170 



rootstocks were used as food by the Indians. One of the early- 

 flowering plants was a bloodroot, segregated by Professor Greene 

 from its northern ally as Sanguinaria anstralis. Hexastylis 

 arifolia was rather common on sandy slopes. The close-creep- 

 ing Ridnis trivialis grows everywhere along the roadsides, with 

 its handsome large flowers scarcely elevated above the low grass. 

 Two strikingly different Houstonias occur, H. niiitor, which 

 closely resembles H. caendca, and H. roticudifolia, which has the 

 habit of Veronica officinalis. Thyrsantlienia seniifloscida^'e {^Chap- 

 talia tomentosa) was of peculiar interest to the speaker on account 

 of its resemblance to related species which he had collected in 

 tropical America. Pingiiicida Intea is common on partly shaded 

 wet sand. In similar, though drier places, grew the yellow- 

 flowered Chrysogonnni virginiamiin. 



The second group of plants discussed included those inhabit- 

 ing low sandy grounds which are perhaps technically swamps, 

 though usually dry. The most interesting of these plants is the 

 at length climbing and extremely variable Viorna crispa^ with its 

 beautiful nearly white or light blue somewhat fragrant flowers. 

 Several handsome shrubs are found in this association and also 

 an Oxalis, which is apparently 0. Martiana. 



The aquatic and semi-aquatic plants observed included, in 

 part, Rannncidiis Idspidns, Senecio lobatiis, Caditriche heterophyUay 

 Cardarnine penusylvanica, and Sarracenia flava. The last is 

 abundant in open grassy swamps and gives them a yellow hue 

 when in full bloom. 



The shrubs and trees of the region included Mains coronaria^ 

 always growing singly in swamps, AvielaiicJder Botryapium, 

 Aronia arbntifolia^ Ilex glabra, Ilex decidua, and a great abun- 

 dance of Myrica cerifera of very large size. Vibnrmun obo-fatnni,. 

 often seen near streams, is known locally as the " possum haw." 

 Viburnnm cassinoides and Azalea canescens were also observed. 

 Syniplocos tinctoria is very different in habit from the tropical 

 representatives of the genus. A very handsome juniper, of low, 

 broad, cypress-like habit, is perhapsy//;«/rr//j- barbadensis. Doubt- 

 less the two most elegant shrubs of the swamps were LencotJioe 

 axillaris and Pieris nitida, both of which grow in dense clumps,. 



