484 Part IV. Chapter 2. 
lia acuminata, Aesculus flava. The characteristic trees which are to be found 
on the northern slopes and hollows are: Tsuga canadensis, Rhododendron 
maximum, Betula lenta, B. lutea. On the southern slopes and along the 
gravelly crests of the hills the growth is less varied being largely composed 
of Castanca dentata, Ouercus alba, Q. rubra, O. tinctoria (= O. velutina) 
and ©. Prinus. The forest on the southern slope is less dense than on northern 
and the trees are smaller. 
We will consider this formation as it occurs in different parts of the southern 
Appalachian Mountains. 
The gorge at the Natural Bridge of Virginia is that of Cedar Creek?). In general, the 
sunlight has full influence on the vegetation of the north bank, while the south bank is so steep 
side of Cedar Creek consist of tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera; sugar maple, Acer saccharum; 
hemlock, Tsuga canadensis; walnut, Juglans nigra; Hicoria sp.; the beech, Fagus americana, scarlet 
5 ercus Coccinea; red elm, Ulmus fulva; ash, Fraxinus sp.; chestnut oak, Quercus Prinus; 
arbor vitae, Thuja oceidentalis; red oak, Quercus rubra; linden, Tilia americana. 
trees, somewhat tolerant of the shade, are found red mulberry, Morus rubra; witch hazel, Hama- 
melis virginiana; Judas tree, Cereis canadensis; sassafras, Sassafras officinale. Forming a third 
and lower stratum of vegetation, the writer noted the dockmackie, Viburnum acerifolium, Vibur- 
num pubescens, and Sassafräs. Near the bridge and extending up stream on the south side for 
a distance of a hundred yards is a tumbled mass of limestone rocks, which the writer believes 
may be looked upon as part of the fallen-in roof of the cavern which geologists tell us existed 
here. Among these rocks, which are moss grown and lichen-covered, the following herbs live 
in the shade of the dominant forest trees: yellow puccoon, Hydrastis canadensis; wood nettle, 
Laportea canadensis; wild ginger, Asarum virginicum; Indian turnip, Arisaema triphyllum; walkin 
fern, Camptosorus rhizophyllus; Christmas fern, Polystichum (Aspidium) acrostichoides; may apple, 
Podophylium peltatum (not abundant); blood root, Sanguinaria canadensis; Viola scabriuscula; 
Viola canadensis, and Euphorbia commutata, 9 funguses grow on the rotten logs here, viz., 
Peziza coccinea and Coprinus comatus, The summit of the south hill along the flatter levels above 
supports the white pine, Pinus Strobus, which is scattered throughout the deciduous forest on 
this side of the canyon. The sycamore, Platanus occidentalis; the white pine, Pinus Strobus; the 
butternut, Juglans cinerea; the water beech, Carpinus caroliniana are trees found along and on 
oth sides of the stream. 
The dominant trees of the north or sunny bank are the swamp white oak, Quercus bi- 
color (= Q. platanoides); the tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera; the hemlock, Tsuga canadensis; 
the sugar maple, Acer saecharum ; the black walnut, Juglans nigra; the beech, F americana 
(=F. ferruginea); the hackberry, Celtis oceidentalis; the chestnut oak, Quercus Prinus, and the 
arbor vitae, Thuja occidentalis (nearly three feet in diameter). 
The trees of the slopes of White Top Mountain are Acer saccharum 
(in groves), Acer rubrum, JFuglans nigra, Castanea dentata, Liriodendron 
Zulipifera, Ouercus Prinus, Q. alba, ©. rubra, Fraxinus americana, Tilia hetero- 
Dhylla, T. americana, Fagus amerticana, Magnolia Fraseri, M. acuminata with 
Clethra acuminata, Oxydendrum arboreum, Rhododendrum calendulaceum, on 
boulders Ruöus Millspaughii. In the deep woods on the slopes of White 
I) HARSHBERGER, J. W.: The Forest at the Natural Bridge of Virginia. Forest Leaves IX 
42—44. June 1903. 
