IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
/ 
28 
ered surface that is in striking contrast with the irregularities of the 
typical drift surface on either side. 
‘ ‘ Characteristic loess topography is exhibited throughout the broad belt 
of deep loess which passes across the middle of the county from east 
to west ; in the interlobular space between the Solon and North Liberty 
areas of the Iowan drift ; in a small area in the southwestern part of 
Monroe township ± and in the high bluffs near the Cedar river northeast 
of the Solon lobe.” 
Regarding this loess topography in Johnson county we may summarize 
by saying that it is in general a region of rather high ridges eroded to 
a complex series of hills with steep and rather sharply rounded sur- 
faces. 
From the above it may be readily seen that Johnson county presents 
a region of considerable topographical variation and thus also of neces- 
sity presents' a variety of ecological conditions resulting in a flora of 
much interest to those of us who love flowers as flowers rather than as 
mere masses of cells 1 in various mitotic stages. After a residence of 
several years in Johnson County during which period almost continuous 
collecting was done, the following list of species observed within that 
area is presented for the benefit of those who may wish to know some^ 
thing of the groups to be found here. These records are based in almost 
every case by specimens now deposited in the herbarium of the Webster 
County Botanical Club at Fort Dodge, Iowa. The identifications of 
doubtful species were verified by Prof. Aven Nelson of Wyoming, Prof. 
P. A. Rydberg of New York Botanical Garden, or Dr. Wm. Trelease of 
Shaw Botanical Gardens to all of whom my thanks are here extended for 
various favors. This list includes 1,005 species, representing 413 genera 
included in 101 families. 
Note: Since the presentation of this paper, a series of “common” or 
popular names has been added at the request of Governor Clarke. 
In preparing this list of “common names” care has been taken to use 
wherever possible the name by which' the plant is best known in Iowa. 
It must be stated, however, that common names are, for the most part, 
merely local and a plant may be quite generally known, in one locality, 
by a name which in another section of the country applies to an entirely 
different plant. Thus, for instance, in certain parts of the country Aqui- 
legia canadensis L. is called “Wild Honeysuckle” — yet in another locality 
this name is applied to Lonicera glaucescens Rydb., while in parts of the 
South the “Honeysuckle” is instead Rhododendron calenckdaceum «(Mx.) 
Torr. 
However, as requested by Gov. Clarke we have endeavored to supply 
names which may be familiar to the people of Iowa. 
