Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... the lowlands of the Mississippi opposite Saint Louis there are many of these depressions which have once been a part of the river bed, but are now out off by the shifting of the channel. One may find them in every stage of advancement, from the open lake through the marsh to the solid " bottom land." As has been said of the pondswamp-prairie series, soit may be stated of this region, that a thorough investigation of the conditions at work in filling up these lakes and swamps, and the succession of forms concerned in the process would comprise a welcome contribution to this department of science. On the northern shore Nelumbo lutea is the prevailing type plant farthest from the shore. An occasional Nymphaea odorata may be observed. (Plate 8.) Scirpus maritimus 1s the prominent water margin plant, extending up the marshy shore 40 or 50 feet. This gives the tone to the landscape at this point, but an important, though inconspicuous, plant which borders it lakeward is Jussiaea repens. Associated with the Scirpus maritimus and partially concealed by it is a species of Eleocharis which becomes very vigorous and abundant in places where the taller bulrush is more sparse. In other places the Eleocharis has been forced more to " Cowles, H. C. The Plant Societies of Chicago and vicinity. (Bulletin of the Geographic Society of Chicago. 2: 41. 1901.) the water's edge by the Scirpus. Scirpus lacustris is also present here, but remains secondary in importance to S. maritimus. Sagittaria variabilis follows along the shore in patches. Bidens frondosa begins in this zone but culminates on the shore side. Diminutive forms, Wolflia, Lemna and Spirodela, are found abundantly in this zone. The second zone varies greatly in width and the...