FEB. 1907. FLORA SAND KF.YS OF FLORIDA MILLSPAUGH. 201 



BALLAST KEY 



MARCH 13, 1904 



Ambrosia hispida (2308) 

 Andropogon glomeratus (2320) 

 Atriplex cristata (2315) 

 Avicennia nitida (2306) 

 Batis maritima (2305) 

 Borrichia arborescens (2312) 

 Cakile fusiformis (2317, 2318) 

 Canavalia obtusifolia (2304) 

 Cenchrus tribuloides (2321) 

 Conocarpus erecta (2316) 



Cyperus brunneus (2319) 

 Euphorbia buxifolia (2302) 

 Hymenocallis caribaea (2301) 

 Iva imbricata (2309) 

 Monanthochloe littoralis (2307) 

 Rhizophora mangle (2311) 

 Salicornia ambigua (2303) 

 Sesuvium portulacastrum (2322) 

 Suriana maritima (2310) 

 Tournefortia gnaphalodes (2314) 

 Uniola paniculata (2313) 



This small key is separated from Man Key by a channel so nar- 

 row that the branches of the mangroves of both nearly touch. This 

 channel is very shallow and destined soon to be colonized by the man- 

 grove and cause the islet to lose its identity in consolidation with Man 

 Key. The key is now about 250x240 feet, and in the neighborhood 

 of 2 feet at its highest point. Like Bird Key, this islet has no abrupt 

 shore, being more or less rounded in topographic contour with the 

 strand everywhere at a gentle slope. 



Its vegetation presents the odd condition of having its mangroves 

 and Avicennias disposed at the farthest points they could possibly 

 grow apart, instead of being, as usual, in association. This condition 

 is repeated in the two colonies of Uniola and Euphorbia, one on the 

 east and the other on the south strand, though there are two associated 

 groups of these elements on the other two shores northwest and 

 southeast. 



The two lines of Batis and Salicornia appear to be forming their 

 true association with the Avicennia, and at one point Cenchrus its 

 frequently noted camaraderie with Uniola. At the north point appears 

 a peculiar continuous line of Ambrosia which apparently indicates that 

 the strand at this end of the islet is in process of formation from the 

 sea. The extensive implantation of Suriana is not pure, like the simi- 

 lar growth on Bird Key, but scatteringly admixed with a floor growth 

 of Cyperus and Andropogon. 



The small lagoon, on the eastern side, is evidently of late inclusion ; 

 again pointing to new strand formation on this part of the key. 



