Vegetation of Northern Cape Breton. 379 



nanus, Glaitx maritima ohtusifolia and PuccinrUia maritinia. 

 Again, the pans may be colonized almost exclusively by the salt 

 thatch, which in such situations forms a dense but usually 

 depauperate growth, while Distichlis frequently skirts the edges. 

 In proceeding from the outer margin of a salt marsh toward 

 the mainland, the general level of the surface becomes slightly 

 higher and the general character of the vegetation changes 

 correspondingly. But even in the older, higher parts, owing to 

 the local variations in elevation and drainage, the surface vegeta- 

 tion is far from being uniform. The predominant plant on the 

 higher, shoreward reaches of the salt meadow is Juncus balticus 

 littoralis (Juncus balticus association-type), which in the salt 

 marshes of northern Cape Breton occupies an ecological position 

 quite similar to that held by Juncus Gcrardi in regions farther 

 south. The latter species is seldom met with here. Associated 

 with the Juncus, and locally dominant, may be Agrostis alba 

 maritima, Hierochloc odorata, Scirpus campestris paludosus, and 

 Eleocharis palustris. The two latter species are especially well 

 developed in the wetter situations, where also Ranunculus 

 Cymbalaria and Potent ilia pacifica are commonly present. 

 Other species characteristic of the shoreward reaches of the 

 salt meadows are Triglochin palustris, Stellaria humifusa, Atri- 

 plex patiila hastata, Solidago sempervirens, and Aster novi- 

 helgii. In addition to these, the salt thatch and most of the 

 species of the Spartina patens association-type are represented 

 here : Spartina glabra, Scirpus nanus, Spergularia, and Sali- 

 cornia in poorly drained depressions ; Spartina patens and 

 Plantago decipiens in low but fairly well-drained situations. 

 Limoniiim, however, apparently is confined to the outermost 

 meadows. 



C. THE ASSOCIATION-COMPLEXES OF BRACKISH MARSHES 



Brackish marshes are of far more general occurrence than salt 

 marshes. To some extent they are developed toward the mouths 

 of many of the larger streams (Fig. 46), but the finest examples 

 observed are situated at the heads of Ingonish Harbor and of 

 Middle Harbor (Aspy Bay). The vegetation of brackish 

 marshes includes many of the plants which have been listed as 

 characteristic of salt marshes, but it also includes other species 

 which are rarely represented there. The wetter parts of a 



