XEEOPHILE HEEBACEOUS PLANTS AND MESOPHILE FORESTS. 83 



near Moulton, the following prefer the slightly sheltered rocky 

 shelves: 



AUionia nyctaginea. lAthospermum canescens. 



Ranuncuhis fasdndaris. Lithospermiim tuberosum. 



Arabis laevigata. Saliia urticaefoliu.^ 



Claytonia mrginica. Scutellaria cumpesirh. 



Arenaria serpyUifolia. Polymnia. canadensis radiata. 



Opuntia rafinesquii} Bellis hdegrifolia. 

 Geranium maculatum.^ 



Sedum pulchellmii and Plmcelia piirsh'd adorn the interstices of the 

 rocky fragments, and Arenaria jMiula the bare rocks. During the 

 first summer months the golden flowers of Ilijpericum aureum and 11. 

 sjjhaet'ocarpoii ^ adorn the hills, giving way in the latter part of the 

 season to blue and purple asters — Aster ohlongifoliiis.^ A. laevis lati- 

 foliiis., A. cordifolius and others of the more commonly difi'used 

 species — and to the bright flowers of goldenrods, such as SoUdago 

 amplexicauUs and Brachychaeta spJmcelata {B. cordata Torr. & Gr.), 

 which are confined to the lower southern Appalachian ranges. 



West of the spurs of the Cumberland highlands isolated knolls rise 

 above the wide river plain with its seemingly interminable fields of 

 cotton, corn, and small grain. These hillocks, of a siliceous limestone 

 which has resisted erosion, support with their scanty covering of soil 

 a stunted growth of chinquapin oak {Quercus acuminata).^ wild plum 

 {Primus americana)^ honey locust {G led Its la triaca?ithos), hop hornbeam 

 {Ostrya virgin iaiia)., and shrubs common on dry calcareous soil, and are 

 frequently destitute of large trees. The plants which find a refuge in 

 these localities form an interesting combination of xerophile, campes- 

 trian, and sylvan associations. Under the shades of the denser clumps 

 of the low trees have been noted: 



Poa sp. Deniaria laciniata. 



Leptorchis liliifolia. Meihomia paucijiora. 



Cypripedium parviflormn. Mertensia virginica. 

 Delphinium Iricorne. 



In exposed places the following species of the open plain have estab- 

 lished themselves: 



Arenaria patula. Euphorbia ohtusaia (rare). 



Isanthus brachiaius. Kuhnisiera gattingeri. 



Anemone earoliniana. Grind elia lanceolata. 



Hypericum prolificum (frequent) . Amphiachai-ys dracuncidoides. 



The Kuhnistera is rendered attractive by its numerous spikes of 

 rose-purple flowers. The last two are remarkable outposts, if not waifs, 

 from the plains west of the Mississippi River. 



Mesophile fmests. — North of the Tennessee River the detached spurs 

 of the Cumberland Mountains, capped with the sandstones and con- 



^ Extends to the Louisianian area. 



