1909.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 387 



ing around the head of a slough at this point of the shore; 3, Juncus 

 Gerardi (J), one patch of which surrounded a low dune covered with 

 Panicum virgatum. A high dune spit projecting into the marsh was 

 covered by Panicum virgatum, Xanthium echinatum, (Enothera biennis 

 and Ammophila arenaria. 



The straight portion of the main shore, between this V-shaped marsh 

 on the one hand and the marsh island on the other, is occupied by a 

 narrow salt marsh, the vegetation of which consists of a frontal strip of 

 Scirpus pungens (Z), out of which grow Baccharis halimifolia (V) and 

 Hibiscus moscheutos. This strip is continued by two pure associations 

 of Spartina patens (V) (sp. gr. 1.0069) and Scirpus pungens (Z) re- 

 spectively. A second shoreward marsh strip is occupied by fresh 

 water marsh plants, such as Impatiens fulva ( = /. biflora), Sambucus 

 canadensis and Polygonum sagittatum, while the drier portions of this 

 strip are characterized by Pa nicum virgatum. The second short offset 

 between D and E Streets, Belmar, is noted for a projecting tongue of 

 low marshland completely surrounded by a growth of Spartina stricta 

 maritima (X) in full flower (August), while surrounded by the taller 

 salt marsh grass is a lower flowerless growth of Spartina stricta mari- 

 tima (X), with two associations of Distichlis spicata (0) and one of 

 Spartina patens (V). Immediately back of this marsh tongue are 

 found several strips of vegetation. In front is an irregular association 

 of Spartina patens (X) in soil merely wetted by the rising tide, but 

 seldom entirely submerged. Inside of this is a narrow association 

 of Scirpus pungens (Z), succeeded in the drier shore soil by Baccharis 

 halimifolia (#) and Hibiscus moscheutos (sp. gr. 1.0000), while in places 

 in this strip occur fresh-water swamp plants, such as Cicuta maculata, 

 Peltandra virginica, Scirpus. robustus and Impatiens fulva ( = /. bi- 

 flora). Situated between the outer strip of Spartina stricta maritima 

 (X) and the inner fresh water marsh strip occur longitudinally disposed 

 three alternating associations, viz. : two societies of Scirpus pungens 

 (Z), between which is found an association of Spartina patens (V) and 

 Scirpus robustus. 



The gradual slopes of the shore above the marshland is covered 

 with Panicum virgatum, Rhus radicans, Xanthium echinatum, Baccharis 

 halimifolia (»), over which clambers Sicyos angulatus. 



Vegetation of the Marsh Island. 



The marsh island in Shark River with a slough at its western end is 

 completely surrounded by Spartina stricta maritima (X), except in 

 two places where the shore is a little more elevated. At one place 



