276 ESSAYS. 



Laehnanthes and Lophiola, the larger Xyrises and Eriocau- 

 lons, the curious grass Amphicarpum with cleistogamous 

 flowers at the root, the showy species of Chrysopsis, and many 

 others, must still abound. And every botanist will wish to 

 collect Schizcea pusilla, rarest, most local, and among the 

 smallest of Ferns. 



If only the season would allow it, there is a more southern 

 station of special interest, — Wilmington, on the coast of 

 North Carolina. Carnivorous plants have, of late years, ex- 

 cited the greatest interest, both popular and scientific ; and 

 here, of all places, carnivorous plants seem to have their 

 most varied development. For this is the only and the very 

 local home of Dionsea; here grow almost all the North 

 American species of Drosera ; here or near by are most of 

 the species of Sarracenia, of the bladder-bearing Utricula- 

 rias, — one of which the president of our Section has detected 

 in fish-catching, — and also the largest species of Pinguicula. 



But at this season a more enjoyable excursion may be made 

 to the southern portion of the Alleghany or Appalachian 

 Mountains, which separate the waters of the Atlantic side 

 from those of the Mississippi. These mountains are now 

 easily reached from Philadelphia. In Pennsylvania, where 

 they consist of parallel ridges without peaks or crests, and 

 are of no great height, they are less interesting botanically 

 than in Virginia ; but it is in North Carolina and the ad- 

 jacent borders of Tennessee that they rise to their highest al- 

 titude and take on more picturesque forms. On their sides 

 the Atlantic forest, especially its deciduous-leaved portion, is 

 still to be seen to greatest advantage, nearly in pristine con- 

 dition, and composed of a greater variety of genera and spe- 

 cies than in any other temperate region, excepting Japan. 

 And in their shade are the greatest variety and abundance of 

 shrubs, and a good share of the most peculiar herbaceous 

 genera. This is the special home of our Rhododendrons, 

 Azaleas, and Kalmias ; at least here they flourish in greatest 

 number and in most luxuriant growth. Rhododendron maxi- 

 mum (which is found in a scattered way even as far north as 

 the vicinity of Montreal) and Kdlmia latifolia (both called 



