251 



On the barrens the glaucous-leaved catbrier, Smilax glauca 

 Walt., clambers over the dwarf sumac, Rhus copallina L., the 

 beach plum, Primus maritima Wang., and the stagger-bush. 

 The stagger-bush, Neopteris mariana (L.) Britton, is a handsome 

 shrub with a reddish stem, coriaceous leaves and rather large 

 snow-white flowers; although the flowering season was past, a 

 few flowers remained. The bayberry family was represented 

 by the very abundant sweet fern, Comptonia peregrina (L.) 

 Coult., and the bayberry, Myrica carolinensis Mill. Many 

 herbaceous plants cover the ground — Cyperus Grayi Torr.; 

 Stenophyllus capillaris (L.) Britton; Juncus scirpoides Lam.;^ 

 Comandra iimbellaia (L.) Nutt. ; the pinkish white coast joint- 

 weed, Poly gonella articulata (L.) Meisn.; the large-flowered sensi- 

 tive-pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata (Mx.) Greene; wild indigo, 

 Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br.; wild ipecac, Tithymalopsis Ipe- 

 cacuanhae (L.) Small, a characteristic plant, the basal leaves 

 forming rosettes in the clear sand and the foliage often tinged 

 with purple; dense tufts of beach heather, Hudsonia tomentosa 

 Nutt.; Lechea Leggettii Britton & Hollick; Viola fimbriatula, 

 J. E. Sm.; the prickly pear, Opuntia opuntia (L.) Coult.; As- 

 clepias amplexicaulis J. E. Smith; the butterfly-weed, Asclepias- 

 tuherosa L.; the horse mint, Monarda punctata L.; buttonweed^ 

 Diodia teres L.; the "golden-eye," Chrysopsis mariana (L.) Nutt.- 

 with large yellow flowers; Aster patens Ait.; Eupatorium rotundi- 

 folium L.; Solidago odora Ait., the most abundant goldenrod;- 

 and gall-of-the-earth, Nahalus serpentarius (Pursh) Hook. One 

 was obliged to pick his way carefully through this undergrowth 

 and steer clear of the tick-trefoils, Meibomia canadensis (L.) 

 Kuntze; Meibomia marylandica (L.) Kuntze; Meibomia panicu- 

 lata (L.) Kuntze and Meibomia rigida (Ell.) Kuntze. A search 

 was made for a small persimmon tree, Diospyros virginiana L.,. 

 but it was not found ; later in the day one was seen near Kreischer- 

 ville, shedding its brownish leaves. Along a small stream 

 flowing through the barrens, the narrow-leaved chain-fern, 

 Lorinseria areolata (L.) Presl., grew in company with the common 

 cinnamon fern. C)ne might easily pass the chain-fern over, 

 calling it the sensitive fern, if the fertile fronds were not seen. 



