The Maine Woods (Writings of Henry D. Thoreau)

by Henry David Thoreau

  The most common flowers of the river and lake shores were: Thalictrum cornuti (meadow-rue), Hypericum ellipticum, mutilum, and Canadense (St. John�s-wort), horsemint, horehound, Lycopus Virginicus and Europaeus, var. sinuatus (bugle-weed), Scutellaria galericulata (skull-cap), Solidago lanceolata and squarrosa East Branch (golden-rod), Diplopappus umbellatus (double-bristled aster), Aster radula, Cicuta maculata and bulbifera (water-hemlock), meadow-sweet, Lysimachia stricta and ciliata (loose-strife), Galium trifidum (small bed-straw), Lilium Canadense (wild yellow-lily), Platanthera peraoena and psycodes (great purple orchis and small purple-fringed orchis), Mimulus ringens (monkey-flower), dock (water), blue flag, Hydrocotyle Americana (marsh pennywort), Sanicula Canadensis? (black snake- root), Clematis Virginiana? (common virgin�s-bower), Nasturtium palustre (marsh cress), Ranunculus recurvatus (hooked crowfoot), Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed), Aster Tradescanti (Tradescant�s aster), Aster miser, also longifolius, Eupatorium purpureum apparently, lake shores (Joe-Pye-weed), Apocynum Cannabinum East Branch (Indian hemp), Polygonum cilinode (bind- weed), and others. Not to mention among inferior orders wool-grass and the sensitive fern.

  In the water, Nuphar advena (yellow pond-lily), some potamogetons (pond-weed), Sagittaria variabilis (arrow-head), Sium lineare? (water-parsnip).

  Of these, those conspicuously in flower the last of July, 1857, were: rue, Solidago lanceolata and squarrosa, Diplopappus umbellatus, Aster radula, Lilium Canadense, great and small purple orchis, Mimulus ringens, blue flag, virgin�s-bower, &c.

  The characteristic flowers in swamps were: Rubus triflorus (dwarf raspberry), Calla palustris (water-arum), and Sarracenia purpurea (pitcher-plant). On burnt grounds: Epilobium angustifolium, in full bloom (great willow-herb), and Erechthites hieracifolia (fire-weed). On cliffs: Campanula rotundifolia (harebell), Cornus Canadensis (dwarf cornel), Arctostaphylos uva- ursi (bearberry), Potentilla tridentata (mountain cinquefoil), Pteris aquilina (common brake). At old camps, carries, and logging-paths: Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle), Prunella vulgaris (common self-heal), clover, herds-grass, Achillea millefolium (common yarrow), Leucanthemum vulgare (white-weed), Aster macrophyllus, Halenia deflexa East Branch (spurred gentian), Antennaria margaritacea (pearly everlasting), Actaea rubra and alba, wet carries (red and white cohosh), Desmodium Canadense (tick-trefoil), sorrel.

  The handsomest and most interesting flowers were the great purple orchises, rising ever and anon, with their great purple spikes perfectly erect, amid the shrubs and grasses of the shore. It seemed strange that they should be made to grow there in such profusion, seen of moose and moose-hunters only, while they are so rare in Concord. I have never seen this species flowering nearly so late with us, or with the small one.

  The prevailing underwoods were: Dirca palustris (moose- wood), Acer spicatum (mountain maple), Viburnum lantanoides (hobble-bush), and frequently Taxus baccata, var. Cana-densis (American yew).

  The prevailing shrubs and small trees along the shore were: osier rouge and alders (before mentioned); sallows, or small willows, of two or three kinds, as Salix humilis, rostrata, and discolor?, Sambucus Canadensis (black elder), rose, Viburnum opulus and nudum (cranberry-tree and withe-rod), PyrusAmericana (American mountain-ash), Corylus rostrata (beaked hazel- nut), Diervilla trifida (bush-honeysuckle), Prunus Virginiana (choke-cherry), Myrica gale (sweet-gale), Nemopanthes Canadensis (mountain holly), Cephalanthus occidentalis (button-bush), Ribes prostratum, in some places (fetid currant).

  More particularly of shrubs and small trees in swamps: some willows, Kalmia glauca (pale laurel), Ledum latifolium and palustre (Labrador tea), Ribes lacustre (swamp gooseberry), and in one place Betula pumila (low birch). At camps and carries: raspberry, Vaccinium Canadense (Canada blueberry), Prunus Pennsylvanica also along shore (wild red cherry), Amelanchier Canadensis (shad-bush), Sambucus pubens (red-berried elder). Among those peculiar to the mountains would be the Vaccinium vitis-idaea (cow-berry).

