Observations on Epigsea repens, L. 



By W. P. Wilson, D.Sc. 



E 



( WITH PL, A TJS VIII. ) 



^PIGtEA repens or Arbutus is one of our North Amer- 

 ican plants, which has a very wide distribution. It 

 flowers early in the spring, in some places soon after 

 the snow has disappeared. 



Owing to its early appearance, its often beautifully tinted 

 and sweet scented flowers, and its trailing evergreen leaves it 

 is a great favorite wherever it grows. 



In New England it passes under the name of Mayflower. 

 As soon as it opens in the spring it is brought into Boston, 

 tied up into little bunches, with most of its attractive leaves 

 stripped off, and exposed for sale on the streets. 



In the same way it is sold in New York, Philadelphia and 

 other cities. It has been nearly exterminated within fifty 

 miles of Boston. It still grows in great abundance in the 

 Pine barrens of New Jersey, but with the small army of col- 

 ored women actively engaged in pulling it up for the Phila- 

 delphia market its extermination in this locality is only a 

 matter of time. 



Its range of growth extends from Canada to Florida 

 along the coast, and west to Minnesota, Michigan and Ten- 

 nessee. In all these localities it is much sought after by 

 lovers of flowers, and is picked and exposed for sale, or used 

 for home decorations. 



In 1796 Micheaux, while journeying in the Alleghany Moun- 

 tains, picked up this little plant and made the following entry 

 in his journal : " Le 2 Avril. Epigaea repens en pleine fleur 

 comme les jours precedents: sur plusi. individus toutes les 

 fleurs femelles sans rudiments d'Etamines et sur d'autres in- 



