SAND DUNES OF COOS BAY 



241 



Salal (Gauliheria shaUon), Ifuckleberry {Vacciniuin ovaium and 

 T'. parvifolium), A\'ax myrtle (Myrica calif ornica), Blueberry 

 {Vaccinium ovalifolium) , Khoclodendron (/?. calif ornicum) , Pale 

 laurel (Kalmia poJifolia), Buckthorn {Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) 

 and numerous smaller species such as the Thimbleberry {Rubus 

 parviflorus) , jVIenziesia, (M. ferruginea), (Quinine bush {Garrya 

 eUipiica), Azalea (.1. occidentalis) , etc. 



Around the borders of the ponds these thickets are particularl}^ 

 dense and often lack an}^ overhead shade. The largest pond is 



Fig. 1. Skeletons of a past forest in the foreground. The forest in the back- 

 ground is wedge shai)ed, with its apex toward the wind. Numerous indentations 

 occur along its sides, due to advancing dunes or to undermining. The forest itself 

 sjiands on dune sand with a general level of 15 to 25 feet below the surrounding sand. 



nearly a mile in length and contains a rich aquatic and marginal 

 flora, the common species being Nymphaea polysepala, Juncus 

 oreganus, Alnus oregana, Juncus bufonius, Carex mirata, C. mag- 

 nifica, and C. oederi, Potamogeion natans, Salix sitchensis, etc. 



The advancing crests of the dunes often open up small hollows, 

 exposing the skeletons of a past forest (see fig. 1). Where these 

 hollows are of large size there soon comes into existence a green 

 grassy meadow, which is the home of numerous moist sand-loving 



