake Superior. 



CommelynaceyE. — Tradescantia Virginica, (L.) Copses and grassy hills. Iowa and Minnesota. 



Cyperace^e. — Cyperus diandrus, (Torr.) Sandy soil. St. Croix. Cyperus inflexus, (Muhl.) Moist 

 ground. St, Croix. Cyperus strigosus, (L.) Edges of ponds, &c. Cyperus filiculmis, (Vahl.) Dry, 

 sandy soil. St. Peter's. Cyperus alterniflorus, (Schwein.) Sandy ridges. St. Croix. Dulichium 

 spathaceum, (Pers.) Edges of ponds. St. Croix. Eleocharis palustris, (R. Br.) St. Croix. Eleo- 

 charis acicularis, (R. Br.) St. Croix. Scirpus lacustris, (L.) Bulrush. In common use among the 

 Indians for making mats. Scirpus atrovirens, (Muhl.) Wet, grassy places. Scirpus Eriophorum, (Michx.) 

 Moist grounds. Eriophorum Virginicum, (L.) Cranberry marshes. Eriophorum polystachyum, (L.) 

 Tamerack marshes. Carex lanuginosa, (Michx.) Carex Meadii, (Dew.) Carex longirostris, (Torr.) 

 Carex siccata, (Dew.) Carex aristata, (R. Br.) Carex varia, (Muhl.) Carex stricta, (Lam.) Carex 

 rosea, var. radiata, (Dew.) Carex straminca, var. minor, (Dew.) Carex grisea, (Wahl.) Carex Sart- 

 wellii, (Dew.) Carex lacustris, (Willd.) Carex vulpinoidea, (Michx.) 



Gramineje. — Zizania aquatica, (L.) Wild rice. " Pshu," of the Sioux ; " Manomin," of the Chippe- 

 was. This aquatic grass, not uncommon in the Northern United States, acquires in the Northwest an 

 economical importance second to no other spontaneous production. It is the only instance in this region 

 of a native grain, occurring 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 Mississippi. It seems to select, by preference, the lower terminations of these expansions, 

 which generally debouch by a narrowed outlet, and considerable fall, constituting rapids. 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 colour. Tn 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 give3 at the same 

 time a claim to the crop. When gathered, it is subjected to a process of parching and thrashing, which, 

 with the imperfect means at the command of the Indians, is the most tedious part of the business. This 

 grain has been frequently introduced to the attention of cultivators, and is worthy of notice, not only for 

 the value of its products, but the peculiar nature of the soil to which it is adapted, being necessarily unfit 

 for any of our ordinary cultivated grains. As a native of the Northwest, it is undoubtedly susceptible of 

 increased production, and will doubtless ere long constitute as important an element in the civilized wealth 

 of this region, as it now does in adding to the comforts of its wild inhabitants. Alopecurus geniculatus, 

 (L.) var. aristulatus. Wet places. St. Peter's. Stipa juncea, (L.) Porcupine grass. Rolling 

 prairies of Iowa and Minnesota. Aristida tuberculosa, (Nutt.) Pine barrens. St. Croix. Muhlen- 

 bergia glomerata, (Trin.) St. Croix. Vilfa heterolepis, (Gray.) Agrostis Michauxii, (Trim.) Cala- 

 magrostis Canadensis, (Beauv.) St. Croix. Spartina cynosuroides, (Willd.) St. Peter's, &c. Boutc- 

 loua raeemosa, (Lag.) Dry, exposed places. Iowa and Minnesota. Bouteloua oligostachya, (Torr.) 

 Drift ridges. St. Peter's. Interior of Iowa. Bouteloua papillosa, (Engelm.) Sandy hillsides. St. 

 Croix. A lately described species. Koeleria cristata, (Pers.) Dry prairies. Iowa and Minnesota. 

 Glyceria Canadensis, (Trin.) Bogs. St. Croix. Poa compressa, (L.) Blue grass. Iowa and Minne- 

 sota. An introduced grass, following closely on the steps of the pioneer husbandman. Bromus ciliatus, 

 (L.) St. Croix. Triticum repens, (L.) Fields. Iowa. Elymus Canadensis, (L.) River-banks. St. 

 Peter's. Elymus Hystrix, (L.) Woods. St. Peter's. Hordeum jubatum, (L.) Squirrel-tail grass. 

 Dry soil. Iowa and Minnesota. Hierochloa borealis, (Roem. and Schult.) Junction of the St. Croix 

 and Mississippi Rivers. Panicum capillare, (L.) Sandy soil. Iowa. Panicum latifolium, (L.) Thickets. 



