34 THE PLANT WORLD. 



One would hardly expect to find a large proportion of this flat 

 country flora hidden among- the high ridges of the AUeghanies; yet 

 this is unmistakably the case. Especially along the picturesque 

 French Broad river, in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, 

 there is a notable incursion of plants usually considered typical of the 

 coastal plain. 



In Cocke county, Tennessee, the French Broad flows through a 

 narrow, canyon-like valley, where the margining hills often come 

 down to the very river's brink But here and there the bluffs recede 

 and leave the river elbow-room. In such places flat sandy tracts, cov- 

 ered with a growth of Pitch and Scrub Pine, often occur; not uncom- 

 monly these miniature pine-barrens push their way up on ihe lower, 

 near-by ridges, crowding among the oaks and chestnuts that are the 

 rightful tenants. 



Not a few of the characteristic pine-barren plants inhabit these 

 small patches. A tall Rosin-weed {SilpJihun cojuposituin) is sure to 

 attract attention in late summer. With it often grows a peculiar and 

 handsome Sun-flower {Heliaiithus atrorubcns). A beautiful variety of 

 the common Indian-grass, with drooping satiny panicles of a chestnut - 

 brown [Andropogoji nutans Linnceamis) grows in the flat land near 

 the river, along with the silvery Beard -grass {Andropogon ai'gyrceiis), 

 and the rough Drop-seed {Sporobohts aspcr). Often the pinkish, silky 

 heads of a tall Plume-grass {Erianthus alopccuroidcs) st aid stiffly up 

 among the surrounding undergrowth. 



A Golden Aster {C hry sop sis graminif olid) is abundant. A rather 

 weed-like Croton {C. glandulosiis) and a prostrate purple or white- 

 flowered Cracca {C. spicatd) are likewise common. The prickly- 

 stemmed Sensitive Briar [Morongia angustatd) grows luxuriantly 

 among the grasses and the Chrysopsis. Beside it that odd grass, 

 Gymnopogon ainbiguiis, spreads its slender panicles, to break off, as 

 they ripen, and blow away like Old Witch Grass. 



Back from the river, on the lower hills where oaks and chestnuts 

 struggle with the invading pines for mastery, the occurrence of such 

 plants as the Slender Lady's Tresses {Gyrostac/iys simplex), Blue- 

 Hearts {Buchnera Americana), the Carolina Lily [Lilium Carolinia- 

 num), and the White Boneset i^Eupatormm album), shows that the ma- 

 rauders have made their mark upon the country. 



Half a mile back from the French Broad, opposite Wolf Creek 

 station, is a remarkable tract of small sphagnum swamps separated 

 by low ridges, called the " White Oak Flats," because of a fine growth 

 of White Oak that divides sway with the pines. Here some of the 

 characteristic vegetation of the pine-barren swamps was discovered. 

 St. Peter's Wort [Ascyrum stans), the Two-flowered Rush [Juticus 



