SCIENCE. 



38i 



A similar tract of soil and timber occurs in the upper 

 end of the Peninsula, north of a line drawn from Thun- 

 der Bay west to the head of Grand Traverse Bay. This 

 is commonly known as the "Traverse Region," and has 

 a flora much like that we have just described, with the 

 exception that some of the southern species disappear, 

 and northern ones begin to take their place, or if found 

 growing further south, here first become frequent. 



The littoral flora of Little Traverse Bay is rich in in- 

 teresting species, among which may be mentioned a small 

 form ot Cakilc Atnericana, Lathyrus marilimus, Poten- 

 titla Anserina, Tanacetttm Huroncnse, Artemisia 

 Canadensis, Cnicus Pitcheri, Juncus Balticus, Triti- 

 cutn violaccum, T. dasycarputn, a peculiar form of 

 Bromus ciliatus, Calamagrostis longifoha, C. arenaria, 

 and Equisetian variegatum. The flora of the low dunes 

 at the head of the Bay comprises, among others, the fol- 

 lowing species : Jnniperus Sabina, var. procumbens, 

 Prunus pumila and Cornits stolonifera, half buried in 

 the drifting sand, Hypericum Kalmianum, Salix glauco- 

 phyila, and varieties, Liliwn Philadelphicum, etc. In 

 a moist depression were found Arabis lyrata. Coreopsis 

 lanceolata, Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Primula farinosa, 

 Lithospcrmum hirtum, Triglochin mariiimum, var. 

 eltazim, Carex aurea, C. CEderi, etc., etc. In thickets 

 near the shore were found Abies bahamea, Picea alba, 

 Skeperdia Canadensis, and Rubus Nutkanus. Deep 

 forests of hemlock and yellow birch {B. luted) mixed with 

 a fine, tall growth of striped maple {A. Pennsylvanicuni) 

 are frequent, having underneath a tangled growth of 

 Taxus baccata, var. Canadensis, and under all a carpet of 

 Lycopodium annolinum. Alternating with these are 

 sandy plains covered with a dense growth of Vacciniums, 

 yielding a great abundance of fruit. Sugar maples and 

 basswood are also abundant in this region, and reach an 

 immense size. In fact, finer groves of maple it would be 

 difficult to find in any part of the State. 



The pine country proper lies between the two tracts 

 we have thus described, and embraces about 15,000 

 square miles. It is composed largely of sand hills and 

 plains, either scantily furnished with vegetation, or 

 densely covered with pine forest. Argillaceous tracts 

 wooded with beech and maple also occur, like oases in 

 a desert ; and swamps abound, with the usual lowland 

 timber. Forests of hemlock spruce are frequent, and 

 there are occasional ridges of oak. Birch (B. luted) also 

 begins to be a common forest tree, and attains a large 

 size. The usual timber of the barrens is Jack Pine (P. 

 Banksiand). Climatic and other influences have com- 

 bined to pn duce groves composed entirely of this species 

 of large size and of great beauty, for, instead of being " a 

 straggling shrub, or low tree " (Gray), it rises, often 

 50-60 feet, straight and symmetrical. All through this 

 region Pinus strobus is the prevailing species and fur- 

 nishes most of the lumber, but P. resinosa is frequent as 

 far south as Clare county, and occurs sparingly in the 

 northern part of Isabella county, which appears to be its 

 southern limit. 



Such is the general character of the sylva down to 

 about latitude 43°, but in the western part of the State, 

 owing perhaps to moister climate, or to favorable soil, 

 hemlock spruce is more abundant, and reaches much 

 farther south, nearly or quite to the Indiana line, and the 

 same is true of white pine. 



Portions of the counties of Clare, Missaukee and Ros- 

 common represent an undulating plateau, which is 700- 

 800 feet above f he level of the great lakes, and has an in- 

 teresting flora, as yet little studied. This region was ex- 

 amined in June, 1876, and revealed a number of northern 

 plants. In the southern part ot Clare county were found 

 Ledum latifolium, Kalmia glauca, Physalis grandi- 

 flora (not before found south of the Upper Peninsula), 

 Corydalis glauca, and Geranium Carolinianum — the 

 two latter species growing luxuriantly in the deep woods, 

 after fires. In the shade of the Jack Pines grew Prunus 



pumila, Pottntilla tridentata (not before observed in 

 Lower Peninsula), Krigia Virginica, Arctostaphylos 

 Uva-ursi, Lin aria Canadensis, Kceleria cristata, Carex 

 Houghtonii, etc., etc. Near Houghton Lake were found 

 Adlumia cirrhosa. Kibes lacustrc, Dracoccphalum par- 

 viflorum, Streptopus roseus, and S, amplexifolius ; and 

 in Muskegon river, near its source, Potamogeton lucens. 

