OREGON COAST FLORA 341 



dwarfed, but in a few cases they are exceptionally large ; pubescence 

 is relatively scant and the leaves are slightly thickened. 



Several of the true halophytes, for one reason or another, are of 

 particular interest. Such are the following : 



Abronia latifolia. — This species grows in abundance on the beach 

 in various places, especially at the mouth of Alsea bay, where over 

 Cjuite a large area the fine clean sand is piled into rounded, billowy 

 drifts, each drift crowned with one of these plants. The prostrate 

 stems are completely buried and only the fleshy leaves and umbels of 

 fragrant, orange-colored flowers are visible. The species is doubtless 

 of considerable importance in catching and holding the drifting sand. 



Angelica Hcndcrsoni is a remarkable species, differing widely from 

 others of the genus in its thick, leathery leaves and very dense umbels. 

 It grows most abundantly along the extreme seaward margins of the 

 shore blufi^s, where it is often wet with driving clouds of spray. Here 

 it is very low and stout. Farther back, in more protected situations, 

 it is much taller. 



Convolvulus soldancUa. — This species is plentiful on the seaward 

 faces of sandy bluffs just above the beach where the latter is narrow. 

 It does not form a sufficiently close growth to greatly retard the 

 movement of the sand. 



Elynius arcnarius. — This large, coarse grass is common along the 

 seaward slopes of shore bluffs and dunes, and is more or less effective 

 in checking the movements of the latter. 



Erigeron glaiiciis is a low, stout, succulent plant, rarely to be found 

 where it is not often wet with salt water. It is most abundant on 

 exposed cliffs and projecting headlands. 



Franseria bipinnatifida and F. chaniissonis. — These species grow 

 in precisely the same situations as Abronia latifolia. F. chaniissonis 

 is by far the more abundant of the two, occupying a large portion of 

 the sand-drift area at the mouth of Alsea bay. The copious, silvery 

 gray foliage with a satiny luster gives the plant a very striking and 

 attractive appearance. 



Jnncus lesctirii. — An abundant and characteristic species of the 

 deep drifting sand and young dunes of the higher beach. The long 

 decumbent and tangled wiry stems spring from a deep and strongly 

 developed rootstock system. It is of importance in checking the 

 movement of the wind-blown sand. 



Jitncus falcatus. — Very plentiful in wet sand on the low beach, 

 where it sometimes forms almost a turf. 



