MICHIGAN FLORA. 7 



and has an interesting flora, as yet little studied. This region was examined 

 in June, 1876, and revealed a number of northern plants. In the southern 

 part of Clare county were found Ledum latifolium, Kalmia glauca, Physalis 

 grandiflora (not before found south of the Upper Peninsula), Cory dalis glauca, 

 and Geranium Carolinianum, — the two latter species growing luxuriantly in 

 he deep woods, after fires. In the shade of the Jack Pines grew Prunus 

 pumila, Potentilla tridentata (not before observed in Lower Peninsula), Krigia 

 Virginica, Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Linaria Canadensis, Kceleria cristata, 

 Car ex Houghtonii, etc., etc. Near Houghton Lake were found Adlumia 

 cirrliosa, Riles lacustre, Dracocephalum parviflorum, Streptopus roseus, and 

 S. amplexifolius ; and in Muskegon river, near its source, Potamogeton lucens. 

 Pinus resinosa was noticed frequently, growing with common pine, and near 

 the center of Clare county it became more abundant, forming groups. Single 

 individuals stretch upwards 150-160 feet, their clean, copper-colored boles often 

 rising 100 feet to the first limbs. 



The flora of the deep pine woods is interesting, though rather monotonous. 

 Very little undergrowth is found, and their gloomy recesses nourish only such 

 plants as love thick shade. Here the club-mosses {Lycopodiums) find a con- 

 genial home, and flourish luxuriantly, while Clintonia borealis covers the ground. 

 The great round-leaved orchid {Habenaria orbiculata), with its tall, greenish 

 spike and twin leaves close to the earth, is also frequent and striking. "We 

 shall also meet Mitchella repens, Smilacina bifolia, Trillium grandiflorum, per- 

 haps, and a few ferns, particularly Asplenium Filix-fcemina, and Pliegopleris 

 Dryopteris. Other species occur, of course, but not so abundantly. In more 

 open places, and on ridges, we meet Rhus aromatica and Comptonia along with 

 wintergreen (GauUheria) and trailing arbutus {Epigea), and are of ten fortunate 

 enough to find the wax-white, fragrant flower of Moneses uniflora, or Poly gala 

 paucifolia, hiding its shining leaves under a wealth of showy pink blossoms. 



The floral treasures of the pine region lie, however, in its swamps and lake 

 borders rather than in the deep woods. Therein grows Linnea borealis in all its 

 delicate beauty, carpeting the ground, and close at hand, the odd, brown-purple 

 flower of Cypripedium acaule and the small yellow blossom of its water-loving 

 relative C. iwrvijlorum. In such swamps, or within a stone's throw of them, 

 may be found many other plants of equal interest, such as Medeola Virginica, 

 Ledum latifolium, Andromeda polifolia, Kalmia glauca, Lonicera oblongifolia, 

 Cardamine pratensis, Gerardia aspera, Mitella nuda, Erio2)liorum vaginatum, 

 etc. On lake margins we shall find Lysimachia and the blue Pontederia and 

 more rarely, Nesma and Eleocharis quadrangulata. The lake itself, most likely, 

 will be full of ISymplma, Nuphar, Utricularias, and a world of Potamagctuns 

 and similar water weeds. Shrubby Vacciniums line the bluffs, and here and 

 there gleam the white trunks of paper birches against the dark background of 

 pines. 



In the thick-pine country, where the lumberman's axe has let in the sun- 

 light, new plants spring up freely. Here, Prunus Pennsylvanica and poplars 

 are frequent, and the blackberry is omnipresent. Aralia hispida and PJiy- 

 salis pubescens are also peculiar to such land, and in August Gnaphalium 

 decurrens may be seen whitening thousands of acres. 



One seldom beholds a drearier sight than a dead and deserted lumber 

 region. The valuable trees were all felled years ago, and the lumberman 

 moved on to fresh spoils, leaving behind an inextricably confused mass of 

 tree tops, broken logs, and uprooted trunks. Blackberry canes spring up 



