336 



George E. Nichols, 



The general aspect of the vegetation, as just described, is 

 xerophytic. Under favorable edaphic conditions, however, it 

 may be much more mesophytic. In moist meadows the grass 

 forms a denser growth and is made up largely of species such as 

 Poa pratensis, Agrostis alba, and Anthoxanthum odoratum. 

 Common associates of the grasses here are Euphrasia purpurea 

 Reeks and Rhinanthus Crista- galli. The Euphrasia occupies 

 much the same ecological position in the fields of northern Cape 

 Breton as does Houstouia cacnilea in those of southern New 



Figure 34. — Abandoned field with white spruce and Dicksonia; Bar- 

 rasois. 



England. Any of the perennial herbs referred to above may 

 grow in moist meadows, but here, in addition, pronounced meso- 

 phytes, such as the orchids, Habenaria clavellata, H. lacera, and 

 H. psycodcs, are also frequent. 



Whenever a field is permitted to run wild, Dicksonia puncti- 

 lobula (Fig. 34), Pteris aquilina, Anaphalis margaritacea, and 

 other herbaceous perennials which grazing or haying have held 

 in check tend to assert themselves, while various shrubs may also 

 become conspicuous. Among the latter, Juniperus communis 

 depressa, Rubus idaeus canadensis and Vaccinium pennsyl- 



