BOTANICAL, INDEX 
S3 
[ We solicit the privilege of publishing extracts from correspondence, of interest to the general reader. Corre- 
spondence upon Botanical subjects respectfully solicited.] 
Philadelphia, Penna., July, 1879. 
L. B. Case, Esq.— Dear Sir: I find the Index still full of interesting matter, 
and always feel glad to note its persistent advocacy of the greater appreciation and 
more extended cultivation of our native plants, which have been so sadly neglected 
or ignored by. plant lovers. This I consider a very hopeful sign, and see no reason 
why the Index should not, from its small begining, grow into a firmly rooted jour- 
nal of progressive usefulness. Indeed this will certainly he the case if the standard 
he kept high. 
Your articles on Pontederia, Sagittaria, &c., have brought to my mind some facts 
whicli 1 have been prevented from communicating earlier. Concerning Pontederia, 
T have myself observed it on lakes and rivers in the interior of Minnesota, in lati- 
tude about as high as the source of the Mississippi, and believe that it is to be found 
almost every where possible for it to grow throughout the state. Wherever it grew, 
it was well established and vigorous. The Odjibway Indians call it “ Mosotawug ,” 
meaning “moose-ears,” from the shape, and possibly at the same time, from the 
leathery texture of the leaves. I have observed the Pontederia in very many locali- 
ties, and I think that, perhaps, the handsomest plants I have found, grow in Swarts- 
wood Lake, in the upper part of New Jersey. They are upright in habit, luxuriant 
in growth, rich and glossy in color, while the stems are slender, and the leaves seem 
to he quite narrow and unusually sharp, approaching somewhat the form of Sagitta- 
ria. Many of the clumps are quite elegant. The Japanese had, during the Centen- 
ial, in the little garden attached to their Bazar, some plants of a Pontederia, (?) very 
slender in form, somewhat trailing in habit, and light green in color, bearing con- 
spicuous blue or white flowers in short spikes. The number of flowers in a spike 
was hut from four to six, but they were as large as medium sized violets, which their 
appearance somewhat suggested. The plants grew and bloomed perfectly in the cir- 
cumscribed quarters offered by a china bowl or bronze basin, containing ooze and 
water. 
With respect to Sagittaria, I have obtained its tubers in northern Minnesota, in 
the latter part of September. None of those I got were larger than pigeon eggs, 
while some were quite small. The latter were obtained from plants with leaves 
nearly linear and which grew on mud flats in rivers, while the former came from 
swamps. The larger, my Indian guide called “ Wabisipin, a Swan Potato;” the 
smaller, “ adjidojakopin ” meaning “Bittern Potato.” The name “ Wabisipirikan ,” 
signifying a place “where the Swan Potato abounds” seems to be a frequent one 
with the Indian, and carries out their usual method of living names. These tubers 
are by no means “acrid” as they have been stigmatized. Their taste when raw was 
farinaceous, or rather starchy, with a slight rankness of flavor; on the whole, very 
much like a raw potato, and I have no doubt that when boiled they would be quite 
as palatable. One can usually obtain these tubers by simply digging, without fol- 
lowing downward particular plants. Mr. Nuttall gives an interesting account of 
the method of gathering them, pursued by the Indians of the Columbia river, by 
whom they are called “ tVapatoo.” This may be found in Audubon’s Ornithological 
Biography, vol. V., p. 288, or in the small illustrated edition of his work, (Birds of 
America, 8 vols., 8 vo., New York, 1S70) vol. I., p. 236. I have examined Sagittaria 
in Pennsylvania during July, without finding any tubers. The plants all came up 
easily, there being nothing, apparently, to retain them save the crown of fibrous 
roots; I found no indication of a tuber or of even a leader thereto. In the Japanese 
Bazar garden, already spoken of, were several plants of a very double Sagittaria, 
with full arrow-shaped leaves; the flowers were white, large, and had the petals so 
abundantly and closely set, as to give them a convex or button shape. The plants 
are free bloomers, spikes long and flowers numerous, making a very handsome and 
effective appearance. 
I have had various opportunities, when in Minnesota, of observing the Zizania 
Aquatica in different stages of growth, besides having lived on the grain to a consid- 
erable extent. As may be supposed, its habit and character there are markedly 
