414 HOTANICAL SURVEY OF DISMAL SWAMP REGION. 



Swamp, coefclebur (Xuntliium strumarium), morning-glory (Ipomoea 

 purpurea), and Sida spinosa are the most abundant weeds. Near 

 Newborn the small crow-foot grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptiacum) and 

 Eclipin <dba infest cornfields. Nut grass (Cyperus rotundus) with 

 tuber-bearing underground shoots is especially frequent in gardens, 

 where it is becoming very troublesome. Near Newbern it is consid- 

 ered the worst weed of the countryside. Bermuda grass (Capriola 

 dactylon) is very common, and is in places a greal nuisance in culti- 

 vated land. 



Of waysides. — In the spring squirrel-tail grass (Jfardrinn pusillutti) 

 occupies almost every roadside, ('specially near the larger towns. The 

 buttercup (Ranunculus bulhosus) covers pastures and waysides with 

 a sheet of golden yellow. IVppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) is a 

 common weed. The common garden honeysuckle (Lmiicera japonica) 

 is abundantly naturalized at roadsides, flowering profusely in May 

 and lilling the air with its fragrance. Vetches (Vicia sativa, V. 

 angustifolia, V. Mrsuta) are important elements of this pari of the 

 plant, covering. A dock (Rumex conglomerai/us) is common in road- 

 side, ditches. The wild onion (Allium mneale), chess (Bromus secali- 

 nus), and corn cockle (Agrostemma githago) arc particularly con- 

 spicuous weeds toward the end of spring. 



In early summer the wild carrot (Daucus c.aroki) is in most places 

 the predominant roadside weed. Round-leaved mint (Mentha rotund- 

 ifolia) and fennel (Foeniculum foenicuhim) are locally abundant in 

 midsummer. The horse 1 nettle (Solatium rarolinense) and plantains 

 (Plardayu rugelii and P. lanceolata) are very common. Towards 

 autumn native species gain the upper hand at most waysides; dog 

 fennel (Eupatorium rapittifolium), horse weed (Erigeran canadensis), 

 rag weed (Ambrosia artemisiaefolia), knotweed (Polygonum pennsyl- 

 vanicum), and sprouting crabgrass (Panicum proliferum) are most 

 abundant; but such introduced species as Spanish needles (B idens 

 bipinnata), wormseed ( ( ■Jienopodium antlielminticum), barn-yard grass 

 (Panicum crusgalli), and yard grass (Eleusine indica) are also com- 

 mon. Bermuda grass (Capriola daeiylon)i& very common on country 

 waysides, as well as along the streets and in the lawns of towns. 



Ruder al planfa, These occupy waste ground in towns and about 

 wharves, and the inclosuresof count ry dwellings. < >l' course no sharp 

 line divides tins from the two preceding categories of weeds. .Uni- 

 son weed (Dal ura tatula) is common, especially in barnyards and 

 similar places. Sagina decutnbeits often grows between the bricks of 

 city sidewalks. Lamb's quarters (Chenopodiuni a/hum), wormseed 

 (C. anthelmintic urn), and pigweed (Amaranthus reiroflexus and A. 

 spinosus), as well as other unsightly plants, occupy vacant lots. 

 Vervain ( Verbena officinalis), Lycopus europaeiis, and low mallow 

 (Malva rotundifolia) occur about wharves. In Newbern Erigeron 



