220 BOTANICAL EXCURSION 
Western States, to which we had supposed it was confined, 
takes the place of the northern C. retrorsa. We searched 
for its constant companion, C. Shortii, and the next day, we 
found the two growing together. During the day's ride, we 
observed that the bearded wheat was almost exclusively cul- 
tivated, and were informed that it had been found less sub- 
ject to the ravages of the * Fly," than the ordinary varieties; 
which may be owing to the recent introduction of the seed 
of the bearded variety, from districts, unmolested by this 
insect. The following day we travelled only sixteen miles on 
our route, but from Mount Sidney made an interesting ex- 
cursion on foot to Weyer’s Cave, one of the largest, and cer- 
tainly the most remarkable grotto in the United States. It 
has been so often described as to render any account on our 
part superflous. Near the cave we noticed some trees of 
Tilia heterophylla, (Vent.) (T. alba, Miche f. sylv?) and 
collected a few specimens with unopened flower-buds. lt 
appears to be the most abundant species along the moun- 
tains. 
Our ride, next day, afforded nothing of interest. Near 
Staunton, we saw some patches of Delphinium Consolida, 
where it was pretty thoroughly naturalized in the time of 
Pursh. We did not observe Spiræa lobata, which Michaux 
first met with in this vicinity, and which Pursh, as well as 
later botanists, found in various parts of the valley. Passing 
the town of Lexington in the evening, we arrived at the 
Natural-Bridge towards morning, where we remained until 
Monday, and had an opportunity of botanizing for a short 
time before we left. On the rocks we found plenty of Asple- 
nium Ruta-muraria, Sedum ternatum, and Draba ramosissima 
with ripe fruit; in the bottom of the ravine, directly under 
the stupendous natural arch, (the point which affords the 
most impressive view of this vast chasm,) we collected spe 
formosa of Kunth’s Cyperographia, which will account for the discrepancy 
between his description and that of Dewey’s C. formosa. The C. juncea oí 
Willdenow and of Kunth, is, I am confident, only C. brachystachys, and 
not of American origin. 
