24 Tennesske Flora. • 



of this line (Kashville and Decatur Eailroad). The scrub pine is 

 the only species I ever observed in Middle Tennessee. -I found it 

 sparingly and confined to a limited belt in the hills around the 

 confluence of the Harpeth and Tumbull Rivers, in Dickson County. 

 Shrubs which are especially addicted to the Oak Barrens are the 

 large-flowering hydrangea {Hydrangea, radiata,, at the Cataract, in 

 Tullahoma), Itea, with small white flowers in drooping racemes; 

 calycanthus, or Carolina allspice; service berry {Amelanchier Can- 

 adensis), the narrow-leaved crabapple {Pyrus angustifolia) , hazel- 

 nut {Gorylus Americana), and in wet lands the button bush {Ceph- 

 alanthus occidentalis) , chockberry (Pyrus arbutifolia), arrow- 

 wood (Vihurnum nudum) ,Sovithe-ni buckthorn {Bnmelia lycioides), 

 smooth alder (Alnus serrulata) , dwa.Ti gray willow (Salix tristis). 

 The moist woodlands and swamps abound in showy orchids, lilia- 

 ceae, and aquatic plants. Three species of. flags (7m versicolor. 

 Iris Virginica, Iris cristata), Turk's cap lily {Lilium superhum), 

 blackberry lily (Pardanthus chinensis), Zygadenus limanthoides, 

 narrow-leaved false hellebore (Stenanthium angustifalium) , fly 

 poison (A.mianthium muscaetoxicum) . Several species of or- 

 . chids: Habenaria, Pogonia, Corallorrhiza, Calopogon, and Cypri- 

 pedium; various Sabbathias, a host of Pycnanthemums, Asters, 

 Oerardias, Helianthus, button snake roots (Liatris squarrosa, Lia- 

 tris (praminifolia) , and some very elegant grasses, the woolly beard- 

 gross {Erianthus atopecuriodes, Eriamthus Irevibarbis, and Erian- 

 ihus strictus), Indian grass {Sorghum nutans), wood reedgrass 

 (Ginna arundinacea) . Among ferns we find a stately growth of 

 Osmundas, especially the Osmunda regalis and Claytoniana, attain- 

 ing three to five feet; the chain fern {Woodwardia angustifolia), 

 Aspidium QotAieanum, also becoming sometimes four feet high; 

 ■sensitive fern {Onoclea sensibilis). Rushes, sages, and grasses pre- 

 sent themselves in interminable succession to the well-trained bota- 

 nist who understands how to distinguish them. 



WEST TENNESSEE. 



The Tennessee River very - nearly indicates in its northern 

 ■course a geological division, . flowing, as it does, along an ancient 

 Devonian and Silurian shore line. A few miles west and parallel 

 with the river rises the eastern escarpment of an undulating plateau 

 of from only 200 to 300 feet elevation above the waters of the Ten- 

 nessee River. This irregular table-land slopes gradually toward 



