294 Some Plants of Danvcrs and Wenham. 



brinked meadows, the wonders of its herculean toil. At 

 our feet were seen Goodyerm pubescens, (i?. Brown,') and 

 Pyrola elliptica, {Natl.,) P. chlor4ntha, {Sioartz,) and the 

 rarer (P. unifiora L.) now separated from its sister plants and 

 bearing the name of Moneses unifiora, {Salisburi/,) a solitary 

 in habit, and single in its delicate rosy flower, while the 

 crimson berries of Mitchella repens diversified the scene. In 

 one of the outlets, the Indian Rice, (Zizania aquatica Z/.,) has 

 been found, and on the borders of the thickets we gathered 

 plants of Platanthera fimbriata, {Lindley,) or the large pur- 

 ple-fringed Orchis, U'rcliis grandiflora, {Bigelow,) which were 

 carefully removed with the roots to expand its blossoms in 

 some sheltered garden. Several other species of the Orchis 

 family were noticed, and the Clintonia borealis, {Rajinesquc,) 

 was found in abundance, just in full blossom. Call a palus- 

 tris is also a denizen of these swamps, though no specimen 

 occurred. Saxifraga pennsylvanica, (L.) which Dr. Gray 

 calls "a homely species," was seen rising to considerable 

 consequence, if altitude of growth be any proof; and, from 

 its merits on this and on the score of its general good looks, 

 was considered worthy of transportation by one of our com- 

 pany. 



The morning had now wasted away to high noon, and, 

 according to previous agreement, our party repaired to a 

 convenient room, where an agreeable collation greeted many 

 a hungry and expectant devotee to the sterner wants of our 

 physical natures. Refreshment being had, an informal meet- 

 ing was held for two or three hours, in which the chairman 

 of the committee endeavored to interest the auditors with re- 

 marks on the physiological characters of the lower plants, as 

 typified in the simpler Algse, and as exhibited in modified 

 action through the higher forms. Starting from the simple 

 cell as the lowest form of organized vital matter, he showed 

 how the cryptogamous plants furnished an almost infinite 

 series of beautiful arrangement, and shadowed forth the 

 higher and more elaborate organs of the phanogamous. 

 With the assistance and cooperation of Thomas Cole, Esq., 

 a zealous microscopist, and well known for his devotion to 

 researches into the minutiae of nature, he was enabled to 

 exhibit sections of fungi, lichens, mosses, &€., in which the 



