76 THE PLANT WOPa.D. 



to Moiikton's marslies, and are from two to foiu- miles wide. In 

 the heart of tliis region a wild meadow borders a muddy pond, 

 which is a mile and a half long hj a half mile wide, and is fed 

 by a sluggish creek and springs. This pond divides the area 

 into two great swamps, the North sw^amp being the vaster and 

 more dangerous one. The South swamp begins about two miles 

 north of Bristol station, on O'Keil's farm, and extends to the 

 creek flowing through Mud pond. On the outskirts, numerous 

 pines and hemlocks shelter the interior, w'hicli is crowded with 

 cedars — the Arbor v'dae of our lawns and hedges. 



Entering the marsh by the woodman's path on the west, 

 May 25th, I observed groups of the Pink Moccasin-Flo^ver 

 {Cypripedimn acaule), together with the entangled plants of 

 Buckbean and Marsh Marigold. Luxuriant Pitcher Plants and 

 several species of Trillium — especially the Large White Tril- 

 lium i (jTr^^Zmw jgrandiflorunh) — graced the soft couches of 

 sphagnum. 



Of the C'ypripediums, the five representative species of 

 New England dwell here in close comradeship, the Ram's-IIead 

 {Cyp^i2yediw)n arietinum), really opening the season for the 

 genus about May 10th. It grows at the feet of Arbor v'dae, 

 loosely rooted in the sphagnum. One must have sharp eyes 

 indeed who discovers its twilight haunts. The flowers are very 

 inconspicuous, the species being the pigmy of our eastern 

 Cypripediums, and of a dull, mottled purple and white. There 

 is nothing alert or attractive about these flowers, when compared 

 with the gay pink and golden sister Moccasin-Flowers, now nod- 

 ding in full bud along the roadsides nearby. 



After our entrance to the swamp, we turned southward and 

 wandered a mile or more. All along the moss-grown path on 

 either hand the rare Ram's-Head reared their noses. They are 

 not so large or abundant here as in the North swamp, where 

 colonies of fifteen flower-stalks often occur. Here they nod 

 singly, or wdth but three or four plants associated. 



Collectors have formerly reaped a hai-A^est from the stock 

 of rare orchids and ferns in this region ; and the well known 



