FLORA OF CANADA. 
7 
The herbaceous vegetation is very rich, at least a hundred species 
occurring nowhere else in Canada being found in the zone. A few of the 
most conspicuous may be mentioned, viz.: Yellow Nelumbo or “Lotus 
Flower” ( Nelumbo lutea), May Apple {Podophyllum peltatum), Wild 
Lupine ( Lupinus perennis ), Tick Trefoil ( Desmodium ), Flowering Spurge 
{Euphorbia corollata ), Swamp Rose Mallow {Hibiscus Moscheutos ), 
Wild Pansy {Viola Rafinesquii) , Prickly Pear {Opuntia Rafinesquii) , Poke 
Milkweed {Asclepias phytolaccoides) , Wild Potato Vine {Ipomoea pan - 
durata ), Downy Phlox {Phlox pilosa ), Waterleaf {Hydrophyllumappendicu- 
latum ), Bee Balm {Monarda didyma), Foxglove {Gerardia pedicular ia, G. 
virginica), Tall Bellflower {Campanula americana), Great Lobelia {Lobelia 
siphilitica) , Ironweed {Vernonia altissima , V. illinoensis), Dense Button 
Snakeroot {Liatris spicata ), Prairie Dock {Silphium terebinthinaceum) , 
Cup Plant {Silphium perfoliatum) , Sunflower {Helianthus decapetalus, H. 
divaricatus) , Tall Coreopsis {Coreopsis tripteris ), Indian Plantain {Cacalia 
tuberosa). Golden Seal {Hydrastis canadensis ) and Ginseng {Panax 
quinquefolium) were at one time abundant but are now practically 
extinct. 
The Prairie. — Under the general term prairie is understood the 
vast grass-covered area of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and 
Alberta. It is bounded in the east and north, by the sub-arctic forest 
and in the west by the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. 
The prairie which begins a few miles east of Winnipeg had been sub- 
divided into three zones, known as the first, second and third “Prairie 
Steppes.” 
First Prairie Steppe. — This, as defined by Professor John Macoun, 
includes “the low plain of Manitoba, bounded by a line of elevated 
country, which commences at the international boundary, at a point some 
distance west of Emerson, and extends northwestwardly under the names 
of Pembina, Riding, Duck, Porcupine and Pas mountains.” 
The southeastern part of the area so defined differs from the true 
prairie in that it is characterized by many woodland plants which have 
their home east of the Great Lakes, but occur rarely, if at all, between 
Lake Huron and the Manitoba border, for instance, Nettle Tree {Celtis 
occidentals) , Basswood ( T ilia americana) , Wild Plum {Prunus americana), 
Hawthorn {Crataegus species), Virginia Creeper {Psedera quinquefolia ) , 
Climbing Bitter-Sweet {Celastrus scandens), Wild Grape ( Vitis vulpina ), 
Moonseed {Menispermum canadense ), Blood root {Sanguinaria canadensis) , 
Columbine {Aquilegia canadensis ), Hog Peanut {Amphicarpa monoica), 
Tick Trefoil {Desmodium canadense) , “Prickly Cucumber” {Echinocystis 
lobata), Gentian {Gentiana procera), Lousewort {Pedicularis canadensis ) , 
Indian Paint Brush {Castilleja coccinea), Ox-eye {Heliopsis scabra ), 
Cone-flower {Rudbeckia laciniata ), etc. 