 Pinus resinosa was noticed frequency, growing with 

 common pine, and near the center ot Clare county it be- 

 came more abundant, forming groups. Single individuals 

 stretch upwards 150-160 feet, their clean, copper-colored 

 boles often rising 100 feet to the first limbs. 



The flora of the deep pine woods is interesting, though 

 rather monotonous. Very little undergrowth is found, 

 and their gleomy recesses nourish only such plants as 

 love thick shade. Here the club-mosses (Lycopodiums) 

 find a congenial home, and flourish luxuriantly, while 

 Clintonia borealis covers the ground. The great round- 

 leaved orchid (Habenaria orbiculata), with its tall, 

 greenish spike and twin leaves close to the earth, is also 

 frequent and striking. We shall also meet Mitchella 

 repens, Smilacina bifolia, Trillium grandiflorum, per- 

 haps, and a few ferns, particularly Asplenium Filix- 

 fojmina, and Phegopteris Dryopteris. Other species 

 occur, of course, but not so abundantly. In more open 

 places, and on ridges, we meet Rhus aromatica and 

 Comptonia along with wintergreen (Gaultherid) and 

 trailing arbutus (Epigea), and are often fortunate enough 

 to find the wax-white, fragrant flower of Moneses uni- 

 flora or Polygala faucifolia, hiding its shining leaves 

 under a wealth of showy pink blossoms. 



The floral treasures of the pine region lie, however, in 

 its swamps and lake borders rather than in the deep 

 woods. Therein grows Linnea borealis \n all its delicate 

 beauty, carpeting the ground, and close at hand, the odd, 

 brown-purple flower of Cypripedhon acaule and the small 

 yellow blossom of its water-loving relative C. parviflo- 

 rum. In such swamps, or within a stone's throw of 

 them, may be found many other plants of equal interest, 

 such as Medeola Virginica, Ledum latifolium, Andro- 

 meda polifolia, Kalmza glauca, Loniccra oblongifolia, 

 Cardamine pralensis, Gerardia aspera, Mitclla nuda, 

 Erzophorum vaginatum, etc. On lake margins we shall 

 find Lysimachia and the blue Pontederia and more rarely, 

 Nescea and Eleocharis quadrangulata. The lake itself, 

 most likely, will be full of Nymphwa, Nuphar. Utricu- 

 larius, and a world of Potamagetons and similar water 

 weeds. Shrubby Vacciniitms line the bluffs, and here 

 and there gleam the white trunks of paper birches 

 against the dark background of pines. 



In the thick-pine country, where the lumberman's axe 

 has let in the sunlight, new plants spring up freely. 

 Here, Prunus Pennsylvanica and poplars are frequent, 

 and the blackberry is omnipresent. Aralia hispida and 

 Physalis pubescens are also peculiar to such land, and 

 in August Gnaphalium decurrens may be seen white- 

 ning thousand of acres. 



One seldom beholds a drearier sight than a dead and 

 deserted lumber region. The valuable trees were all 

 felled years ago, and the lumberman moved on to fresh 

 spoils, leaving behind an inextricably confused mass of 

 tree tops, broken logs, and uprooted trunks. Blackberry 

 canes spring up everywhere, forming a tangled thicket, 

 and a few scattering poplars, birches, and cherries serve 

 for arboreal life, above which tower the dead pines, 

 bleached in the weather and blackened by fire, destitute 

 of limbs, and looking at a distance not unlike the masts 

 of some great harbor. Thousands of such acres, repel- 

 lant alike to botanist and settler, can be seen in any of 

 our northern counties. 



In certain districts considerable beech is found asso- 

 ciated with the pine. The soil of such tracts is usually 

 of better quality, and can be rendered productive without 

 much labor. It may be noticed that in such cases the 

 pine also grows thriftier and makes better lumber, 



