91 



very few years ago, must now also be afiforded protection, such 

 as the cardinal-flower {Lobelia cardinalis), the butterfly-weed 

 {Asclepias tuberosa), the great blue lobelia {Lobelia siphilitica) 

 and the pale spiked lobelia {L. spicata), the golden-club 

 {Orontium aquaticum), the yellow field lily {Lilium canadense) 

 and the wood lily {L. philadelphicum), prince's-pine {Chimaphila 

 iimbellata) and spotted wintergreen {C. maculala), pinxter- 

 flower {Azalea nudiflora), wild columbine {Aquilegia cana- 

 densis), trailing arbutus {Epigaea repens), fringed gentian 

 {Anthopogon crinitum), closed gentian {Dasystephana An- 

 drewsii), rose-pink {Sabbatia angularis), and V^irginia bluebells 

 {Mertensia virginica). Four other species, formerly very abun- 

 dant in the region, are being relentlessly persecuted by unthink- 

 ing persons who yearly destroy hundreds of the plants and thus 

 year by year bring the species nearer to extermination. These 

 species are the trailing Christmas-green {Lycopodiiim flabelli- 

 forme), the bayberry {Cerothamniis carolinensis), the climbing 

 bittersweet {Celastrus scandens), and the flowering-dogwood 

 {Benthamidia florida). 



' In addition to the Obolaria mentioned above, 3 other sapro- 

 phytic phanerogams occur in the area — Hypopitys americana, 

 Monotropa iniiflora, and Thalesia uniflora. The Indian paint- 

 brush {Castilleja coccinea) is still to be found in some localities 

 and 3 species of gerardia {Agalinis) are fairly abundant. The 

 true American ginseng {Panax quinquefolium) still occurs in at 

 least one locality, and another rarity is Ilex bronxensis. The 

 American bladdernut {Staphylea trifolia) occurs in scattered 

 localities, as does also the redbud {Cercis canadensis). All the 

 plants mentioned in this and the preceding paragraph deserve 

 conservation, and, indeed, in many cases urgently need our 

 protection. They are the true "vanishing Americans." 



Plainfield was for some time the headquarters of Ezra 

 Brainerd w^ho was fascinated by the wealth of wild violets in 

 the Watchung area. No less than 2)2) distinct species, varieties, 

 and named hybrids have been recorded from the region, includ- 

 ing the rare Viola Bissellii, V. conturbata, V. columbiana, V. 

 erratica, V. Malteana, V. modica, V. Napae, and V. ravida. The 

 sugar maple {Acer saccharum) and the Canada hemlock {Tsuga 

 americana) both occur native in Wetumpka Notch and on other 

 portions of the First and Second Watchungs; 11 species of tick- 



