298 



The Ohio Naturalist. 



[Vol. VIII, No. 6, 



of sand binders, and numerous roots are sent out from all portions 

 of the buried trunk. 



The initial stage of the succession under discussion may be 

 designated as follows: 



The Popiilus-Salix Dune Formation. 

 Facies: Popuhis deltoides, 



Salix cordata (?). 

 Secondary Species: 



Cakile edentula, 



Salix interior, 

 Ammo phi I a edentula. 



Fig. 2. Looking sovithward along the ^vest side of sand ridge between 

 the summer cottages and Lake Erie, north of the Breakers Hotel. Note 

 the Populus forming the backbone of the ridge and the Ammophila and 

 Salix being rapidly buried. 



The rapidly growing ridge along the Lake front north of the 

 Breakers Hotel is a fine example of the young stage of this for- 

 mation. (Ridge No. 8, Moseley). With the vertical gi-owth of 

 the ridge the willows are soon buried and then probably the 

 cottonwoods alone will not be able to offer a sufficient obstruc- 

 tion to the sand to cause ftu'thcr vertical growth of the ridge. 

 In fact the branches immediately above the top of the ridge 

 may die and the sand, being thus exposed to the action of the 

 wind, may be again blown away. Generally, however, there 

 appears another plant which, to a certain degree, takes the place 

 of the lower limbs of the cottonwoods or, upon the death of the 

 trees, may itself preserve the integrity of the ridge. The vege- 

 tational structure at this stage may be termed as follows: 



