IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 
105 
have observed this weed in such abundance occupying waste 
places, streets, and old neglected buildings, that it may be fairly 
called a nuisance. It is seldom, however, that this weed gives 
the farmer much trouble, as it may be eradicated very easily. 
The weed reminds one very much of the great Ragweed of the 
Mississippi valley. 
Marsh Elder was originally native from northwest Wisconsin 
to New Mexico, as Fendler collected it in the latter place as 
early as 1847, but since the cultivation of the prairies it has 
become much more common. It was undoubtedly confined to 
alluvial soils, and from thence spread to neighboring farms, 
especially old barns and neglected buildings. 
In regard to the distribution, Conway McMillan (Metas- 
permae of the Minnesota valley, 533) says: “Minnesota valley 
throughout, especially south central and southwest districts, 
roadsides, banks and waste places.” 
Upper Louisiana plains, (Bigelow) 1853. 
Yellowstone and Upper Missouri, July and August, 1854. 
(Hayden. ) 
American Plains. Latitude 41. Hall and Harbour, Ameri- 
can Plains Flora No. 269, 1862. 
Iowa, Minnesota, 1848 (Parry). Probably not in Iowa. 
Upper Missouri near Fort Mandan, Prince Neu-wied to the 
Rocky Mountains; Nuttall (Torrey and Gray, Flora North Amer- 
ica, 2, 286). 
Upper Missouri, S. M. Rothammer. 
Comanche Plains, Bigelow, September, 1853. 
Yellowstone Expedition, 1873 (Allan). 
Rocky Mountain Latitude. 40-41, 1868. Alluvial grounds 
or along streams, Saskatchewan and Nebraska to New Mexico. 
Utah and Idaho, first collected by Nuttall (Gen. II, 185, Gray, 
Synoptical Flora of North America, Vol. I, Pt. II, p. 246; Nut- 
tall, Trans. Am. Phil., Soc. VIII, p. 347; Gray, PL Wright, II, 
p. 85). 
Arizona. 1869 (Edward Palmer). 
Canada. — In alluvial soil along rivers and small streams. 
Reed lake west of the old Wier’s lakes of Setter’s farm, (Cypress 
hills) and on slope of high bank between Port Edmunton and 
the river. (Macoun) Swift Current Creek, C. P. R. crossing. 
Fort Qu Apelle, close to the Hudson Bay Co’s store (J. M. 
McCoun, C. P. R. R. (MacCoun Catalogue Canadian plants, part 
II, p. 240). McCoun, Flora Canadensis, Saskatchewan Plains, 
August 21, 1872. Saskatchewan (E. Bourgeau) 1857-8. 
