Southern Appalachian Distriet. 495 
mountain two striking features arrest the eye. They are the prevalence of a 
very local species which has taken the name of one of the mountains, namely, 
Liatris (Lacinaria) regimontis, and of the relatively rare fern, Asplenium Brad. 
Zeyi. The main peculiarity in connection with this fern there, is that it does 
not confine itself to its favorite habitat, namely, overhanging cliffs; but it is, 
very common on cliffs, on ledges, on and about boulders and in loose soil, 
The vegetation of the summits is almost exclusively of woody plants, 
and the shrubby condition of normally large forest trees presents an extra- 
ordinary and interesting aspect. The chestnut tree, Castanea dentata ranges 
from three to six feet in height, nevertheless these plants produce an abun- 
dance of fruit. Sassafras officinale, Pinus inops, Quercus Prinus, Diospyros 
virginiana and Oxydendrum arboreum all appear in the same form and sta- 
ture. The common sour gum, Nyssa sylvatica, in like condition, exists on 
King's Mountain, and a single shrub of /ler opaca was found on the upper- 
most cliffs of Crowder’s Mountain. 
The normally shrubby plants nr more natural. Vaccinium stamineum, Vaceinium vacillans 
Quercus ilicifolia (= Q. nana) are common to both pe al while er ee Rhodo- 
dendron catawbiense, Gaylussacia Tondon, Gaylussacia resinosa and Vacc arboreum are 
species apparently confined to the top of K ing’s Mountain. Daly two peremmlls. or shrubby 
herbs, namely ax aphylla and Paronychia argyrocoma, exist on the summit of King's Moun- 
tain, while the summit of Crowder’s Mountain is destitute of herbaceous vegetation with the ex- 
ception of a fern and a few sterile plants of some sedge‘). 
The Dwarf Tree—Shrub Formation exists at the top of Grandfather 
Mountain and is absent from the coves and ranges of Mount Mitchell 
and Roan Mountain. The summit of the west peak of Grandfather Moun- 
tain for a limited area is bare and presents an alpine aspect, being clothed 
with lichens, mosses, and dense cushions of Leiophyllum buxifolium (Den- 
drium Association). Several of the plant remind the botanist of the New 
Jersey pine barrens, viz., Gaultheria procumbens, Xerophyllum asphodeloides, 
Pteris aquilina, Kalmia latifola. 
Zygadenus ——._n Geum radiatum, Paronychia argyrocoma, Uvularia puberula, Clintonia 
borealis, Carex aestivalis, Amianthium muscaetoxicum, and Solidago spithamea are found in ex- 
posed places under edaphic conditions) (Geum-Paronychia Association). Abies Fra- 
seri, Picea nigra, Clethra acuminata, Sorbus americana, Leucotho& eh Vaccinium pallidum, 
Vaceinium erythrocarpum accompany the herbs to the mountain summit, so that this summit may 
be said not to be entirely treeless, otherwise the plants on it would be classed as an association 
of the Sub-alpine Treeless Formation 
Subaipine Treeless Formation. This formation is encountered typically on 
Roan Mountain and on other mountain summits in the southern Appala- 
chians that are grassy balds. The “balds” are in the main grassy meadows, 
but the rounded domes show extensive areas covered by the Rhododendron 
catawbiense Association, either pure, or associated with Anus viridis 
1) Smarz, Joun K.: The summit Flora of King’s Mountain and Crowder’s Mountain, North 
Carolina. Torreya I: 7. Jan. 1901. 
