i918] A Visit to Smith Islaxd 153 



The larger fungi were hardly appearing as yet, but Favolus arcu- 

 larius was abundant on wood, and in the pure sand of an exposed 

 dune we found a good plant of the mushroom Volvaria speciosa. As 

 was to be expected, the Volvaria differed from the inland form in 

 some respects, particularly in the larger spores. Although we found 

 no species of the apple group, a few typical galls of the apple-cedar 

 rust {Gymnosporangium niacropus) were found on the cedar. The 

 spores were probably blown from the mainland several miles away. 



I shall not refer here at any length to our observations on the flora 

 of the mainland during this trip, but must include photographs of the 

 very interesting and beautiful little shrub, Dendrium buxifolium, 

 which is closely related to the heathers of Europe. This little plant 

 is very local in its distribution and is one of three species of the east- 

 ern United States, one of the other two occurring only on the tops of 

 the highest mountains of ^N'orth Carolina and Tennessee, the other, a 

 species recently (1901) recognized by Dr. Small, is from Table 

 Mountains and a few similar heights in ^N^orth Carolina and South 

 Carolina. The coastal plant has been reported from the coastal plain 

 of i^ew Jersey to Florida, but seems to have been rarely collected 

 south of ]N^ew Jersey, as Dr. Small, who has recently monographed 

 the Ericaceae, says (K Am. Flora 29: 39. 1914) that he has seen 

 no specimens from south of Is^ew Jersey.* Along the railroad and the 

 highway from Wilmington to Southport the Dendrium is very abund- 

 ant and grows in close-set colonies over large areas, sometii'nes as 

 much as an acre in extent. In Plate 15 is shown such a colony in 

 full bloom, and in Plate 16 a single ])lant. The soil where it. grows 

 is sandy and poor and intermediate in elevation and water content 

 between tl)c lower flats (where grow Azalea athnficaf and Veims" 

 fly-trap) and the more dry and elevated areas. 



While on Smith Island as well as on the return triji to Wilmington 

 by earth road we secured living specimens of many shrubs and a few 

 vines and trees for planting in the University Arboretum. 



Chapel Hn,L, N. C. 



*We also have goo.l specimens from SpriiiKville, DarliiiKton Counfv, South Carolinn 

 tAn illustrated account of this newly .Icxcrilied si.crios will be given in a future nunil)er of 

 this Journal. 



