April, 1908.] 



The Vegetation of Cedar Point. 



327 



In the immediate vicinity of the Laboratory there has been 

 initiated a secondary Catalpa Blowout Formation by the planting 

 of a considerable grove of Catalpa seedlings for commercial pur- 

 poses, but, nevertheless, constituting an ecological experiment 

 of more than passing interest. It is too early to yet predict as to 

 the outcome but it appears probable that the trees will succeed 

 if their roots can once become established in lower layers of 

 sand with abundant and never failing ground-water near at 

 hand. If successful and permitted to reach considerable size, 

 dune formation will likely take place on a rather extensive scale 

 and eventually, if allowed to run its course, the place would 

 become an elevated more or less level area with a Quercus velu- 

 tina imbricaria Forest Formation such as in the area now occu- 

 pied bv the buildings of the pleasure resort. 



Fig. 15. Secondary Catalpa Blowout Formation showing dead plants 

 where the sweep of the wind has induced excessive transpiration. 



THE BAY-MARSH-WET MEADOW-THICKET-FOREST SUCCESSION. 



Along the western side of the peninsula the vegetational 

 structures represent a variety of conditions of environment which 

 may be classed in a general way under three heads: 



1 . The Beach Habitat. This habitat includes those portions 

 of the shore which are exposed fully to the action of the surf and 

 from which the water deepens outwards with comparative 

 rapidity. 



2. The Marsh Habitat. This habitat comprises those por- 

 tions of the shore which are comparatively free from the action 

 of violent surf and from which the water deepens outwards from 

 the land very slowly. 



