Matt Roth discussed the different
varieties of toothwort [ "The Toothwort White haunted
our woods in May"]
JM: Stimulated by J. Friedman's and
Boyd's contributions, but almost gratuitously, I quoted a paragraph from PF
which I want to bring up again:
"...the extraordinary blend of
Canadian Zone and Austral Zone that "obtained," as he put it,
in that particular spot of Appalachia where...northern species of birds, insects
and plants commingled with southern representatives....in New Wye together with
the "atlantis" (presumably another flower)...
Query: I'm puzzled by the stress
Kinbote laid on Shade's expression "that obtained"... Can
anyone indicate to me where this expression is discussed?
On second thoughts, the introduction of
"atlantis" in relation to New Wye's (often also, "Arcadia")
paradaisal commingling of birds and plants, from the north and
the south, might not be an indication of a crossing of the Atlantic ( as I
surmised at first) but a reference to a Platonic "Atlantis" and,
even more to the point, to Francis Bacon's NewAtlantis ( a
"scientific utopia") .
Any suggestions? Bibliographic
indications?