578 BRITTON: VEGETATION OF THE 
weeds (Asclepias Syriaca, A. ampleaicaulis and A. verticillata), Les- 
pedeza, Baptisia tinctoria, Metbomia, Helianthemum mazus and Arte- 
misia caudata predominate. Rubus procumbens (R. Canadensis of 
authors) is also abundant, covering the ground in many places. At 
North Haven it grows in the grass (Andropogon scoparius) around 
the boundaries of the barren area, but at Montowese it grows and 
fruits heavily on the bare sand. The red cedar (Juniperus Virgin- 
tana) is the most common conifer of the region, though //. com- 
munis occurs frequently and a notably large specimen growing at 
Montowese is about thirty feet in diameter. 
Many black cherry trees (Prunus serotina) are found around 
the margins of the Montowese tract, and there are several sassafras 
trees. The latter have a tendency to form colonies by sprouting 
from the roots. The common milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca) also 
occurs in colonies, one of which is shown on fi. 24, 0. Baptisia 
tinctoria is abundant at Montowese and is shown on Jl. 23, 2. 
A peculiar feature of the sand plainsis the total absence of cru- 
ciferous plants. Certain species like Lepidium Virginicum and Bursa 
Bursa-pastoris are commonly found in similar places. No crucif- 
erous plants were found on either tract during the two seasons 
that plants were collected. Then, too, certain plants of the 
pink family (Caryophyllaceae) like Arenaria and Tissa and the ~ 
chickweeds might fairly be expected to grow in such places. 
The pink family is represented only by soapwort or bounc- 
ing bet (Saponaria officinalis), which occurs on the North Haven 
tract. 
One very interesting feature of that portion of the North 
Haven tract lying west of the railroad, is the presence of nu 
merous scrubby black oaks (Quercus velutina = Q. coccinea tine- 
toria) scattered about over the region (f/. 24, a). Two questions 
suggest themselves simultaneously — (1) Why does the black 
oak grow here instead of other trees ? (2) Why are the oaks so 
scattered instead of occurring in groups? From a careful study 
it seems to the writer that the acorns which produced these tree” 
must have been buried in the sand either by squirrels or by som® 
other agency, for those that now fall upon the surface of the 
ground each year from the parent trees never making seedlings. At 
least, probably not one in a thousand ever does. They fall upoP 
