L90 THE PLANT LIFE OF MARYLAND 



the Yellow Locust, although it is plentiful also in the interior. Iso- 

 lated specimens of Persimmon, sometimes of large size, are fre- 

 quent on roadsides and in fields. Some very large and old trees of 

 Crab Cherry and of Red Mulberry occur along roadside fences. 

 Other trees of the roadside are Sweet Gum, Spanish Oak and Hack- 

 berry. But it is the shrubs and vines which in Southern Maryland 

 give character to the roadsides. For long distances the roads are 

 literally lined by a dense growth of Rhus copallina or Rhus glabra, 

 Rubus villosus, Rosa sp.. with young plants of Sassafras, Persim- 

 mon and Sweet Gum. Over these and over the fences climb large 

 numbers of plants of Vitis, Rhus, Smilax and Tecoma, sometimes 

 completely hiding some of the shrubs and even trees. Even where 

 vegetation is not so abundant it is \isual to see every fence post dec- 

 orated by one or more vines of Rhus, Smilax or Parthenocissus. 

 Lonicera japonica grows luxuriantly but is not apt to climb as high 

 as the other lianes mentioned; it frequently covers banks and has 

 indeed become a troublesome weed. Another plant characteristic 

 of thickets and edges of woods is Hercules Club (Aralia spinosa) a 

 species of arboreal habit and decidedly tropical appearance, which 

 is rather common except in the northern part of the district. On 

 dry sandy roadsides are to be found (lie Chicksaw Plum and the 

 Chinquapin. 



Since arboreal growth is so general along roadsides, the herbaceous 

 vegetation is to a considerable extent similar to that of the adjoining 

 forests. Where the trees and shrubs are cleared out, a more 

 xerophytic assemblage makes its appearance. Most of the plants of 

 such situations are indigenous, and only in the streets of villages 

 are introduced species able to drive out the native ones. A con- 

 venient classification is on the basis of water content of the soil. 



1. Xerophytic: Three ferns are common, Pleris aquilina, Dry- 

 opteris acrostichoides and Asplenium platyneuron, the last two 

 preferring shady banks. In the earlier part of the season Cassia 

 nictitans, Baptisia tinctoria, Lespedeza virginica, Lepidium vir- 

 ginicum and Polygonum aviculare are prominent, and are largely 

 replaced later by composites such as Aster ericoides, Sericocarpus 

 asteroides, * Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, *Anthemis cotula, 



