Niagara Falls 



1887 The flora of Goat Island presents few plants which may be 



y called uncommon in Western New York. For the rarer plants, 



included in the Catalogue, other localities must be visited. But 

 it is still true that Goat Island is very rich in the number of its 

 species. Probably no tract of land in its vicinity, so restricted in 

 area, can be found, exhibiting so large a number. Its vernal 

 beauty is attributable, not merely to its variety of plants, con- 

 spicuous in flower, but also to the extraordinary abundance in 

 which they are produced. Yet it seems likely that there was a 

 time, probably not long ago, when other species of plants, of 

 great beauty, were common upon the island, but which are not 

 now to be found there. It is hardly possible that several orchida- 

 ceous plants and our three native lilies did not once embellish its 

 woods and grassy places. Within a little while the Harebell 

 (Campanula rotundifolia, L.), has gone and the Grass of 

 Parnassus (Parnassla Caroliniana, L.), is fast going. This is 

 undoubtedly due to careless flower-gatherers, who have plucked 

 and pulled without stint or reason. The same fate awaits the 

 Sanguinaria, the Diclytras and the Trilliums, which do so much 

 to beautify the island, unless the wholesale spoliation is soon 

 arrested. 



• • * • • 



Thus, it may be mentioned that in the wooded grounds adjoin- 

 ing De Vaux College and belonging to that institution, there 

 may be found Rhus aromatica, Ait., Liatris cylindracea, Michx., 

 Aster ptarmicoides, T. and G., Asclepias quadrifolia, Jacq., 

 and Morus rubra, L. Among its rocks, perhaps there may still 

 be found a specimen of Pellaea alropurpurea, Link., Camp- 

 tosorus rhyzophyllus, Link., and Asplenium Trichomanes, L. 

 The Devil's Hole, now almost inaccessible, was once a paradise 

 of ferns — Phegopteris Dryopteris, Fee, being its chief rarity. 

 The plateau of rock, which overlooks the ravine, produces 

 Arabis hirsuta, Scop., and Selaginella ruprestis, Spreng., else- 

 where in this region quite uncommon. Between the " Moun- 

 tain " and Lewiston, the explorer will find Rannunculus multi- 



476 



