122 BOTANICAL EXCURSION 
by cutting down the trees, the latter are becoming scarce in 
the vicinity of the “ plantations,” as the mountain settle- 
ments are universally called. Along the streams, we met 
with the mountain species of Andromeda (Leucothoe), doubtless 
Pursh's A. azillaris; but whether the original A. axillaris 
of the Hortus Kewensis pertains to this, or to the species 
of the low country, I cannot at this moment ascertain. 
A portion of Pursh’s character seems also to belong to 
the low country rather than the mountain species, and 
the two are by no means clearly distinguished in subse- 
quent works. The leaves, in our specimens, are oblong- - 
lanceolate, finely acuminate, their margins closely beset | 
throughout with spinulose-setaceous teeth; and the rather | 
loose spicate racemes (the corolla having fallen away), are — 
nearly half the length of the leaves. ; 
Hitherto we had searched in vain for the Astilbe decandra; 
but we first met with this highly interesting plant in the rich 4 
and moist mountain woods between Elk Creek and Cranberry — 
Forge, and subsequently in similar situations, particularly - 
along the steep banks of streams, quite to the base of the — 
Roan. Mr. Curtis found it abundantly near the sources of : 
the Linville River, and at the North Cove, where it could - 
not have escaped the notice of Michaux , and it is doubtless : 
the Spirea Aruncus var. hermaphrodita of that author. It, — 
indeed, greatly resembles Spirea Aruncus, and at a distance — 
of a few yards they are not easily distinguishable ; but, ons 
closer approach, the resemblance is much less striking. 
Michaux appears to have been the original discoverer of this. 
plant, and from him the specimens, cultivated in the Mal- 
maison Garden, and described by Ventenat, under the namé 
of Tiarella biternata, were probably derived. It was after- 
wards collected by Lyon,* and described by Pursh from ? 
specimen grown in Mr. Lambert’s garden at Boyton. ^" f 
noticed a peculiarity in this plant, which explains the dis- 
_* Muhlenberg’s specimen was also received from Lyon, The only pe 
bitat cited in this author’s Catalogue, is Tennessee, and we ourselves CO” 
lected it within the limits, as well as on the borders of that state. | 
late Dr. Macbride found it in South Carolina, near the sources of t 
p re ae 
Ó———— 
Saluda. 
