Se 
t 
1900] Bailey, — The old-time flora of Providence 217 
which I myself have never seen. ‘The late George Thurber once wrote 
me that in cultivation it became as large and handsome as a pansy. 
Two localities of the butterfly-weed, Asclepias fuberosa, L., are 
given, and are interesting as carrying this plant so far back in our 
Rhode Island record. There has been a modern belief that it was 
introduced from the West. My father's localities are ‘‘ Utacognut 
Hill ” to-day called “ Neuticonquinut," and North Providence. The 
last is very indefinite. It occurs to-day from Manton to Kingston. 
Gentiana crinita, always a special favorite of my father's, is noted as 
growing in Providence near the Friends' School, a still possible local- 
ity, the days of which are limited. However, fortunately there are a 
number of other spots. Hydrocotyle umbellata, L., grew at Masha- 
paug Pond. I wonder if it does now! It is a plant that I associate 
with more distant localities, say in South Kingston and Little Comp- 
ton. Another umbellifer, Crantzia lineata, Nutt, is recorded as 
abundant near Providence. No doubt it still is. Itis a plant that is, 
as Mr. Mantalini would say, * demd damp, moist, and unpleasant," 
and one has to search for it in muddy, oozy flats at low tide. Indeed, 
I often gauge a man’s enthusiasm for field-work by the number of 
aquatics he has pulled in. It takes pluck to study Potamogeton, Natas, 
Zannichellia Zostera, and the like. 
The Grass-of-Parnassus, Parnassia Caroliniana, Michx., bears the 
legend * Banks of the Woonasquatucket." ‘This is one of the two 
rivers originally flowing into the cove in the middle of Providence, 
and there uniting to form the so-called Providence river, into which 
the Seekonk also flows. ‘The latter is the continuation of the Black- 
stone below Pawtucket. An additional locality for the last plant is 
‘Near Centre Hotel, August 31, 1830.” The long-leaved sundew, 
Drosera intermedia, Hayne, var. Americana, DC., is recorded as 
Drosera longifolia, L. It occurred in a swamp near the Douglas turn- 
pike, “ about four miles from Providence." This may now be in the city 
limits. The Turk’s-cap lily, Zé/ium superbum, L., grew, as it has till 
recently, in Moses Brown's meadow, viz. in the region between Angell 
` Street, and Cat Swamp; the red lily, Z..PA/ade/pArcum, L., from the 
same locality, where I, too, have always found Z. Canadense, L. My 
father, however, notes the latter from “ Trip-town, R. I." 
Then, as now, Medeola Virginiana, L., flourished in “ The Grotto.” 
In my day it has been equally abundant in the ravine in Blackstone 
Park and the grove to the east of the Metcalf Botanic Garden of Brown 
