224 Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 



vations on the botany of the same district. — July 15. In the early 

 part of the day a severe thunder-storm, accompanied with much rain, 

 prevented the party from going abroad, but afforded an opportunity 

 for arranging the specimens already collected. The storm having 

 abated towards the afternoon, they were enabled to make a short 

 excursion along the banks of the Hudson ; few species, however, 

 rewarded their exertions, the greater portion being out of flower ; of 

 those gathered, the most attractive were Lobelia cardinalis and Ha- 

 benaria fimbriata, both in great abundance, the rich spikes of scarlet 

 flowers of the former being admirably contrasted with the delicate 

 purple blossoms of the latter ; these two species formed the bulk of 

 the flowering plants : mixed with them, but more sparingly, Habe- 

 naria lacera and Neottia cernua occurred, with Apocymum androsce- 

 mifolium, the latter being the most abundant, and covered with a 

 beautiful coleopterous insect, which appeared to be peculiar to it. 

 On the sloping banks of the river, in thickets of shumacs, hazels, 

 willows, &c, a gigantic species of Solomon's seal, Polygonatum lati- 

 folium, was observed ; some of the specimens measured seven feet 

 nine inches in height, with roots four inches in circumference. In 

 several places the ground was so matted over with the stems of the 

 poison oak, Rhus toxicodendron, that the hands of the party were 

 much blistered in endeavouring to extricate themselves. — July 16. 

 Having procured a canoe, the party proceeded about two miles down 

 the river : during this short voyage they observed vast quantities of 

 the shells of the freshwater mussel, covering the little sandy hills by 

 the river's edge which had been collected by the musk rats, with 

 which the banks everywhere abound. At this place the rapidity of 

 the stream, which had hitherto prevented the growth of aquatic plants, 

 became much diminished, and they now observed large portions of 

 its surface covered with Nuphar Kalmiana and advena, together with 

 Nymphcea rosea, all beautifully in flower, and growing from a depth 

 of eight feet. Overhanging the banks on both sides of the river, 

 Salix petiolaris was in fine condition, its broad lunate stipules adding 

 much to the beauty and singularity of its appearance; here also 

 some fine specimens of the Virginian poplar, Populus monilifera, were 

 seen ; the largest stems measured were nine foot in circumference 

 and about seventy foot in height. 



Leaving Stillwater the party proceeded by canal to Whitehall ; on 

 the banks of the canal, and extending over the neglected fields, such 

 quantities of the great mullein, Verbascum Thapsus, were observed, 

 as to give the idea of its having been sown for a crop ; the fact of 

 its growing on the soil which had recently been thrown out of the 

 canal as well as on the sloping banks, convinced them that the seed 

 must have lain buried in the earth, probably for a long series of years, 

 and that therefore it is not likely, as has been generally supposed, 

 that this plant has been introduced by the emigrants, but rather that 

 it is indigenous to the country. The common St. John's wort, 

 Hypericum perforatum, was also extremely abundant in this district, 

 although sparingly seen before, and is described by Mr. M'Nab as 

 one of the greatest evils the American farmer has to contend with, 



