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| Five species of Conifers grow in the Creek Hills. The Hemlock is quite common although many of them are cut each year for Christmas Trees. The Red Cedar is not abundant. The other three species referred to are the White Pine, the Pitch Pine and the Jersey or Scrub Pine. The White Pine has 5 needles to a cluster, the Pitch Pine has 3, and those of the Jersey Pine are in clusters of two. A few old trees of the Pitch Pine grow against the steep hillside above Hough's dam and about the Alum rocks at the top of the hill. The trees of the fine grove of White Pine on the Furnace Point were mostly cut a few years ago and the pines do not sprout from the roots as the hard woods do, it will be a long time before these stately conifers again occupy that site. They will have to grow from seed planted by natures method. Space will not permit us to describe many of the plants in the valley of Jacobs Creek. Much of the writer's early days of botanical collecting was done here. For nearly ten years, and often in the company of A. L. Rowe and other Botanists, I put in a number of days each season searching for rare and interesting species. We found at least 15 different kinds of native Orchids, some or which are considered uncommon or rare. In August, 1932, I again spent two days botanizing in the Creek Hills after an absence or many years. On this occassion I found the Great Round leaved Orchids near the Falls, the first time I had seen this plant in western Pennsylvania. It has two almost round glossy leaves that lie flat upon the ground. They are nearly eight inches long and almost as broad. The flower stem which is about a foot tall, bears thirty or more oddly shaped creamy blossoms. Few of our wild flowers are more beautiful or interesting. Among the rarer plants round in the "Creek Hills", we would like to mention the Green Dragon, a close relative or the Indian Turnip; the Dog's Tooth Violet, which is similar to the yellow species but with white flowers; and also the Golden Sal so much used for medicinal purposes. The yellow Passion-flower is a delicate flower and vine that climbs over bushes. The valley of Jacobs Creek seems to be the extreme northern limit of this southern species. We found it in several places along the Creek and on the hillsides and were always interested in its oddly shaped yellow flowers and purple fruits. |
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