45^ George E. Nichols, Vegetation of Northern Cape Breton. 



is infiltrated throughout the mass. The surface vegetation is 

 essentially that of a well-drained swamp. Over considerable 

 areas its ecological aspect is that of a meadow, with sedges and 

 grasses predominating. But as a rule these swales or "hay 

 marshes" alternate with equally extensive patches of alder thicket 

 and swampy woodland (Fig. 70). Similar associations are 

 encountered frequently around the small lakes which lie along 

 the courses of the streams. Here all intergradations occur 

 between typical well-drained swamps and bogs. Along the 

 streams themselves it is only occasionally that patches of bog are 

 encountered, even the plants peculiar to bogs commonly being 

 absent. In the barrens, where especially these flat-floored 

 valkys constitute a prominent topographic feature, the flood 

 plain vegetation here contrasts sharply with that of swamps 

 remote from stream activity. In this connection it is worthy of 

 note that the species of Sphagmmi which play such an important 

 role in bog development are scarce or absent here, although 

 certain other species of Sphagnum, e. g., S. Girgensohnii, S. 

 recurvum, and 6". pahistre, together with such mosses as 

 Chrysophynum stellatum and Drepanocladus fluitans, are com- 

 monly represented, though never developing in any great 

 luxuriance. A list of characteristic vascular plants follows : 



Osmunda Claytoniana 

 Abies balsamea 

 Picea mariana 

 Picea canadensis 

 Larix laricina 

 Agrostis hyemalis 

 Calamagrostis canadensis 

 Glyceria canadensis 

 Scirpus caespitosns 

 Car ex stellulata 

 Carex crinita 

 Car ex aquatilis 

 Carex panciflora 

 Carex polygama 

 Carex oligosperma 

 Carex folliculata 

 J uncus sp. 



Iris versicolor 



Hahenaria dilatata 



Myrica Gale 



Alnus incana 



Spiraea latifolia 



Pyrus arhutifoUa atropitrpurea 



Amelanchicr sp. 



Rosa nit i da 



Viola pallens 



Kalmia angnstifolia 



Chaniaedaphne calycnlata 



Lonicera caerulea 



Viburnum cassinoidcs 



Solidago uliginosa 



Solidago rugosa 



Aster radula 



Aster umbellatns 