  Of plants commonly regarded as introduced from Europe, I observed at Ansel Smith�s clearing, Chesuncook, abundant in 1857: Ranunculus acris (buttercups), Plantago major (common plantain), Chenopodium album (lamb�s-quarters), Capsella bursa-pastoris, 1853 (shepherd�s-purse), Spergula arvensis, also, north shore of Moosehead, in 1853, and elsewhere, 1857 (corn-spurrey), Taraxacum dens-leonis -- regarded as indigenous by Gray, but evidently introduced there -- (common dandelion), Polygonum Persicaria and hydropiper, by a logging-path in woods at Smith�s (lady�s-thumb and smart-weed), Rumex acetosella, common at carries (sheep-sorrel), Trifolium pratense, 1853, and carries frequent (red clover), Leucanthemum vulgare, carries (white weed), Phleum pratense, carries, 1853-7 (herd�s-grass), Verbena hastata (blue vervain), Cirsium arvense, abundant at camps 1857 (Canada thistle), Rumex crispus?, West Branch, 1853? (curled dock), Verbascum thapsus, between Bangor and lake, 1853 (common mullein).

  It appears that I saw about a dozen plants which had accompanied man as far into the woods as Chesuncook, and had naturalized themselves there, in 1853. Plants begin thus early to spring by the side of a logging-path, -- a mere vista through the woods, which can only be used in the winter, on account of the stumps and fallen trees, -- which at length are the roadside plants in old settlements. The pioneers of such are planted in part by the first cattle, which cannot be summered in the woods.

  (*)III. LIST OF PLANTS.

  The following is a list of the plants which I noticed in the Maine woods, in the years 1853 and 1857. (Those marked not in woods.) 1. THOSE WHICH ATTAINED THE HEIGHT OF TREES.

  Alnus incana (speckled or hoary alder), abundant along streams, &c.

  Thuja occidentalis (American arbor-vitae), one of the prevailing.

  Fraxinus sambucifolia (black ash), very common, especially near dead water. The Indian spoke of "yellow ash" as also found there.

  Populus tremuloides (American aspen), very common, especially on burnt lands, almost as white as birches.

  Populus grandidentata (large-toothed aspen), perhaps two or three.

  Fagus ferruginea (American beech), not uncommon, at least on the West Branch (saw more in 1846).

  Betula papyracea (canoe-birch), prevailing everywhere and about Bangor.

  Betula excelsa (yellow birch), very common.

  Betula lenta (black birch), on the West Branch, in 1853.

  Betula alba (American white birch), about Bangor only.

  Ulmus Americana (American or white elm), West Branch and low down the East Branch, i. e. on the lower and alluvial part of the river, very common.

  Larix Americana (American or black larch), very common on the Umbazookskus, some elsewhere.

  Abies Canadensis (hemlock-spruce), not abundant, some on the West Branch, and a little everywhere.

  Acer saccharinum (sugar maple), very common.

  Acer rubrum (red or swamp maple), very common.

  Acer dasycarpum (white or silver maple), a little low on East Branch and in Chesuncook woods.

  Quercus rubra (red oak), one on an island in Grand Lake, East Branch, and, according to a settler, a few on the east side of Chesuncook Lake; a few also about Bangor in 1853.

  Pinus strobus (white pine), scattered along, most abundant at Heron Lake.

  Pinus resinosa (red pine), Telos and Grand Lake, a little afterwards here and there.

  Abies balsamea (balsam fir), perhaps the most common tree, especially in the upper parts of rivers.

  Abies nigra (black or double spruce), next to the last the most common, if not equally common, and on mountains.

  Abies alba (white or single spruce), common with the last along the rivers.

  Pinus Banksiana (gray or Northern scrub-pine), a few on an island in Grand Lake.

  Twenty-three in all (23). 2. SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS.

  Prunus depressa (dwarf-cherry), on gravel bars, East Branch, near Hunt�s, with green fruit, obviously distinct from the pumila of river and meadows.

  Vaccinium corymbosum (common swamp blueberry), Bucksport.

  Vaccinium Canadense (Canada bl
ueberry), carries and rocky hills everywhere as far south as Bucksport.

  Vaccinium Pennsylvanicum (dwarf-blueberry?), Whetstone Falls.

  Betula pumila (low birch), Mud Pond Swamp.

  Prinos verticillata (black alder, �57), now placed with Ilex by Gray, 2d ed.

  Cephalanthus occidentalis (button-bush).

  Prunus Pennsylvanica (wild red cherry), very common at camps, carries, &c., along rivers; fruit ripe August 1, 1857.

  Prunus Virginiana (choke-cherry), river-side, common.

  Cornus alternifolia (alternate-leaved cornel), West Branch, 1853.

  Ribes prostratum (fetid currant), common along streams, on Webster Stream.

  Sambucus Canadensis (common elder), common along river- sides.

  Sambucus pubens (red-berried elder), not quite so common, roadsides toward Moosehead, and on carries afterward, fruit beautiful.

