FEH. 1907. FLORA SAND KEYS OF FLORIDA MILLSPAUGH. 233 



BIRD KEY 

 MARCH 19, 1904 



A Cakile fusiformis (2458, 2460, 2462, -3 Paspalum distichum (2450) 



2463) P Portulaca oleracea (2459) 



tf Cenchrus tribuloides (2454^ ) D Scaevola Plumieri (2456) 



Cyperus brunneus (2452) Sesuvium portulacastrum (2461) 



Euphorbia buxifolia (2453, 2455) f Suriana maritima (2451) 



# Opuntia Dillenii (2454) jjc Tournefortia gnaphalodes (2449) 



I Uniola paniculata (2457) 



This low sand islet, situated about three quarters of a mile south 

 of west from Garden Key, extends about 500 feet north and south, 

 about 250 feet east and west at its broadest part, and at its highest 

 point rises only about 3^ feet above the sea. The northern extremity 

 is a broad sea-washed sand spit; the west beach is very narrow and 

 rises immediately into an abrupt bank about two feet high; the east 

 shore slopes into a broad strand, and the southern extremity forms a 

 sand spit similar to that of the north point but less extensive. Wave 

 action from the northwest appears to be rapidly eroding the western 

 beach, the vegetation on the shore plainly showing the encroachment. 



Almost the entire Key is covered with a dense growth of Suriana 

 maritima which extends to the verge of the west shore and to the wave 

 limit of the east beach, clothing the center of the islet to the exclu- 

 sion of other species. The east border is plentifully strewn with an 

 intermingling of Cenchrus tribuloides, Cyperus brunneus, Euphorbia bux- 

 ifolia and Tournefortia gnaphalodes, while scattering clumps of Cakile 

 fusiformis venture out from this zone toward the sea. Two small, 

 separate colonies of Sesuvium portulacastrum have become established 

 at the wave line of the northern point, the space between them and the 

 Suriana being occupied by a shrubby form of Euphorbia buxifolia 

 (2455). Toward the southern extremity of the eastern wave limit 

 appear two detached plants of Scaevola Plumieri and between them a 

 small patch of Portulaca oleracea. The wave line is terminated on the 

 south by an extensive growth of Paspalum distichum and ends with two 

 plants of Uniola paniculata, the latter species also appearing south of 

 a clump of Opuntia Dillenii near the hospital boat landing on the 

 western beach. These twelve species comprise all of the vegetation 

 observed upon the key. 



