52 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
a Species of Senecio allied to our golden- ragwort or squaw-weed, 
forms almost the entire noticeable flora in the vicinity of Ne^v Or- 
leans. This may sound strange to many until it is known that 
tlje city is surrounded on all sides by the gloomiest of cypress 
swamps. To reach the nearest lands supporting the true southern 
flora, one must travel at least thirty miles. Only in "the piney 
woods," as the expression is, can one find flowers worth the gath- 
ering at this season. 
In every locality there are certain species, which, by their beauty 
or fragrance, or abundance, attract more than ordinary attention, 
and stand as a series of floral milestones to mark the progress of 
the passing year. The arbutus, rhododendron, water-lily, golden- 
rc-d, and the witch-hazel at once come to mind in this connection. 
The first of such species in the piney woods is the yellow pitcher 
plant (Sarracenia flava) which at Easter-tide is at the height of 
its season. Unlike our northern plant (.S'. purpurea) it does not 
seek the seclusion of sphagnum bogs, but grows almost anywhere, 
if the soil is wet. The great yellow flowers are exact duplicates 
of those of the northern species, in shape, and measure four or five 
inches across. They do not easily wilt and are frequently gath- 
ered for bouquets. The cylindrical leaves, broadest at the apex, 
are often a foot long and stand nearly erect. From their shape 
they are frequently called ''trumpets," and I find various musical 
notes can be produced from them by blowing in the right way. I 
have also heard them called "Indian pipes." 
Scarcely less noticeable are the flowers of the butter-wort, but- 
ter-cup or bog violet (Pinguicula lutea) which flourishes in any 
moist spot. These bell-shapedi blossoms of clear lemon-yellow 
are singularly handsome, but picking them is not an agreeable 
occupation, crwing to the fact that the scapes are covered with the 
same slimy exudation that is found on the leaves. It gives one a 
creepy feeling to grasp a plant whose digestive juices are on the 
outside. It seems to prey upon much smaller game than does the 
pitcher plant or sundew. Only tiny gnats were found in the im- 
promptu stomachs which the plant forms by curling over the edges 
of its leaves. 