  Ribes lacustre (swamp-gooseberry), swamps, common, Mud Pond Swamp and Webster Stream; not ripe July 29, 1857.

  Corylus rostrata (beaked hazel-nut), common.

  Taxus baccata, var. Canadensis (American yew), a common under-shrub at an island in West Branch and Chesuncook woods.

  Viburnum lantanoides (hobble-bush), common, especially in Chesuncook woods; fruit ripe in September, 1853, not in July, 1857.

  Viburnum opulus (cranberry-tree), on West Branch; one in flower still, July 25, 1857.

  Viburnum nudum (withe-rod), common along rivers.

  Kalmia glauca (pale laurel), swamps, common, as at Moosehead carry and Chamberlain swamp.

  Kalmia angustifolia (lamb-kill), with Kalmia glauca.

  Acer spicatum (mountain maple), a prevailing underwood.

  Acer striatum (striped maple), in fruit July 30, 1857; green the first year; green, striped with white, the second; darker, the third, with dark blotches.

  Cornus stolonifera (red-osier dogwood), prevailing shrub on shore of West Branch; fruit still white in August, 1857.

  Pyrus Americana (American mountain ash), common along shores.

  Amelanchier Canadensis (shad-bush), rocky carries, &c.; considerable fruit in 1857.

  Rubus strigosus (wild red raspberry), very abundant, burnt grounds, camps, and carries, but not ripe till we got to Chamberlain dam and on East Branch.

  Rosa Carolina (swamp-rose), common on the shores of lakes, &c.

  Rhus typhina* (stag-horn sumac).

  Myrica gale (sweet-gale), common.

  Nemopanthes Canadensis (mountain holly), common in low ground, Moosehead carry, and on Mount Kineo.

  Crataegus (coccinea? scarlet-fruited thorn), not uncommon; with hard fruit in September, 1853.

  Salix (near to petiolaris, petioled willow), very common in Umbazookskus meadows.

  Salix rostrata (long-beaked willow), common.

  Salix humilis (low bush-willow), common.

  Salix discolor (glaucous willow?).

  Salix lucida (shining willow), at island in Heron lake.

  Dirca palustris (moose-wood), common.

  In all, 38. 3. SMALL SHRUBS AND HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

  Agrimonia Eupatoria (common agrimony), not uncommon.

  Circaea Alpina (enchanter�s nightshade), very common in woods.

  Nasturtium palustre (marsh cress), var. hispidum, common as at A. Smith�s.

  Aralia hispida (bristly sarsaparilla), on West Branch, both years.

  Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla), Chesuncook woods.

  Sagittaria variabilis (arrow-head), common at Moosehead and afterward.

  Arum triphyllum (Indian turnip), now arisaema, Moosehead carry in 1853.

  Asclepias incarnata (swamp milk-weed), Umbazookskus River and after, redder than ours, and a different variety from our var. pulchra.

  Aster acuminatus (pointed-leaved aster), the prevailing aster in woods, not long open on South Branch July 31st; two or more feet high.

  Aster macrophyllus (large-leaved aster), common, and the whole plant surprisingly fragrant, like a medicinal herb, just out at Telos Dam July 29, 1857, and after to Bangor and Bucksport; bluish flower (in woods on Pine Stream and at Chesuncook in 1853).

  Aster radula (rough-leaved aster), common, Moosehead carry and after.

  Aster miser (petty aster), in 1853 on West Branch, and common on Chesuncook shore.

  Aster longifolius (willow-leaved blue aster), 1853, Moosehead and Chesuncook shores.

  Aster cordifolius (heart-leaved aster), 1853, West Branch.

  Aster Tradescanti (Tradescant�s aster), 1857. A narrow- leaved one Chesuncook shore, 1853.

  Aster, longifolius like, with small flowers, West Branch, 1853.

  Aster puniceus (rough-stemmed aster), Pine Stream.

  Diplopappus umbellatus (large diplopappus aster), common along river.

  Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bear-berry), Kineo, &c., 1857.

  Polygonum cilinode (fringe-jointed false buckwheat), common.

  Bidens cernua (bur-marigold), 1853, West Branch.

  Ranunculus acris (buttercups), abundant at Smith�s dam, Chesuncook, 1853.

  Rubus triflorus (dwarf-raspberry), low grounds and swamps, common.

  Utricularia vulgaris* (greater bladder-wort), Pushaw.

  Iris versicolor (larger blue-flag), common Moosehead, West Branch, Umbazookskus, &c.

  Sparganium (bur-reed).

  Calla palustris (water-arum), in bloom July 27, 1857, Mud Pond Swamp.

  Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal-flower), apparently common, but out of bloom August, 1857.

  Cerastium nutans (clammy wild chickweed?).

  Gaultheria procumbens (checkerberry), prevailing everywhere in woods along banks of rivers.

  Stellaria media* (common chickweed), Bangor.

