1924] PALMER, THE LIGNEOUS FLORA OF RICH MOUNTAIN 111 



blongifolium, Hypericum prolificum and Callicarpa americana, and occa 



Q 



rotundifolia 



In places where the rocky surface of the valley is slightly more elevated 

 and consequently drier, other species are dominant. By reason of the 

 sterile surface and frequent floods, most of the arborescent species attain 

 only the size of shrubs, and the thicket formation continues. Here are 

 found occasional Oaks and Hickories of several species, Winged Elm, 

 Southern Hackberry (Celtis laevigata), Sycamore, Sweet Gum, Black Gum, 

 Flowering Dogwood, Smooth and Copal Sumac, Fringe-tree or Old man's 

 beard (Chionanthus virginica), Wafer Ash (Ptelea trifoliata), Gum-elastic 

 Tree (Bumelia lanuginosa), Crataegus spathulata and the Saw Briar 



(Smilax Bona-nox). 



ordinary floods 



where the surface is covered with a fertile sandy loam, support a fine 

 forest growth, in which several of the above species, growing to a larger 

 size, are mingled with many others. Amongst the more important 

 trees of this section are the Yellow Pine {Pinus echinata), Mocker-nut and 

 Arkansas Hickories, White, Black, Spanish and Post Oaks, Sweet and 

 Black Gum, Southern Linden (Tilia floridana) , and Sugar Maple. Addi- 

 tional undershrubs of frequent occurrence are Spice-bush, Sassafras, 

 Parsley-leaved Haw (Crataegus apiifolia) and Papaw. A few specimens 

 of Beech were seen along the margins of the creek, but this tree is nowhere 

 common in the locality, and has not been noted farther north. Along the 

 upper part of the stream the Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata) 

 appears, and it becomes commoner as the divide is approached. It is 

 not found in the lower part of the valley, but grows commonly on the north 

 sides of the mountains, where it attains a much larger size. One other 

 interesting shrub should be mentioned before leaving the valley. This 

 is the northern Leatherwood (Dirca palustris), which was found growing 

 along the creek margins at the base of a small rocky bluff. 



Many of the trees and shrubs of the valley continue for a little distance 

 up the mountain slopes, but as conditions change a large proportion of 

 them disappear and give place to others. There is a marked difference in 

 the character of the forest growth on the north and south slopes. This 

 can be distinctly observed in a general way even by the traveler as he 



tlv moving trains. As the 



swi 



Mountain 



ahead like a great pyramid. 



sharp 



which extends eastward, for about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to Eagle Gap, 



same 



general direction, under the name of Fourche Mountain. For much of 

 the distance the crest of the range rises 1000 to 1250 feet (300 to 380 

 meters) above the valley. Observing this slope from the train window, as 

 it passes in panorama on the left, a thin covering of timber will be seen 

 extending quite to the top, but in places there are spots devoid of trees, 



