PREFACE. 23 



others, the great majority of them are common over 

 a kirge portion of the Southern and IMiddle States. 

 I cannot recall any one species which can be con- 

 sidered as giving a character to this district distinct 

 from that of the States lying north or south of it. 

 There are, indeed, a few of the smaller plants whicn 

 are not found elsewhere, but these are so rare and 

 inconspicuous as not to form a noticeable feature in 

 the vegetation of this district. 



The Upper or Mountain District is as peculiar and 

 interesting in its vegetable products as it is attractive 

 in its scenery. The ascent of every hundred feet 

 presents new and varying species, until we reach the 

 region of the dark and sombre Firs^ where we have 

 a vegetation almost entirely Northern. There is also 

 a striking peculiarity in the vegetation of these 

 higher regions, which can rarely fail to arrest the 

 eye of a visitor from the Lower or Middle Districts, 

 in the profusion of graceful Ferns and delicate Mosses 

 that cover the earth, and of numerous and various 

 colored Lichens that clothe the rocks and trees. 

 These, for the most part, are identical Avith species 

 found in the mountains of the Northern States, and 

 many are common to similar situations in the Old 

 World ; though there are some which seem to be 

 confined to our own mountains. In these orders of 

 Plants this district abounds much beyond the product 

 of all the rest of the State, and he Avho delights in 

 their study could scarcely find elsewhere a more lux- 

 uriant field for observation or collection. But not 



