- Botany. 1115 
growing almost horizontally from their bases, but when grown in a 
ense mass it is a tall, erect grass, reaching the height of eighteen to 
twenty-four inches, or even more. The heads consist of numerous 
it is a small plant of a spreading habit, the short flowering stems often 
spiny flower clusters, which become easily deciduous upon the ripen- 
ing of the seeds, The spines cause these to adhere tenaciously to 
the hair of animals or to the garments of the passer-by, and when 
abundant it is almost impossible to remove them until by hard 
usage the spines have become worn and broken. The seeds are 
thus carried long distances before being dropped. The plants 
thrive upon any soil, from the almost barren sands of the rivers to 
the rich loam turned up by the railway builders in making their 
embankments. I am of the opinion that the Sand-bur originally 
grew upon the sandy islands and banks of the Republican, Platte, 
Loup, Elkhorn, Niobrara and Missouri rivers, and that from them 
it has spread since man has broken the tough sod of the plains. It 
could not compete single-handed with the wi , but as soon 
as the farmer began his warfare against the latter, the Sand-bur 
found and improved its opportunity for extending its habitat. The 
armer has unintentionally and unconsciously given it the opportu- 
nity of going up and taking possession of the land. ; 
Buffalo-bur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) is the only appropriate 
name given to a pest which is rapidly increasing all over the plains. 
The prickly plant and fruits are almost as troublesome as the Sand- 
bur. I have seen fields in south central Nebraska almost com- 
pletely filled with Buffalo-burs. What its original habitat was I do 
not know, but certain it is that now the plant is accommodating 
itself to the new conditions brought about by the cultivation of 
e soil. 
The sunflower of the plains is the original of the ordinary sun- ' 
flower of the gardens (Helianthus annuus L.). It is found every- 
where, and varies in height from a few inches to fifteen feet or 
more. Upon the unbroken prairies in the White River country of 
northwest Nebraska I have seen it growing with the prairie grasses, 
where it consisted of a single erect stem, not more than ten or 
twelve inches in height, and bearing a single small flower head. 
Sarir, where the soil had been somewhat broken, m by the wash- 
ing of water, the pawing of buffaloes, the of a wagon, or 
any other cause, the dasa were taller, aN with a few branches. 
Upon the mounds made by the prairie dogs, pocket gophers, and 
ground squirrels, the plants were still larger, approaching the vigor 
of vegetation shown by them in the eastern parts of the State. In 
the settled portions of the State the sunflower grows to a great size, 
and produces a multitude of branches and flower heads. I have 
often seen plants whose diameter (measured from the tips of the 
branches on each side) was fully six feet, and whose height reached 
