THE PLANT WOELD 47 



SPRING IN THE ANAQUASSACOOK HILLS. 

 By Frank Dobbin. 



THE foothills of the Green Mountains lying on the border between 

 New York and Vermont are locally known by several names, but 

 here in the southern part of Washington county the old Indian 

 name of Anaquassacook is still applied to them. I have had opportu- 

 nity for several years to studj^ the flora of this region during the spring 

 months, and a few remarks upon it may be of intei est. 



^Tiy the well known skunk cabbage should be absent from this 

 locality I do not know, but as yet the bogs and low grounds have been 

 searched for it in vain. However, my March rambles have been re- 

 warded by the discovery of one or two varieties of willow and also of 

 the smooth alder in bloom. It is still a question with me whether the 

 willow is fertilized by insects or by the wind, or is it possible that both 

 play a part in the process ? The profusion of pollen, and the bareness 

 of the branches at the flowering season, would seem to indicate the 

 agency of the mnd, but on the other hand, the multitude of insects that 

 on a warm day surround the catkins, would lead one to the conclusion 

 that the plant is after all entomophilous. 



Before the last March snow-bank has disappeared under the rays 

 of the April sun, the hepatica can be found i n rocky woods ha\dng a 

 southern exj^osure, and near by the arbutus shows a few early flowers 

 among its evergreen leaves. It is hard to realize that this plant, with 

 its creeping habit, is actually a shrub. What a beautiful sight it would 

 be when in bloom, if, like others of the Ericaceae, it stood upright ! So 

 much has this plant been sought by its admirers, that it is becoming- 

 more and more rare with each successive year, and in many woodlands 

 where it was once abundant it is now almost unknown. 



In fence corners and beside old walls the bloodroot is abundant, 

 and in shady situations the two species of the dicentra {Dlceutm Ciicul- 

 laria and D. Canadensis) may be found. In the same places the wild 

 ginger {Asarura Canadetise) is usually common, its peculiar flowers 

 lying almost on the ground; and not far oft' the dog's tooth ^'iolet is 

 sure to be seen. One of the most widely distributed plants in this 

 region is the little wind-flower (Anemone nemorosa). How well the 

 Greek name Anemone fits this plant, with its delicate nodding flower I 

 Usually side by side with the wind-flower is the rue-anemone {Anenw- 

 nella thalictroides) with its curious yam-like roots. The star flower 

 {Trientalis Americana) is more rare than the anemone, but may some- 

 times be found in the same situations. 



One of the most beautiful of our spring flowers is the fringed 

 poly gala {Poly gala paacifolia). But we remember that its showy, 



