THE SUMMIT FLORA OF KING'S MOUNTAIN AND 

 CROWDER'S MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 



By John K. Small 



A few miles north of the southern boundary of North Caro- 

 lina and many miles east of the Appalachian Mountain system, 

 is an irregular ridge with a northeasterly and southwesterly trend. 

 From most adjacent points this ridge is not conspicuous ; in fact, 

 it might be passed unobserved were it not for the two peaks which 

 rise abruptly near its northeastern extremity. These peaks are 

 known as King's Mountain and Crowder's Mountain. 



The geology of the region in question is quite similar to that 

 of the nearest portion of the Blue Ridge, while neither peak 

 reaches an altitude of quite 1,800 feet. The top of King's 

 Mountain is a little higher above the level of the sea than that of 

 Crowder's Mountain. 



I have visited this locality several times and have found inter- 

 esting, rare and undescribed species ; but it is the character of 

 the vegetation inhabiting the summits that especially impresses 

 one. 



The summits of both mountains are small and very rugged ; 

 that of Crowder's is somewhat larger and less rugged than that 

 of King's Mountain. On ascending the slopes of either mountain 

 two striking features arrest the eye. They are the prevalence of 

 a very local species which has taken the name of one of the moun- 

 tains, namely Lacinaria Regimontis, and of the relatively rare 

 fern, Asplenium Bradleyi. The main peculiarity in connection 

 with this fern there, is that it does not confine itself to its 

 favorite habitat, namely, overhanging cliffs ; but it is, or it was 

 up to the time I last visited the locality, very common and grew 

 nearly everywhere, on cliffs, on ledges, on and about boulders 

 and in loose soil. 



The vegetation of the summits is almost exclusively of woody 

 plants, and shrubby. The shrubby condition of normally large 

 forest trees presents an extraordinary and interesting aspect. 

 The chestnut tree, Castanea dentata, ranges from three to six 



