420 



HOTANK'AL SURVEY OK DISMAL WW AMP KEGIUN. 



height. Xij.s.stt hifloni, Taxodium distichum, ami Fraxinus varolini- 

 ana have the base of the trunk much enlarged, a phenomenon which 

 is most characteristically developed in the few still living old cypress 

 trees which stand in Lake Drummond near the shore (PI. LX VIII). 

 Some of these have huge, block-like bases, often 8 or 10 limes as great 

 in diameter as are the stems above the swelling. 1 Other species, e. g., 

 Nyssa uniflora, also have this character, but to a Less striking degree. 

 The development of "knees"' on the roots of cypress and of arched 

 roots rising above the surface, in cypress and black gum, contributes 







*f 4 1 * y ' &i ■ tits ££m v v^ it \U> 





if \ , 



Fk;. 78.— Rattan (Berchemia scandi ns) climbing on trees in tliu Bluck Gum swamp. 



much to the somewhat weird aspect of this portion of the swamp (PI. 

 LXIX). 



No less conspicuous are the numerous, large, often intertwined stems 

 of woody lianas, that embrace the trunks ami climb often to the tree 

 tops (fig. 78). .Most abundant and characteristic are the supple-jack 

 or "rattan" [Berchemia scandens), yellow jessamine (Gelsemium 

 semper vireiis), cross vine {Hiynoniu crnctyera), and muscadine grape 



1 The most remarkable individual owes to this peculiarity its local designation of 

 "iSauison 'a Maul." 



