320 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ December, 
striking appearance. We saw trees of this species which 
were probably thirty or forty feet high. It takes both its 
scientific and its common name from the sour taste of the 
leaves 
We found the Vacciniums almost everywhere, some of 
them reaching almost to the dignity of small trees, and sev- 
eral possessing an interest to a hungry man aside from their 
botanical peculiarities. They were in fruit at the time of our 
visit, though not generally ripe. 
One of the most common plants along the water-courses 
was a puzzle to us for a time, especially as it was in full fruit. 
Its drooping branches were thickly set with alternate spinu- 
lose serrate evergreen leaves, arranged in two ranks, and be- 
neath were long, densely-packed racemes of green fruits, re- 
sembling those of Andromeda. It was at length identified 
as Leucothoe Catesbei, which blossoms in May and June, 
fringing the streams with white. 
its glossy evergreen leaves are closely matted together. We 
were, unfortunately, too late to find it in bloom, but, jud ing 
from the fruits, it must a month earlier be literally covered 
_ It seemed like a glimpse of the New England woods to 
nd, as we climbed the mountains, the ground along the 
road-side covered with the trailing arbutus. We found it on 
other old friend—the wintergreen. 
ere were many other small Ericaceze in the woods— 
among them the Chimaphila maculata and the two Mono- 
tropas, but doubtless the most interesting member of the fam- 
ily in all this region is the Shortia galacifolia. This did not 
come within the range of our tramp, but we were fortunate 
enough to see it growing at Mr. Kelsey’s, and to obtain 
specimens. The history of the plant is perhaps not familiar 
ers 
It was discovered years ago and described (1 think from 
a specimen in fruit), but. the exact locality was forgotten, 
Now it is known that in one locality at least it exists in abun- 
dance, and it is somewhat of a puzzle how it remained un- 
