l8 9i ] A Sketch of the Flora of Orono, Me. 231 



the Colleges. It has also been seen in considerable numbers 

 in the woods opposite the "Trotting Park." In Bennock's 

 woods above mentioned, I gathered in 1871 a number of speci- 

 mens of Botrychium simplex Hitch. In 1870 this plant was 

 observed in the low fields between the house formerly occu- 

 pied by Prof. Peckham, and the river. 



An exceedingly rich and interesting locality, botanically 

 considered, is the region below Basin Mills, extending down 

 by the river and along the railroad for two or three miles. 

 Here we find a great variety in the nature and condition of 

 the soil, producing many species. Upon a high and grav- 

 elly bank less than half a mile below the Basin, near John 

 McPheter's brook, grows a rare and elegant vine, Clematis 

 verticillaris DC. It is a more delicate plant and prefers a 

 drier soil than its near relative, C. Virginiana L. It is by 

 far the prettier species, however; in fact it well deserves to 

 stand first, as regards ornament, among our native climbers. 

 The showy bluish purple petals of the flower expand two or 

 three inches. It blooms from the middle to the last of May. 

 The flowers are followed by the rather pretty plumose fruit. 

 It is easily cultivated and is worthy a place among our hand- 

 somest foreign vines. By the rocky bank of a radroad cut, 

 perhaps two miles below the mills, we find another beautiful 

 native climber, called Wax-work or Bittersweet, Celastrus 

 scandens. It receives its first name on account of the wax} 

 aspect of the fruit, which in autumn presents a most brilliant 

 appearance. Near where the Bittersweet grows there is found 

 an abundance of the bright Saxifraga Virginiensis. Along 

 by the railroad we find the pretty Corydalis glauca. Near 

 the railroad there is a bog-marsh where delights the Calla 



palustris. Upon the bog'we find Carex irrigua, one of the 



most attractive of the Carices. 



About a mile below the mills there is a slow muddy stream 

 where grows Xuphar advena. In a thicket close by this 

 stream we find rather an uncommon species of Trillium T. 

 recurvum), which conceals its white or sometimes pinkish flow- 

 er beneath its trio of leaves. Upon the dry banks near by I ed- 

 icularis Canadensis abounds, with its long, finely cut leaves, 

 which are often of a deep purple color, and very handsome. 

 Two miles, or perhaps two and a half miles below the mills 

 there is a rich marshy spot where in May we are attracted by 

 the bright golden flowers of Caltha palustris. Tim also 

 the localitv of Thaspium aureum and Archangelica atropurpur- 



