24 Tenxesske Flora. 



of tliis line (Nashville and Decatur Kailroad). The scrub pine is 

 the only species I ever observed in Middle Tennessee. I found it 

 sparingly and "confined to a limited belt in the hills around the 

 confluence of the Harpeth and Turnbull Kivers, in Dickson County. 

 Shrubs which are especially addicted to the Oak Barrens are the 

 large- flowering hydrangea {Hydrangea radiata, at the Cataract, in 

 Tullahoma), Itea, with small white ilowers in drooping racemes; 

 calycanthus, or Carolina allspice; service berry {Amelancliier Can- 

 adensis), the narrow-leaved crabapple (Pyriis angustifoUn) , hazel- 

 nut {Coryhis Americana) , and in wet lands the button bush {Ceph- 

 alanthus occidetitalis) , chockborry (Pyrus arhutifolia), arrow- 

 wood {Viburnum nudum), ^oVii\\QX\\ buckthorn {Bumelia lycioides), 

 smooth alder {Alnus serrulata), dwarf gray willow {Salix tristis). 

 The moist woodlands and swamps abound in showy orchids, lilia- 

 ceae, and aquatic plants. Three species of flags (7m versicolor. 

 Iris Virginica, Iris cristata), Turk's cap lily {Lilium superhum), 

 blackberry lily {Pardnntlnts chinensis), Zygadenus limantlioides, 

 narrow-leaved false hellebore {Stenanthium angustifolium), fly 

 poison {Amianthium muscaetoxicum) . Several species of or- 

 chids: Habenaria, Pogonia, Corallorrhiza, Calopogon, and Cypri- 

 pedium; various Sabbathias, a host of Pycnanthemums, Asters, 

 Gerardias, Helianthus, button snake roots {Liatris squarrosa, Lia- 

 iris graminifolia) , and some very elegant srrasses, the woolly beard- 

 gross {Eriantlius alopecuriodes, Eriantlms hreviharhis, and Erian- 

 thus strictus), Indian grass {Sorghum nutans), wood reedgrass 

 (Cinna arundinacea) . Among ferns we find a stately growth of 

 Osmundas, especially the Osmunda regalis and Clay toni ana, attain- 

 ing three to five feet; the chain fern {Woodwardia angustifolia) , 

 Aspidium Goldieanum, also becoming sometimes four feet high; 

 sensitive fern {Onoclea sensihilis). Rushes, sages, and grasses pre- 

 sent themselves in interminable succession to the well-trained bota- 

 nist who understands how to distinguish them. 



WEST TENNESSEE. 



The Tennessee Eiver very nearly indicates in its northern 

 ■course a geological division, flowing, as it does, along an ancient 

 Devonian and Silurian shore line. A few miles west and parallel 

 with the river rises the eastern escarpment of an undulating plateau 

 of from only 200 to 300 feet elevation above the waters of the Ten- 

 nessee River. This irregular table-land slopes gradually toward 



