Bulletin - United States National Museum - Smithsonian Institution

FLORA OF WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. 21
there grows Gaultheria procumhens, the wintergreen or checkerberry,
this being its only known locality within our limits. Half a mile further
up, and back upon the wooded slope, is the spot on which stand a dozen;
or more fine trees of the Table Mountain pine (P. pungens). Here also>
was first found Pycnantliemum Torreyi.
To these there must be added a sixth section, extending from the-
Brightwood Eoad to the north corner of the District of Columbia, which,
lies near Eock Creek. For the first mile there is little of interest, the
cultivated land approaching the creek, and the low hills near its banks
being covered with a short second growth of scrub pine and blackjacks
But above the Claggett estate, on the right bank, and to some extent
on both sides, lies the largest forest within our limits. This wood be-
longs, I learn, to the Carroll estate, and is so designated in this cata-
logue. In ithavebeenfound very many most interesting plants. It was.
the first extensive tract found for the crowfoot {Lycopodium complana-
tum), and still constitutes the most reliable and abundant source known
of this plant. Its present fame, however, rests upon its hybrid oaks, of
which some most interesting forms have been found there. (See Field'
and Forest, October and November, 1875, p. 39. Botanical Gazette^
October, 1880, p. 123.) Here also grow quite abnndantly Pyrola elliptica
and P. secunda, and very sparingly Microstylis opMoglossoides. It is also
a rich locality for many other species rare elsewhere.
2. The Upper Potomac Region.
The flora of the left bank of the Potomac is in many respects very
unlike that of any other locality within our limits. A mile above
Georgetown, and commencing from the recently constructed Outlet
Lock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, there exists a broad and low
strip of country, formerly known by the name of Carberry Meadows, ly-
ing between the canal and the river, and extending to the feeder of the
canal, a distance of about three and a half miles. This interval is re-
lieved by two convenient landmarks, viz., one mile above the Outlet
Lock, a grist-mill and guano factory, popularly known as Eads' Mill,
and a mile further the celebrated Chain Bridge. Little Falls proper
begin a hundred yards above the bridge and extend half a mile or
more. The region above the bridge will therefore be designated as Lit-
tle Falls. The flats terminate in a remarkable knoll or small hillock of
very regular outline and abrupt sides, which, from the combined effect
of the feeder on one side and large overflows from it below, become&i