15 



1910, the flowers in bloom around this tree were Yernonia gram- 

 inifolia, Liatris pauciflora^ Chrysopsis graminifolia, Dasystoma 

 pedicularia (fly poison) and Ascyrum hypericoides. 



In the most barren knolls of the hills, where the sand is purest, 

 about the only trees that can stand the conditions are the long- 

 leaf pine and the turkey oak. And there is no shrub that can 

 be said to be tolerant of such places. But where the slightest 

 advantage in moisture is to be had the trees already men- 

 tioned can establish themselves, and a number of shrubs become 

 characteristic components of the cover. Horse sugar (Symplocus 

 tinctoria), stagger-bush (Lyonia mariana), sumach {Rhus copa- 

 iina), and the summer grape (Vitis aestivalis) are frequent. The 

 Carolina holly (ilex caroliniana), a small shrub with large deep 

 red, shiny berries, is also a member of this community, but it is 

 rare, in fact one of the rarest Hartsville shrubs. It will grow in 

 much damper soil, as for example in front of the Upper Farm 

 Place on Home Avenue. 



Bear grass (Yucca filamentosa) and rattlesnake master (Eryn- 

 gium aquaticum) require slightly damper soil than the pre- 

 ceding group. They are usually to be found near the foot of 

 slopes that descend to water courses and bays. But I have found 

 the rattlesnake master in very dry places at times, and also in 

 almost saturated soil. Another little shrub that can endure 

 almost the extremes of both drought and moisture is the dwarf 

 black huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa). This plant can flourish 

 under a remarkable range of conditions. It is as much at home 

 on the damp edges of savannas, associated with Lycopodium 

 adpressum and L. carolinianum as it is in the sand hills in com- 

 pany with the scrub oaks. This is also true of that pretty little 

 pink flower Sabatia brachiata. Next to the pines and oaks there is 

 nothing so at home in the sand hills as the wire grass (Aristida 

 stricta). Its grayish-green, terete, wiry, recurved leaves form 

 large tussocks thinly scattered in the sand. Frequently there is 

 so little other growth that the pure white sand may be seen from 

 a long distance shining under the trees. 



The sand hills are not without their share of attractive flowers; 

 in fact, with the exception of the savannas they are the most 

 colorfull of the floristic regions of our section. In early spring 

 all except the most barren places support a good display of 

 violets and bluets (Houstonia caerulea), shoe-strings (Cracca 

 virginiana), and the dainty little dwarf flag (Iris verna). 

 Arbutus (Epigaea repens) is also very frequent here, and lovely 



