The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26

commonest plants, and amounting in The
aggregate, to 535 Species is another poin
of interest, since, after due allowance ha:
| been made for mistakes in naming them
| it remains clear on the one hand thai
their researches must have been compared
with our recent ones. very superficial, and
on the other, that, not to speak of fresi
! introductions, many plants now common
| must have then been very rare; otherwise
| they would have proven too obtrusiye tC
! be thus overlooked"
The places around Washington Of great
est interest to plant lovers and botanists
are as follows: The Rock Creek region
the regions of the Upper and Lower Po-
tomac, the Terra Gotta region in the vi
cinity of the commencement of the Bla-
densburg Road. the Reform School region
a couple of miles out upon that road, and
| the Holmead Swamp region.
, Rock Creek valley, especially, Is finely
wooded for some distance back from the
! cr' elk, and thus affords a rich field for
/ botanical research. This region may be
/ divided into six sections. the first embrace
! ing the series OF groves between George
| town and Woodley Park, including severa.
ravines. Many plants are found here that
are rare elsewhere, as the Chamaelirium
( Carolinianum or blazing star the large
| yellow lady's slipper, the DANES violet,
tho twangblade, an orchidaceous plant.
There is here also a grove of Aralia spi-
nosa or angelica tree. On the left bank
of the creek upon Kalorama Heights, are
found some extremely rare and interest
ing specimens. Several fine varieties are
to be found in Woodley Park, including
the pennywort and the goatsbeard. At
IL head of one of the ravines above this
IS magnolia swamp, where may be found
the following plants: American white hei-
lehnrp n al n I'm -rfp
extremely violent poison; the so-called
skunk cabbage. named from its odor; the
Gonolobus obliquus, n twining plant with
a groenish flower, and beautiful blue
water flower
Near Pierce's Mill may be found the
Aralia spinosa, the Northern prickly ash
or toothache tree: the sugar maple. the
white pine. and the shagbark hickory
Below the mill is found the white poplar
and silver maple.
From Broad Branch to the Military
Road is the fifth and perhaps the most
interesting section of the Rock Creek re-
gion. Here are found the forked chick
weed. or adder's tongue; the Perlla
ocimoides. which appears TO have no Eng
lish equivalent. and the cicone fly orcbis.
On bluff above Blagdens Mill grows the
creeping winterGreen. and half 4 mile far
ther UP stand few of the table mountain
pines. The sixth section of the Rock Creek
region contains no peculiarly distinct
species.
Above Georgetown Is a broad and low
strip Of country. formerly known, a. IN.
Carberry Meadows between the canal ana
the river. about three and one-half miles
long. Among the plants in this region is
the "hindering knotgrass" mentioned by
Shakespeare, so called because Of the once
popular notion that an infusion Of II wouid
stop the growth OF an animal The pen
nyroyal. OF medicinal value, is also found
here.
There are many interesting and beautiful
wild plants and flowers TO be found about
Washington, some of great value as meGi-
cines and others possessing poisonous
properties. the study of which would not
be unworthy the time and attention of
anyone.