i9°2] Rich, — Oak Island and its Flora 89 



landica and S. gregaria, flowering at about the same time, the former 

 with greenish and the latter with yellowish flowers. Now that Mr. 

 Bicknell has pointed out the differences between these two plants it 

 is a constant wonder that they went unrecognized for so many years. 



Around the borders abundance of the purple-flowered Lythrum 

 Hyssopifolia grows and the slender-leaved blue iris {Iris prismatica) ; 

 and amidst the salt-marsh grasses is found the Potentilla Anserina, its 

 yellow flowers hardly more handsome than the silvery under surface 

 of its leaves. In lune Cornus paniculata and Viburnum dentatum, the 

 most common flowering shrubs to be found, are conspicuous with 

 their dense masses of white flowers, and a month or more later are 

 hardly less so in fruit, the Cornus with clusters of pearly white 

 berries on pink pedicels and the Viburnum in dark blue. 



Many salt-marsh species are of course to be found, among which 

 may be noted Triglochin maritima, Plantago decipiens, Iva frutescens 

 and Teucrium Canadense. 



In July the Lilium Canadense is sometimes very abundant, and 

 Lilium Philadelphicum is also found. Circaea lutetiana and Desmo- 

 dium acuminatum occur in great quantities and the noticeable grass 

 Asprella Hystrix lifts its straw-colored racemes high above the sur- 

 rounding vegetation. During August and September numerous 

 plants of Scrophularia Marylandica most conspicuous in fruit attract 

 attention, and tall plants of Lophanthus scrophulariaefolius tower above 

 the herbage to a height of six and even eight feet, while its near rela- 

 tive Monarda mollis, a most attractive species, is occasionally met 

 with. There is also a numerous colony of Collinsonia Canadensis. 



With the advent of the Asters, Solidagos and Prenanthes, new ele- 

 ments of botanical interest are introduced. 



The seaside golden-rod ( ' Solidago sempervtrens) forms lines of 

 gold around the borders which are not wholly dulled until December ; 

 and Solidago asperula, Desf., a species with an interesting history, and 

 S. arguta are to be found here. 



The handsome Aster Novae-Angliac forms dense clumps of purple 

 on the marshy margins, and Aster salieifolius, an uncommon species 

 in Eastern Massachusetts, grows in a restricted colony in damp shade 

 and is one of the latest plants to flower, October first being its date 

 of appearance in blossom. 



Two species of Prenanthes, trifoliolata and alba, are also conspicu- 

 ous at this season and easily separated by the difference in the color 

 of the pappus. 



