Note 121 — {87} CHAPTER V
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Above Cote Sans Dessein, we saw frequently the Juglans nigra, and J. pubescens, called white hickory; also a species of Cratægus, which, though sometimes seen in Pennsylvania, appears to be hitherto undescribed. Its fruit is large, yellow when ripe, and of an agreeable flavour. On the evening of the 11th we anchored opposite a steep bank, which I was assisted to climb; but night came on, and put an end to our herbarizations before I had the opportunity to collect any thing interesting. The soil here is a dark vegetable mould, at least five feet in depth, and little intermixed with sand. I ascended the same bank on the following morning, but found nothing except a species of Carex that I do not recollect to have seen before.
After getting under weigh, we passed high calcareous bluffs on the left side of the river, covered with timber, and reminding us of the deep umbrageous forests within the tropics.
Franklin, July 15th. Portulacca sativa, Solanum nigrum, Urticapumila, Datura strammonium, and Phytolacca decandra, occur by the road side. Blackberries were now ripe, but not well-flavoured. Campanula Americana, the large Vernonia mentioned at Cote Sans Dessein, now flowering.
Some plants were brought in, among which we distinguished the Monarda fistulosa, Achillea millefolia, Cacalia atriplicifolia, called "horse-mint," Queria canadensis, Menispermum lyoni, Verbena urticifolia. The Annona triloba is frequent about Franklin; also the Laurus benzoin, and the Symphoria now in flower, the Rhus glabrum, Cercis canadensis, Ampelousis quinquefolia, Eupatorium purpureum, in flower. Cucubalus stellatus, still flowering. The Prickly-fruited Æsculus has nearly ripened its nut, Zanthoxylon clava herculis, in fruit, a "wild gourd" not in flower.
July 26th. The Gleditschia is a small tree here; Geum album, Myosotis virginiana, Amaranthus hybridus, Erigeron canadense, Solanum carolinianum, very luxuriant and still flowering. The leaf of the Tilia glabra I found to measure thirteen inches in length, and eleven in breadth. Bignonia radicans, Dioscorea villosa, a Helianthus with a leaf margined with spines, the narrow-leaved Brachystemum, the Lyatris pycnostachia, Rudbeckia purpurea, and various others in flower. Juglans porcina and cinerea, Ostrya virginica, Rhus copallinum.—August 4th. Dr. Lowry informed me he has seen Pyrus coronaria, forty feet in height, in the forests about Franklin. He showed me a Rudbeckia about three feet high with a cone of dark purple flowers, probably a new species.
5th. Eupatorium hieracifolium beginning to flower, Menispermum canadense, here called "sarsaparilla," its slender yellow roots being substituted for that article.
6th. A Mimulus is found here resembling M. ringens, but the leaves are not sessile; peduncle very short, flowers large, pink-coloured, stem acutely quadrangular; Campanula Americana, three and a half feet high.—James.