INTRODUCTION. 



be remembered that Binghamton is situated in a broad valley, 

 surrounded by low hills, and at an elevation of 868 feet above 

 tide. In some parts of our territory the seasons are nearly two 

 weeks later than here. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLORA. 



A more careful examination of the remote districts which 

 have been but slightly studied, will doubtless result in the discov- 

 ery of a considerable number of species new to our list. Until 

 this has been done, it will be impossible to make a thorough com- 

 parison of the flora with that of other regions, but the present 

 list is sufficient to indicate the general relationships, which subse- 

 quent additions of any number of species are not expected to 

 materially change. 



XoRTHERN Plants. The influence of a boreal flora is seen in 

 the number of plants common to higher latitudes which here 

 nearly reach their southern limits. If found farther south they 

 generally occur in elevated districts, or in cold bogs and ravines- 

 Among these may be mentioned Oxalis Acetosella, Comarum 

 palustre, Lzn?i(za borealis, Schollera Oxycoccus, Chiogenes his- 

 ptdula, Andi'07iieda Polifolia, Kalmia glauca^ R ho dor a Cana- 

 densis, Ledum Grwiilandiciun, Moneses uni/lorq, Menyanthcs 

 trifoliaia, Betiila papyri/era, Larix Americana^ Calla palus- 

 trt's, Carex paiicijlora and Botrychium simplex. 



Southern Si-ecies. That our flora has less relationship with 

 that of the south, is shown by the following list of plants that oc- 

 cur, most of which find in our valley their farthest northern range: 

 Magnolia acuminata, Jejfersonia diphylla, Acer Negundo^ Ro- 

 binia pseudacacia. Hydrangea arborescens. Azalea caftescens. 

 Rhododendron maximum, Cutiila origanoides, Plantago Vir- 

 ginica, Juglans nigra, Carya sulcata, Dioscorea villosa, Dis- 

 porum lanuginosum, J'lragrostis Caroliniana and E. Frankii. 

 One western species, Kulcria cristata, finds its northeastern 

 limits with us. 



Rake Plants. There are certain plants which, though they 

 may be widely disseminated, are usually rare in any region. That 

 ours is not lacking in these is shown by the occurrence of such as 

 Atragene Americana, Aconitum Noi/eboracensis, Cacalia sua- 

 veolcns, Razoumofskya pusilla, Pog07iia 7>erticillata, Carex 

 Si hwcinitzii, C. abacta and Pctla-a gracilis. Of plants that are 



