57 



The trees here, as in many other exposed places in different 

 parts of the world, are very stunted, none over ten feet tall hav- 

 ing been noticed, and they are mostly so scattered as to afford 

 little shade. The Crataegus and Fagiis together formed little 

 groves or thickets on the northern slope near the summit, and 

 curiously enough, could hardly be told apart at a little distance. 

 The bark of both was smooth and gray, their leaves were of about 

 the same size and color, and the Crataegus (apparently of the 

 coccinea group) had ripe red fruit, about the same size as the in- 

 volucres of the Fag7ts, which were also reddish-tinged. 



The balsam, Abies Fraseri, seemed to be confined to north 

 slopes too. It was not common on Cold Mountain, but consider- 

 able quantities of it were plainly visible on another peak of about 

 the same height a few miles to the southward ; and the Balsam 

 Mountains are said to be covered with it, whence their name. 



The herbs were scarcely stunted at all, doubtless because the 

 larger ones are not evergreen, and thus escape the chilling blasts 

 of winter. On the very highest point was a specimen of Liliwji 

 superbiini about four feet tall, rearing its flowers above all other 

 vegetation on the mountain. 



The proportion of evergreens seems rather small for such an 

 exposed habitat. Vines seem to be entirely absent, which how- 

 ever is not surprising. All but one of the shrubs belong to the 

 Ericaceae. 



About 20 per cent, of the species in the foregoing list are 

 peculiar to the Appalachian region, south of the limits of glaci- 

 ation, and the remainder are pretty widely distributed in the 

 northeastern states. About one-fourth of the widely distributed 

 species also extend as far south as Florida. 



On the mountain slopes and lesser summits, from about 3,300 

 to 5,000 feet above sea-level, the flora is considerably richer, 

 chiefly because this habitat is the most widespread and variable 

 one in the region under consideration. The following species 

 were noted in such situations in Haywood County or within a 

 mile of its borders between the middle of July and the middle of 

 August : 



