'I'll THE PLANT LIFE OF MARYLAND 



The soils of the Parr's Ridge area are largely of the igneous 

 series and develop good farm land where suitahly located. The 

 natural cover of the region was a mixed deciduous forest, which 

 is still present on the higher ground, and less conveniently situ- 

 ated parts of the ridge. The deeper soils are covered with the typical 

 climax forest, of Oaks, Maple and a large percentage of Beech, 

 accompanied by the herbaceous plants which are common to soils 

 rich in humus and by the woody plants which find the same condi- 

 tions favorable to their development. There are a few outcrops of 

 limestone, but the extent of these is not sufficient to make a dif- 

 ference in the vegetation of the area. 



Hills. — The Chestnut is the predominating tree of the rich hill- 

 sides, with the Chestnut Oak the next in order of abundance. These 

 two trees are associated also on the stone or boulder-strewn slopes, 

 if there is opportunity in the spaces between the rocks for the ac- 

 cumulation of leaves and of other refuse of the forest to produce 

 the humus in which the tree reaches its best development. In those 

 cases in which the soil is comparatively free from rocks, the humus 

 is often several inches deep, and gives the conditions suited to the 

 development of the species of Hickory (Hicoria alba, Hicona gla- 

 bra) and of Beech. As undershrubs grow the Huckleberries (Gaij- 

 lussacia frondosa, Gayhissacia resinosa) the Blueberry with the 

 Laurel and Arbutus, while amid thick clumps of decaying leaves 

 grows Monotropa uniflora. 



Considering the more open and dry spots in such a forest area, 

 the margins of the opening have Baptisia tivctoria as one of the 

 conspicuous plants. This is also a roadside annual, being found 

 along the roads in woodland regions with slight choice as to the 

 character of the soil, but reaching its best development upon the 

 sandy or well drained soils of hillsides. It and Pteris aquilina are 

 conspicuous features of the burned-over areas. 



In the more moist locations the Bed Maple (Acer rubrum), the 

 Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) together with Spathyema foetida, 

 Osmunda cinnamomca and Osmunda claytoniana are found in 

 association. About the margins of such moist areas the orchids 

 are to be expected and in this vicinity Orchis spectabilis, Pogonia 

 verticilata and Peramium pubescens are seen in the region of shade 



