Thi Adirondack Region of New York. 107 



burst elastically, after the manner of the pods of the Touch-me-not, 

 and throw the seeds to a considerable distance. 



The Dwarf Dogwood, Cornus Canadensis, sometimes also called 

 Bunchberry and Sugarberry, is another plant that is wvy abundant 

 throughout this region. It occurs both on the mountains and in 

 the valley, in the woods and in open places. Ad though our other 

 species oi' Cornus are shrubs or small tree-, this one is herbaceous 

 and is usually about lour inches high. The leaves are somewhat 

 clustered near the upper part of the stem which bears at its sum- 

 mit a cluster of small flowers surrounded by four white petal-like 

 bracts in such a way as to resemble a single rather large white 

 flower. The berries arc densely clustered, and when ripe are bright 

 red or scarlet and by some are deemed edible. 



Another very common plant, and one characteristic of the whole 

 mountain region, is the Northern Clintonia, Glintonia boreaUs. 

 The stem is not conspicuous, the tuft of two to five smooth, glossy 

 parallel-veined leaves, appearing to rise directly from the ground. 

 From the center of this tuft a flower-stalk rises to the height of six 

 or eight inches, upon the summit of which are three or more some- 

 what bell-shaped, nodding, six-parted, greenish-yellow flowers. The 

 berries, when ripe, are of a deep blue color. The tourist who visits 

 the mountains in July or early in August, may see in this plant a 

 beautiful illustration of the effect of altitude in retarding vegeta- 

 tion. On the same day he may see it at the base of the mountain 

 bearing ripe fruit, half way up the mountain bearing green fruit, 

 while on the top of the mountain it will yet be in flower. 



The Mountain Goldenrod, Solidago thyrsoidea, is very character- 

 istic of the mountain flora. What the Wood Sorrel, the Dwarf 

 Dogwood and the Northern Clintonia are to the whole mountain 

 region, this Goldenrod is to the summits of the higher mountains. 

 There is probably no peak of the Adirondacks which attains an 

 altitude of 4,000 feet on which this Goldenrod does not occur. Tt 

 is not limited to the open summits, but springs up everywhere 

 among the small scattered balsams of these high elevations. In 

 ascending the high mountains we arc Bure to be notified of our near 

 approach to the summit by the appearance of this plant, which 

 half sheltered and half-exposed among the balsams, is sure to attract 

 our attention by its numerous golden-yellow flowers and its tall 

 wanddike stem. It is generally two or three feet high, and bears 

 its flowers along the upper part of the stem. There are a tew in 

 the axil of each of the upper leaves. They are supported on short 



