l8 9i] A Sketch of the Flora of Orono, Me. 229 



one locality visited throughout the entire season. The 

 blooms of the month of August have been but partially 

 observed, that being the month of the summer vacation. It 

 has been my good fortune to examine the floras of Man- 

 chester and Waterville of this State ; as compared with 

 these the region of Orono and vicinity is much more inter- 

 esting botanically, being peculiarly rich in rare and local 

 species. Several localities, visited but once or twice, have 

 appeared very interesting, and may, when more thoroughly 

 explored, yield many rare and pleasing species. 



Such a locality is the one near Pushaw mills, on the river 

 about two miles above Stillwater village. This place was 

 visited in June, last season, and we were rewarded by finding 

 several species new to our list, one of rare interest. 'I he wa- 

 ter at this place rushes rapidly over a rocky bed, and the west 

 bank is formed by a high precipitous cliff, on which specimens 

 of the Sand Cherry (Primus pumila L.) were found. This, 

 our smallest species of the cherry tribe, is a little trailing 

 shrub growing over the sand and rocks, rarely attaining the 

 height of sixteen inches. Growing in abundance close by the 

 bank were Aquilegia Canadensis L., Potentilla tridentata Ait., 

 and the small purple Houstonia (H. purpurea L., var. longi- 

 folia Willd.). Out from the perpendicular walls of the cliff 

 ' ere was growing a pretty little fern, which was too imma- 

 ture for identification. But the chief interest of this locality 

 is that it produces Arabis Drummondii Gray, the upright 

 slender stems standing out from the bare rock walls, wherever 

 there is a possibility for its fibrous roots to penetrate and find 

 foot-hold. This is a rare, and, on account of its pale glau- 

 cous leaves and rose white flowers a very attractive Crucifer 

 Although uncommon, this species has a wide ; ^graphical 

 range, extending from Maine to Oregon. Astragalus alpinus 



th 



L., an exceedingly pretty leguminous plant which grows on 

 a small rocky island in the Kennebec river opposite Water- 

 ville, may be looked for here. Coming back to the College 

 from the place we have just been describing 1 found numerous 

 specimens of Carex Houghtonii Torr., growing on the grad- 

 ing of the Orono and Stillwater Railroad near the town bridge 

 at the last named place. The Rev. J. Blake has collected 

 this Carex at Medford. Another locality which has been 1 vis- 

 ited but once (July 1 870) is Nickol's Stream which flows 

 through an extensive bog and forms the outlet of a pond ot 

 the same name in the town of Bradley. 



