580 BRITTON: VEGETATION OF THE 
tween the stems of grasses and other plants covering small areas 
here and there are frequently burned off in this manner, thus 
destroying small quantities of what is most needed to make this 
a plant-producing soil— humus, or organic matter. 
Though certain species of plants must necessarily remain con- 
stant in this region, the flora doubtless changes somewhat from 
year to year, and if these studies should be continued several new 
plants would probably be found, while some of the plants col- 
lected might disappear. 
A feature to be noted is the presence of several plants com- 
monly found in swampy regions. Rhus radicans forms large 
masses of foliage at North Haven and though common through- 
out Connecticut, grows often in swamps in northern New Eng- 
land. Nyssa sylvatica and willows are swamp trees, and Spartina 
cynosuroides is common to the brackish marshes of the coast, ba 
Aronia (or Pyrus) arbutifolia is a denizen of wet places as are Vac- 
cinium corymbosum and Kalmia angustifolia, all growing in shallow 
water in many swamps. J/ex verticillata is also an inhabitant of 
damp ground. Stenophyllus (or fimbristyls) capillaris and Rosa 
Carolina are also found in moist places. 
Following is a list of the chief plants of the region collected 
during 1901 and 1902, with the exception of a few specimens 
gathered in 1899. All were found growing within the limits of 
the regions, except Lupinus perennis, which grows in large areas 4 
short distance north of the North Haven tract, and Cracca Vir- 
gimana, which covers quite a plot of ground a few rods south- 
west of the Montowese tract. The latter is also a common in- 
habitant of the sand plains through Wallingford and is found just 
north of the limits of the North Haven tract. These two plants 
have been included because they are important plants for the 
region and occur on the same formation and under practically the 
same conditions, though not actually found growing within the 
arbitrary limits of our tracts. 
The nomenclature is that used in Britton’s Manual, the name 
used in Gray’s Manual, sixth edition, being cited in parentheses 
when different. 
—— 
* Winton, A. L. Forage plants of the salt marshes of Connecticut. Conn. Agric. 
Exp. Sta. Ann. Rep. 1889: 233-245. 1890. 
