THE FLORA OF THE PRAIRIES. 519 
gree occupy the neglected pastures, the roadsides and the 
waste nooks of the farms. In short the transformations of 
the flora of the prairies are often far more complete after a 
period of settlement covering but two decades, than are to be 
seen in those portions of New England which have been 
occupied by Europeans for as many centuries. 
In the present article it is proposed to sketch briefly some 
of the peculiarities of the primitive flora of the Upper Mis- 
sissippi prairies,* which not improperly, either in respect to 
their fertility under cultivation, or the luxuriance and beauty 
of their native vegetation, have been styled the "Garden 
of the West." The wild plants of the prairies present at 
every season features peculiarly attractive. In spring ane- 
mones and violets, as elsewhere, are among the early flowers, 
the latter of which are particularly numerous and character- 
istic, peering brightly out among the young fresh blades of 
grass. To these soon succeed several species of beautiful 
phloxes, the painted cup, and the prairie rose. Later still ^ 
appear the purple and the white turban flowers (Petaloste- 
mon violaceus Michx., and P. candidus Michx.), the ceano- 
thus, the hoary-leaved, purple-flowered lead plant (Amorpha 
canescens Nutt.), the purple cone flower (Echinacea angus- 
tifolia DC.), and, from its abundance perhaps the most con- 
spieuous of all, the beautiful Coreopsis palmata, which here 
and there gives its own bright color to large patches of the 
undulating landscape. Blazing stars of several species 
(Liatris squarrosa Willd., L. pycnostachya Michx., L. sca- 
riosa Willd.), with their long nodding spikes of rose-purple 
flowers soon follow, ranking among the most showy of the 
many showy plants. To these are soon added sunflowers of 
various species, most common of which are the Helianthus 
rigidus Desf., the H. giganteus Linn., the H. grosse-serratus 
Mart., the Actinomeris helianthoides Nutt., and the Lepachys 
pinnata T. & G. ; the tall compass plant (Silphium lacini- 
* The region more especially under consideration is Northern Illinois, and Central 
and Western Iow 
