182 APPENDIX — FLORA OP NOVA SCOTIA. 



American continent in so much that our provincial flora presents as 

 it were an epitome of the subarctic species found in the south and 

 west. 



The presence of common heather in our flora is interesting from 

 affording an additional link to the chain of evidence which is 

 indicative of relationship with the flora of northern Europe. It has 

 been affirmed that true heath, calluna vulgaris, is not indigenous to 

 America. Prof. Asa Gray, who is universally regarded as an 

 authority, entertains a contrary opinion, and Prof. George LaWson 

 in a former vol. of the Society^ Transactions has afforded sufficient 

 evidence of its existence in Cape Breton and Newfoundland, to 

 strengthen the foundations of this opinion. Later still a new locality 

 has been found in the vicinity of Halifax. Taking these with its 

 existence in New England, where it was first discovered, we 

 have sufficient grounds for claiming it as a native species. 



The argument against its nativity, and in favor of its being 

 introduced is founded upon its sparcity, but it may be said of this 

 as of other rare species, — they are the remnants of more extensive 

 communities, which, owing to unfavorable conditions have been 

 caused to disappear, so that their present localities may be regarded 

 as their final strongholds in our continent. 



That the circumstance of rare occurrence does not always militate 

 against the spontaneity of a species, is exemplified in our list by 

 the presence of the Rhododendron Maximum, whose northern limit 

 was confined to the New England States ; yet one locality here has 

 lately yielded specimens 'of this plant, which up to the present 

 time, has been discovered no where else in the Province. Amongst 

 our ferns also we find, asplenium, trichomanes, woodsia ilvensis, 

 and aspidium, fragrans, rare, and confined to few localities, yet we 

 doubt not of their being indigenous. 



We need but make mention of the operations of the agricul- 

 turist and lumberman in a country like ours, to have them 

 recognized as effective causes, ever tending to change the character 

 of our flora by producing the elimination of native, and affording 

 favorable condition for the naturalization of foreign species. If we 

 add to these influences the destructive fires which ravish our woodland 

 annually, we find in them sufficient reasons for the supposition that 

 species found, rare, and in sequestered places, are more probably 

 native forms seeking refuge from extinction, than immigrants 

 seeking establishment on a new soil. 



'Tis true some introduced plants possess remarkable powers of 

 spreading, and will sometimes be found in places very remote from 



