242 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
eastern border’ of the mountain belt, which have been more or 
less completely isolated by the erosion of eastward-flowing 
streams. The most important are the Brushy, South, and Saluda 
Mountains. 
The Unaka Range.-— The Unaka Range may be divided intoa 
northern and a southern division. The northern division unites 
in the region of Grandfather Mountain with the Blue Ridge. 
From this point due west sixty miles (g6*™), an irregular moun- 
tain mass extends to Paint Rock on the French Broad River. 
Compared with the Blue Ridge, the Unaka Range reaches a 
considerably greater average altitude, and contains most of the 
higher peaks in the southern Appalachians. Not only are these 
mountains higher, but their slopes are steeper, and their outlines 
more angular and rugged. The Unakas are equally steep on 
both sides, and slopes with a descent from crest to stream of 
4,000" (1,220™) are not uncommon. Many spurs leave the cen- 
tral chain, and between them are deep V-shaped ravines. 
Central mountain groups and valleys—From a commanding 
position somewhere on the Unaka Range, there may be seen 
stretching to the east and south a confused aggregation of peaks, 
ridges, and domes. The cultivated valleys are generally hidden 
from view, and, except for an occasional clearing and the grassy 
‘‘balds” on a few of the higher domes, the whole region appears 
to be covered with a forest mantle. The interior mountains rise 
to considerable elevations. A very large number of summits 
reach altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000" (1,220-1,525™), and a 
few culminate above 6,000 (1,825™). The Black Mountains 
contain the highest peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, and 
from Roan Mountain they appear asa huge elongated range, 
broken into elevated domes, while the range culminates in Mount 
Mitchell, 6,711* (2,045™), the highest point east of the Missis- 
sippiand 425 (130™) higher than Mount Washington. Between 
these groups, and forming a sort of platform above which 
they arise, are many broad valleys, commonest toward the head 
of the streams. Only the smaller streams are flowing at the 
level of these valleys. Down-stream toward the northwest the 
broad valleys are found to be more and more deeply cut, until 
