On Prospect Hill

September 3. 

P. M. – Rode to Prospect Hill, Waltham. 

The Polygonum Pennsylvanicum there. 

One Chimaphila maculata on the hill. 

Tufts of Woodsia Ilvensis. 

Hedyotis longifolia still flowering commonly, near the top, in a thin wood. 

Gerardia tenuifolia by the road in Lincoln, and a slate-colored snowbird back.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, September 3, 1857

The Polygonum Pennsylvanicum at Waltham. See September 19, 1856 (“Am surprised to find the Polygonum Pennsylvanvcum abundant, by the roadside near the bank. First saw it the other day at Brattleboro.”); August 28, 1857 (“Polygonum Pennsylvanicum by bank, how long?”)

One Chimaphila maculata on the hill. See  July 24, 1856 ("Chimaphila maculata, three flowers, apparently but few days, while the umbellatais quite done there. Leaves just shooting up.” ) Chimaphila maculate -- spotted prince's-pine, pipsissewa, spotted wintergreen-- is a "highly recognizable understory species having variegated leaves with pale green veins “ ~ GoBotany . HDT calls Chimaphila umbellata, a/k/a pipsissewa, “wintergreen.” See July 3, 1852 ("The Chimaphila umbellata, wintergreen, must have been in blossom some time.”);  November 16, 1858 (“Methinks the wintergreen, pipsissewa, is our handsomest evergreen, so liquid glossy green and dispersed almost all over the woods.”)

Gerardia tenuifolia by the road in Lincoln. See August 29, 1857 (“Gerardia tenuifolia, a new plant to Concord, apparently in prime, at entrance to Owl-Nest Path and generally in that neighborhood. Also on Conantum height above orchard, two or three days later. This species grows on dry ground, or higher than the purpurea, and is more delicate.”)