Vegetation of Northern Cape Breton. 297 



into a more or less compact turf. The predominant plants of 

 the heath association-type are low shrubs, particularly Ericaceae. 

 A list of species characteristic of this phase in the succession is 

 given below. 



Herbaceous Plants 



Pteris aquilina Cornus canadensis 



Deschampsia flexuosa Melampyrum line are 



Danthonia spicata Solidago bicolor 



Shrubby and Semi-shrubby Plants 



Juniperus communis depressa Kalmia angustifolia 



Juniperus horizontalis Gaultheria procumhens 



Salix hmnilis Epigaea repens 



Almis crispa Gaylussacia baccata 



Amelanckier sp. Vaccinium pennsylvanicum 



Empctriim nigrum Vaccinium canadense 



Nemopanthus mucronata Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea 



Rhododendron canadense Viburnum cassinoides 



Trees 



Pinus Strobus Betula alba papyrifera 



Abies balsamea Pyrus americana 



Picea canadensis Prunus pennsylvanica 



Picca mariana Acer rubrum 



As a rule the dominant shrub of the heath mat is Vaccinium 

 pennsylvanicum. But Vaccinium canadense may be equally 

 abundant; while in some places the Kalmia forms an almost 

 pure growth, or may grow mixed with Rhododendron. Gaul- 

 theria and Epigaea usually form a lower story of vegetation ; and 

 the same, locally, is true of Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea. Empetrum 

 is particularly characteristic of exposed bluffs along the seacoast, 

 and will be referred to again in that connection. Occasionally 

 the grasses, Danthonia spicata and Deschampsia flexuosa, are 

 dominant forms. 



The coniferous forest association-type. — As already pointed 

 out, trees may inhabit the crevices at an early stage in the suc- 

 cession. With the improvement of soil relations which results 



Trans. Conx. Acad., Vol. XXII 20 1918 



