Long-Continued Blooming of "Malvastrum Coccineum"Author(s): Minnie ReedSource: Transactions of the Annual Meetings of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 14 (1893- 1894), p. 132Published by: Kansas Academy of ScienceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3623928 .

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132 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.

PARASITISM IN APHYLLON UNIFLORUM. By JOHN M. PRICE, Jr., Atchison, Kan.

The question how the Aphyllon uniflorum, or naked broom-rape, obtains its nourishment was asked in our botany class of the past year. This plant is peculiar in that it has no green parts, and it was not known to be parasitic. The botanies in our college library gave us no information upon this point.

Upon careful investigation, the writer found it to be a parasite. From the stem of the plant branch off small fleshy roots of from 6 to 18 inches in length, and these have, at short intervals, hook-like projections. These hooks touch against the roots of other plants, and it is through this channel that the Aphyllon obtains its nourishment. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing specimens showing the hooks touching against the roots of other plants, as they were exceedingly tender and easily broken, but at length the writer obtained several specimens which removed all doubt in his mind.

These hooks do not wrap themselves around the roots upon which they are parasitic, nor even encircle them, but they simply touch against the roots and in general with the back or convex surface of the bend.

The Aphyllon appears to be parasitic upon many species of plants, but the three most frequently found were the asters, solidagos, and gramineae.

LONG-CONTINUED BLOOMING OF "MALVASTRUM COCCINEUM."

By MINNIE REED.

One of the most common wild flowers in western Kansas is Malvastrum coccineum, or false mallow. Its bright blossoms may be seen from earliest spring until the late fall frosts have killed the last green leaf. From May until October you can collect fine blooming specimens of this plant. How it retains its vitality, and continues blooming so long in such a dry climate is a mystery; yet there are the bright orange-pink flowers, seeds and thrifty leaves growing all through the long, dry, hot summer. There is no other plant in this region that has such a long blooming period. Even here in eastern Kansas there are very few, if any, plants that bloom so long; even plants in the same order or family. Our familiar hollyhock does not bloom more than two months, ordinarily.

This plant, like many others in this dry region, is covered with a rather coarse, hoary pubescence, to diminish evaporation and protect it from the sudden changes of temperature so common on the plains.

It is an herbaceous perennial, low growing or prostrate in habit, with five- parted or pedate leaves. It bears racemes of rather showy orange-pink flowers. The plants are usually from six inches to a foot in diameter, though sometimes larger. It usually grows in places where the buffalo grass has been killed out, as along old roads, in fields, or on gopher hillocks. There are many of our garden plants far less attractive than this western wild flower. Its bright flowers contrast pleasingly with its rough grayish foliage, and it brightens up the wide expanse of monotonous buffalo grass consider- ably, especially in early spring and summer, when it is most abundant. It might be well to add it to our list of cultivated ornamental plants.

132 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.

PARASITISM IN APHYLLON UNIFLORUM. By JOHN M. PRICE, Jr., Atchison, Kan.

The question how the Aphyllon uniflorum, or naked broom-rape, obtains its nourishment was asked in our botany class of the past year. This plant is peculiar in that it has no green parts, and it was not known to be parasitic. The botanies in our college library gave us no information upon this point.

Upon careful investigation, the writer found it to be a parasite. From the stem of the plant branch off small fleshy roots of from 6 to 18 inches in length, and these have, at short intervals, hook-like projections. These hooks touch against the roots of other plants, and it is through this channel that the Aphyllon obtains its nourishment. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing specimens showing the hooks touching against the roots of other plants, as they were exceedingly tender and easily broken, but at length the writer obtained several specimens which removed all doubt in his mind.

These hooks do not wrap themselves around the roots upon which they are parasitic, nor even encircle them, but they simply touch against the roots and in general with the back or convex surface of the bend.

The Aphyllon appears to be parasitic upon many species of plants, but the three most frequently found were the asters, solidagos, and gramineae.

LONG-CONTINUED BLOOMING OF "MALVASTRUM COCCINEUM."

By MINNIE REED.

One of the most common wild flowers in western Kansas is Malvastrum coccineum, or false mallow. Its bright blossoms may be seen from earliest spring until the late fall frosts have killed the last green leaf. From May until October you can collect fine blooming specimens of this plant. How it retains its vitality, and continues blooming so long in such a dry climate is a mystery; yet there are the bright orange-pink flowers, seeds and thrifty leaves growing all through the long, dry, hot summer. There is no other plant in this region that has such a long blooming period. Even here in eastern Kansas there are very few, if any, plants that bloom so long; even plants in the same order or family. Our familiar hollyhock does not bloom more than two months, ordinarily.

This plant, like many others in this dry region, is covered with a rather coarse, hoary pubescence, to diminish evaporation and protect it from the sudden changes of temperature so common on the plains.

It is an herbaceous perennial, low growing or prostrate in habit, with five- parted or pedate leaves. It bears racemes of rather showy orange-pink flowers. The plants are usually from six inches to a foot in diameter, though sometimes larger. It usually grows in places where the buffalo grass has been killed out, as along old roads, in fields, or on gopher hillocks. There are many of our garden plants far less attractive than this western wild flower. Its bright flowers contrast pleasingly with its rough grayish foliage, and it brightens up the wide expanse of monotonous buffalo grass consider- ably, especially in early spring and summer, when it is most abundant. It might be well to add it to our list of cultivated ornamental plants.

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