6 MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 26. 



thalictroides) , False Mitrewort (Tiarella cordifolia), Mitrewort (Mitella 

 diphylla), Star Flower (Trientalis americana) and Showy Lady's Slipper 

 (Cypripedium hirsutum). 



During the summer the herbaceous vegetation is chiefly confined 

 to borders of woods, clearings and other places where growth is not 

 suppressed or kept back on account of too much shade. It is rather 

 inconspicuous and poor except in moist or wet situations. On moist and 

 low ground occur: Habenaria psychodes, Gentiana crinita, Asdepias 

 incarnata, Physostegia virginiana, Chelone glabra, Lobelia cardinalis, etc., 

 whilst Pogonia ophioglossoides, Calopogon pulchellus, Arethusa bulbosa, 

 Sarracenia purpurea and others adorn the bogs and swamps. 



The autumn flowers are chiefly composites with Asters, Golden Rods 

 (Solidago) and Joe-Pye (Eupatorium) in the greatest profusion. 



Very characteristic of the zone is the autumnal colouring of the 

 leaves of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. This autumnal colouring 

 lasts a comparatively long time, from about the first week of September 

 to the second week in October, dependent on the dryness of the season. 

 During that period the most splendid display of colours is exhibited, 

 especially in the open mixed woods where underbrush is well developed. 

 Every shade of yellow, golden bronze, red and scarlet is mixed in a gor- 

 geous symphony of colours, generally most marvellously modulated by the 

 sombre deep dark or bluish green of the conifers, which are dotted among 

 the deciduous trees. No such wealth of colour is ever met with in any 

 other country. 



Carolinian Zone. This zone is confined to a small tract of land in 

 southern Ontario, bounded to the south by Lake Erie and to the north 

 by a line running approximately from the northern shore of Lake Ont- 

 ario to Windsor. Its flora is most typically developed in the Niagara 

 peninsula and on the very shore of Lake Erie. In general physiognomy it 

 is rather similar to the hardwood forest flora just described, but differs 

 greatly as far as characteristic species and even genera are concerned. 

 It is decidedly southern as to species, and exhibits a large number of forms 

 which occur nowhere else in Canada. 



The most characteristic trees are the Hickories (six species), the 

 Oaks (ten species), the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), the Chestnut (Cas- 

 tanea dentata), and the Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) . Less abundant 

 and more local in their distribution are: Cucumber tree, (Magnolia 

 acuminata}, Tulip tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera), Flowering Dogwood 

 (Cornus florida), which have all beautiful and very conspicuous flowers, 

 Papaw (Asimia triloba), Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), American Crab 

 Apple (Pyrus coronaria), Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Sassafras (Sassa- 

 fras variifolium) and others. 



