88 Rhodora [May 



that of Oak Island, Rhodora would be pleased to chronicle the 

 fact. Surrounded on three sides by numerous cities and towns, from 

 whose aggressions the intervening marshes have hitherto protected 

 it, and a popular seaside resort close at hand, here the plants which 

 once doubtless spread over a much larger area have been driven 

 and are making a last stand against the encroachments of an ever 

 increasing population and the destructive results to the native flora 

 which necessarily attend it. 



From May until October a constant succession of wild flowers fills 

 the damp wood growing in such profusion at times as to produce 

 conspicuous masses of color. One month the ground covering will 

 be tinted with the pale yellow of the Stcironema ciliahim and the 

 Gcrardia qurm/o/ia. The next month the scene changes and the 

 flaming yellow of two species of Hclianihus, strumosus and divari- 

 eatus, will fill the grove with their splendid display, and again as one 

 visits the place a month later, bluish-white masses of Aster cordifolius 

 form the prevailing color, and tall plants of silvery Eupatorium pur- 

 pureum and giant stalks of Lophanthus rise above the tangled vege- 

 tation claiming recognition in this Nature's horticultural show. In 

 smaller volume but hardly less interesting are the very many less 

 self-assertive plants. Humble species, overshadowed by their more 

 conspicuous companions, they fill every inch of intervening space 

 and must be searched for by the careful observer. 



In May the yellow violet {Viola pubescens), the adder's tongue 

 (Ervt/ironium Amer icanuni) and the anemone (Anemone quinquefolid) 

 are usually plentiful, although the school-children of the neighboring 

 towns make serious incursions upon them. 



In this month also the shadbush whitens the borders of the grove 

 while the Geranium man/bafuni, Uvularia perfoliata, U. sessi/ifo/ia , 

 Ranunculus abortivus, R. Alleghcnknsis, R. recurvatus and the Jnos- 

 tcutn aurantiacum are all abundant, extending their flowering time 

 well into June. 



The Lousewort (Pedicularis Canadensis) as it grows here in com- 

 pact masses in drier parts of the wood is when in its prime an exceed- 

 ingly attractive plant. 



The white lace-like inflorescences of Cryptotaenia, Osmorrhiza and 

 Actaea are always pleasing and the Actaea is even more showy in 

 fruit with its racemes of cherry-red berries. 



Two species of Snake-root grow abundantly, the Sanicula Mary- 



