2 
BOTANY. 
the entire limits of the Indian Territory, from east to west. It constitutes a most natural 
division, "being in nearly its whole "breadth a beautiful and fertile country, of vast agricultural 
capacity, and of sufficient dimensions for forming two or three large and magnificent States. 
The eastern portion is densely covered with timber, of the same varieties and qualities as those 
enumerated between Napoleon and Fort Smith. The Avestern portion has by no means so great 
a variety, being mostly grassy plains, with intersections of timber along the streams, arroyos, 
and ravines. The celebrated “Cross Timbers” is situated along and crosses our line of survey, 
extending some distance north, and, according to Captain Marcy, about two hundred miles 
south of it. 
The streams are Sans Bois creek, Gaines’ creek, Topofki creek, Deer creek, False Washita, 
Walnut creek, Dry creek, Valley creek, &c., with their various tributaries, as also others of 
the Canadian and Washita rivers. Near old Fort Arbuckle, and in the vicinity of the “ Cross 
Timbers,” the scenery is most beautiful and picturesque. Belts of timber crossing the more 
elevated plateaux in various directions many times, at right-angles with each other, give them 
the appearance of vast cultivated fields, formed on a scale of great magnificence, stretching 
away in every direction as far as the eye can reach. The same beautiful views were noticed in 
the vicinity of Delaware Mount, near the centre of the Indian territory. 
The first appearance of the celebrated “ grama-grass ” was here noticed, opposite Little river, 
a small branch from the north side of the Canadian, in about longitude 96° west. This import¬ 
ant grass is found, in greater or less abundance, from this point across the continent, or as far 
as to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, which, where we crossed it with our line of survey, 
was not far from the Pacific shore. The great importance of these western prairie grasses, of 
which we have several species besides this and the buffalo grass, consists in their retaining their 
nutritive qualities the whole year round, sustaining the life and condition of the beast of the 
traveller, thereby enabling them to pursue their journey at leisure at all seasons of the year. 
Were it otherwise, much hazard would be encountered, as it is impossible to transport forage in 
sufficient quantities to supply a long train over a country of such vast extension. When the 
tops of these grasses become dry, the stems near their roots retain their vitality and nutritive 
juices until the plains are again renovated with a new crop. Many of our farmers express a 
wish to introduce the culture of these grasses at home ; but it is to be presumed, from the pecu¬ 
liarities of their situation, that they are only well adapted to the arid climates, where they are 
found in their native state. 
The trees in the western portion of this region consist of several species of oak, black walnut, 
cotton-wood, buck-eye, elm, mulberry, and a few cedars. Helianthi, Convolvulacem, Euphor- 
biacete, Vernonire, Eupatorim, with shrubby and herbaceous Mimosm, are common in this 
region. The Wild China, (Sapindus Marginatus,) common all over Texas, was found here. 
Mirabilis, (Marvel of Peru,) Evening primrose, Ambrosia, Silphium, (rosin plant,) Golden 
rods, &c., are abundant on the plains. American and Chickasaw plums are quite common on 
the banks of the Canadian and other streams, but on the plains is found a small shrub, bearing 
in abundance what is called prairie plums, which is probably undescribed. 
A considerable number of cactacem, which always indicate a dry climate, begin hei’e to make 
their appearance, especially when we come into what appropriately may be termed the grama- 
grass region. Among them I recognised Opuntia Maerorhiza, (?) having tuberous roots, which 
appears to be quite extensively diffused in this region. One very similar, if not the same, was 
detected as far east as Fort Smith. A plant nearly allied to 0. Engelmanni was collected at 
Delaware Mount. The little Cereus ccespitosus, so common in lower Texas, was also found here 
in great abundance. We were sorry not to find a flower or fruit of this pretty little plant, 
which would have enabled us to solve some obscure points in the natural history of the unique 
and interesting tribe of plants to which it belongs. The cactacem have not heretofore been well 
studied in the United States, Dr. Engelmann, of St. Louis, being almost the only botanist who 
has paid any special attention to them. 
