Biological Survey — Genesee River 87 



Appendix VIII 



Salt Plants of Wolf Creek 



BY W. C. MUENSCHEK 



Due to the waste from the Remington Salt Factory at Silver 

 Springs, the vegetation of AVolf creek and the marshy ground 

 near its shores contains several species of plants which are char- 

 acteristic of the salt marshes and ponds along the Atlantic coast. 

 The salt waste enters Wolf creek at Silver Springs, and its effect 

 upon the vegetation is noticeable for several miles, at least to below 

 Castile. The following salt plants were observed August 30, 1926 : 



1. Ruppia maritima L. This plant was found growing in Wolf 

 creek in several places between Silver Springs and Castile. 



2. Juncus gerardii Loisel. The black grass of the Atlantic 

 coast covered extensive areas which had been soaked with salt 

 water. It was especially common along the edge of a pond and 

 on some swampy ground just below the salt factory. 



3. Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. This grass, which with the 

 preceding species, forms the bulk of the ''wild hay" of the salt 

 marshes of the Atlantic coast, apparentlj^ has never been reported 

 so far inland. The only records for this species in New York 

 State are from the shores of Long Island and the vicinity of 

 New York City. It was found on the low, swampy ground below 

 the salt factory at Silver Springs, where it formed dense mats over 

 considerable areas. In some places it produced a pure stand, 

 but around the edges of the dense mats it was also associated with 

 Juncus gerardii. 



4. Salicornia europaea L. Was found growing in several places 

 about the margin of salt water pools and along the low ground, 

 which is sometimes covered by the water from Wolf creek, just 

 below the salt factory. On several small mud bars this species 

 was the only plant present. 



5. Chenopodium glaucum L. This species is not restricted to 

 saline habitats, but it was common about the salt factory at Silver 

 Springs. It was growing in profusion in one locality between 

 the salt factory and a pond where the soil was so salty that its 

 surface was almost covered with crystals of sodium chloride. 

 Except for the presence of this species the ground was bare. 



6. Polygonum avicuhtre L. This widely distributed species, 

 which is usually not associated with a saline habitat was found in 

 situations similar to the one in which Chenopodium glaucum was 

 growing. In several places it was the only plant growing in soil 

 which was apparently soaked with salt water. 



7. Enferomorpha intestinalis (L.) Grev., was the only macro- 

 scopic marine alga observed in Wolf creek. This species was very 

 abundant in a number of places, some of which were over three 

 miles from the source where the salt water enters AVolf creek. 



Actinasfrum, hanfsschii Lagerh. Green alga in salt water about 

 salt factory. 



Spiridina subsalsa Oersted. Blue-green alga among Oscillatoria 

 sp. in Mill pond, Wolf creek. 



