BOTANICAL EXCURSION TO NORTH CAROLINA. 47 



Hedyotis (Amphiotis) purpurea, which scarcely deserves the 

 name, since the flowers are commonly almost white ; Phlox 

 pa?iiculata ? Aristolochla Sipho, without flowers or fruit ; 

 Ribes Cynosbati, rotund if blium, Michx. {R. triflorum, 

 Willd.) and prostratum, L'Her. ; Allium cernuum and tri- 

 coccum ; 1 Galax apliylla ; Ligusticum actceifolium, the 

 strong-scented roots of which are eagerly sought and eaten 

 by boys and hogs ; 2 The Ginseng, here called " sang " (the 

 roots of which are largely collected, and sold to the country 

 merchants when fresh for about twelve cents per pound, or 

 when dry for triple that price) ; Menziesia globularis, mostly 

 in fruit ; and the showy Azalea calendulacea, which was also 

 out of flower, except in deep shade. 3 In the latter situations 



1 The latter is known throughout this region by the name of 

 " Ramps " ; doubtless a corruption of " Ramsons," the popular appella- 

 tion of A. ursinum in England. 



2 It is here termed " Angelico " ; while in Virginia it is called " Xon- 

 do." Bartram (Travels, p. 45, and p. 367), who found it in Georgia, 

 notices it under the name of Angelica lucida, or "White-root" of the 

 Creek and Cherokee traders. " Its aromatic carminative root is in taste 

 much like that of ginseng, though more of the taste and scent of anise- 

 seed : it is in high estimation with the Indians as well as white inhabi- 

 tants, and sells at a great price to the southern Indians of Florida, who 

 dwell near the sea-coast, where this never grows spontaneously." (Bar- 

 tram, I. c.) 



8 Bartram well describes this species, under the name of Azalea flam- 

 med, or fiery Azalea. "The epithet fiery I annex to this most celebrated 

 species of Azalea, as being expressive of the appearance of its flowers ; 

 which are in general of the color of the finest red-lead, orange and bright 

 gold, as well as yellow and cream-color. These various splendid colors 

 are not only in separate plants, but frequently all the varieties and shades 

 are seen in separate branches on the same plant ; and the clusters of the 

 blossoms cover the shrubs in such incredible profusion on the hillsides, 

 that suddenly opening to view from dark shades, we are alarmed with 

 apprehension of the woods being set on fire. This is certainly the most 

 gay and brilliant flowering shrub yet known ; they grow in little copses 

 or clumps, in open forests as well as dark groves, with other shrubs, and 

 about the bases of hills, especially where brooks and rivulets wind about 

 them ; the bushes seldom rise above six or seven feet in height, and gen- 

 erally but three, four, or five, but branch and spread their tops greatly ; 

 the young leaves are but very small whilst the shrubs are in bloom, from 

 which circumstance the plant exhibits a greater show of splendor." 

 (Bartram's Travels, p. 323.) 



