IT 62, 763] VEGETATION OF LONG-LEAF PINE REGION. 349 



patches of this character, which vary from a few acres to several 

 sections in extent, that in the Long-leaf Pine Region, we find 

 settlements of any extent in the uplands. Where the Long-leaf 

 Pine alone prevails, the soil is generally so poor, that cultivation 

 is altogether confined to the hillsides and bottoms. 



762. The latter are generally very narrow (those of Leaf River, 

 Okatoma and Okahay, in S. Smith for instance, rarely exceeding 

 | of a mile) ; on the larger streams, as on Pearl (1653, ff.), Leaf 

 and Pascagoula (1806, ff.) Rivers, they are often skirted by hom- 

 mocks of equal or greater width, inferior in fertility to the first 

 bottom, but still in general superior to the Long-leaf Pine uplands. 

 The soils both of the bottoms and hommocks are, of course, very 

 light in general, the only exceptions known to me being the first 

 bottoms of Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers, within the Sea-Coast 

 Region (1780 ; 809). The bottoms are productive, notwithstand- 

 ing the great sandiness of their soil, because of the great depth to 

 which the roots of plants can penetrate in the loose material ; and 

 the bottom soils of the streams which, like Strong River, the Okahay, 

 Leaf River, the Tallahalas, etc., head in the Prairie region, are of 

 very superior quality for some distance beyond the line of the 

 formation (see map), being of a chocolate color and very light, 

 and resembling not a little the Homochitto soils (1701, ff.). 



Among their timber, the Beech generally forms a very prominent ingredient ; 

 besides, the Magnolia (M. grandiftora) the Bottom Pine {P. taeda) and Black 

 Gum are rarely wanting, the undergrowth being formed by Witch Hazel, Calico 

 Bush (Kalmia latifolia), Star Anise {lllicium floridanum?) various species of 

 Black Haw ( Viburnum), Bay {Magnolia glauea), Bay Galls (Laurus Caroli- 

 nensis), etc. 



763. The herbaceous vegetation and undergrowth of the Long- 

 leaf Pine Region is hardly less characteristic than the timber. 

 Whenever the regular burning of the woods, such as practiced by 

 the Indians, has not been superseded by the irregular and wasteful 

 practice of the later settlers, the pine forest is almost destitute of 

 shrubby undergrowth, and during the growing season appears like 

 a park, whose long grass is often very beautifully interspersed with 

 brilliantly tinted flowers. 



The prevailing grasses are of the Brown Sedge tribe {Andropogon, Erianthu-s), 

 and next to these the Paniceae (grasses resembling the Millet, Paspalum, 

 Panicum) in numerous species ; Agrostis juncea is highly characteristic ; and 

 so, in the more southerly portion, is the curious "Toothache Grass " (Monocera 

 aromatica). Among the flowers there are conspicuous in Spring : Ceanothus 

 Americanus ("New Jersey Tea"), Tephrosia Virginica (" Devils Shoe-string" 

 — which in S. Mississippi rarely bears perfect flowers). Phlox pilosa, Hedyotis 

 purpurea, Rudbeckia hirta, Coreopsis lanceolata, Silene Virginica, Viola palmata, 

 Delphinium exaltatum{thQ bright blue Larkspur), Penstemon pubescens, and the 

 beautiful Malva Papaver, whose flowers closely resemble those of the red 

 Poppy of the gardens. Somewhat later, two small species of Cassia (C. 

 chamaecrista and nictitans — sometimes called Sensitive Plant), Lobelia glandu- 

 losa, puberula, two species of "St. Andrew's Cross" (Ascyrum crux Andreae, 

 and slans) the white Morning glory (Ipomaea pandurata) and a kiod of wild 

 Lettuce {Hieracium Qronovii ; also Pycnanthemum linifolium, become very 