  Chiogenes hispidula (creeping snowberry), very common in woods.

  Cicuta maculata (water-hemlock).

  Cicuta bulbifera (bulb-bearing water-hemlock), Penobscot and Chesuncook shore, 1853.

  Galium trifidum (small bed-straw), common.

  Galium Aparine (cleavers?), Chesuncook, 1853.

  Galium, one kind on Pine Stream, 1853.

  Trifolium pratense (red-clover), on carries, &c.

  Actaea spicata, var. alba (white cohosh), Chesuncook woods 1853, and East Branch 1857.

  Actaea var. rubra (red cohosh), East Branch 1857.

  Vaccinium vitis-idaea (cow-berry), Ktaadn, very abundant.

  Cornus Canadensis (dwarf-cornel), in woods Chesuncook 1853; just ripe at Kineo July 24, 1857, common; still in bloom, Moosehead carry September 16, 1853.

  Medeola Virginica (Indian cucumber-root), West Branch and Chesuncook woods.

  Dalibarda repens (Dalibarda), Moosehead carry and after, common. In flower still, August 1, 1857.

  Taraxacum dens-leonis (common dandelion), Smith�s 1853, only there. Is it not foreign?

  Diervilla trifida (bush honeysuckle), very common.

  Rumex hydrolapathum? (great water-dock), in 1857; noticed it was large seeded in 1853, common.

  Rumex crispus? (curled-dock), West Branch 1853.

  Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp), Kineo, Bradford, and East Branch 1857, at Whetstone Falls.

  Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane), Kineo, Bradford.

  Clintonia borealis (Clintonia), all over woods; fruit just ripening July 25, 1857.

  A lemna (duckweed), Pushaw 1857.

  Elodea Virginica (marsh St. John�s-wort), Moosehead 1853.

  Epilobium angustifolium (great willow-herb), great fields on burnt lands; some white at Webster Stream.

  Epilobium coloratum (purple-veined willow-herb), once in 1857.

  Eupatorium purpureum (Joe-Pye-weed), Heron, Moosehead, and Chesuncook lake-shores, common.

  Allium (onion), a new kind to me in bloom, without bulbs above, on rocks near Whetstone Falls? East Branch.

  Halenia deflexa (spurred gentian), carries on East Branch, common.

  Geranium Robertianum (Herb Robert).

  Solidago lanceolata (bushy golden-rod), very common.

  Sol
idago, one of the three-ribbed, in both years.

  Solidago thyrsoidea (large mountain golden-rod), one on Webster Stream.

  Solidago squarrosa (large-spiked golden-rod), the most common on East Branch.

  Solidago altissima (rough hairy golden-rod), not uncommon both years.

  Coptis trifolia (three-leaved gold-thread).

  Smilax herbacea (carrion-flower), not uncommon both years.

  Spiraea tomentosa* (hardhack), Bangor.

  Campanula rotundifolia (harebell), cliffs Kineo, Grand Lake, &c.

  Hieracium (hawk-weed), not uncommon.

  Veratrum viride (American white hellebore).

  Lycopus Virginicus (bugle-weed), 1857.

  Lycopus Europaeus (water-horehound), var. sinuatus, Heron Lake shore.

  Chenopodium album (lamb�s-quarters), Smith�s.

  Mentha Canadensis (wild mint), very common.

  Galeopsis tetrahit (common hemp-nettle), Olarmon Isle, abundant, and below, in prime August 3, 1857.

  Houstonia caerulea (bluets), now Oldenlandia (Gray, 2d ed.), 1857.

  Hydrocotyle Americana (marsh pennywort), common.

  Hypericum ellipticum (elliptical-leaved St. John�s-wort), common.

  Hypericum mutilum (small St. John�s-wort), both years, common.

  Hypericum Canadense (Canadian St. John�s-wort), Moosehead Lake and Chesuncook shores, 1853.

  Trientalis Americana (star-flower), Pine Stream, 1853.

  Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco).

  Spiranthes cernuus (ladies� tresses), Kineo and after.

  Nabalus (rattlesnake root), 1857; altissimus (tall white lettuce), Chesuncook woods, 1853.

  Antennaria margaritacea (pearly everlasting), common, Moosehead, Smith�s, &c.

  Lilium Canadense (wild yellow lily), very common and large, West and East Branch; one on East Branch, 1857, with strongly revolute petals, and leaves perfectly smooth beneath, but not larger than the last, and apparently only a variety.

  Linnaea borealis (Linnaea), almost everywhere in woods.

  Lobelia Dortmanna (water-lobelia), pond in Bucksport.

  Lysimachia ciliata (hairy-stalked loosestrife), very common, Chesuncook shore and East Branch.

  Lysimachia stricta (upright loosestrife), very common.

  Microstylis ophioglossoides (adder�s-mouth), Kineo.