276 ESSAYS. 
Lachnanthes and Lophiola, the larger Xyrises and Eriocau- 
lons, the curious grass Amphicarpum with cleistogamous 
flowers at the root, the showy species of Chrysopsis, and many 
others, must still abound. And every botanist will wish to 
collect Schizwa pusilla, rarest, most ee and among the 
smallest of Ferns. 
If only the season would allow it, there is a more southern 
station of special interest, — Wilmington, on the coast of 
North Carolina. Carnivorous plants have, of late years, ex- 
cited the greatest interest, both popular and scientific ; and 
here, of all places, carnivorous plants seem to have their 
most varied development. For this is the only and the very 
local home of Dionza; here grow almost all the North 
American species of Drosera; here or near by are most of 
the species of Sarracenia, of the bladder-bearing Utricula- 
rias, — one of which the president of our Section has detected 
in fish-catching, — and also the largest species of Pinguicula. 
But at this season a more enjoyable excursion may be made 
to the southern portion of the Alleghany or Appalachian 
Mountains, which separate the waters of the Atlantic side 
from those of the Mississippi. These mountains are now 
easily reached from Philadelphia. In Pennsylvania, where 
they consist of parallel ridges without peaks or crests, and 
are of no great height, they are less interesting botanically 
than in Virginia; but it is in North Carolina and the ad- 
jacent borders of Tennessee that they rise to their highest al- 
titude and take on more picturesque forms. On their sides 
the Atlantic forest, especially its deciduous-leaved portion, is 
still to be seen to greatest advantage, nearly in pristine con- 
dition, and composed of a greater variety of genera and spe- 
cies than in any other temperate region, excepting Japan. 
And in their shade are the greatest variety and abundance of 
shrubs, and a good share of the most peculiar herbaceous 
genera. This is the special home of our Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas, and Kalmias; at least here they flourish in greatest 
number and in most luxuriant growth. Rhododendron maxi- 
mum (which is found in a seattered way even as far north as 
the vicinity of Montreal) and Aalmia latifolia (both called 
