1919 ^^99' ^^ ^^9 Succession 197 



(Equisetum sp.) although a sedge (Carex sp.) was rather common. Since 

 tiiese three species occurred in similar swampy areas in which there was 

 no Sphagnum it does not appear that the presence of this moss had exerted 

 any selective influence on the plant association. It does not seem that 

 these areas are destined in the ordinary course of events to become sphag- 

 num bogs at all. 



Sphagnum on poorly-drained flat areas 



The large "prairies" near the coast in Grays Harbor county, Wash- 

 ington, show many areas in which there is practically no drainage and in 

 which small patches of sphagnum bog are numerous. Practically the 

 svhole area of these "prairies" is potential bog-forming habitat, and nu- 

 merous early stages of bog succession are seen. In some cases a fairly 

 typical bog stage has been reached. These forest openings or "prairies" 

 lie between the towns of Carlisle and Pacific Beach. The largest one, 

 about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) in diameter, is near Carlisle. This area is 

 extremely flat and very poorly drained, and is characterized mainly by 

 swamp vegetation as sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (Juncus spp.). 

 Grasses were also found as well as marsh marigold and bunchberry 

 (Cornus canadensis). The visit to this area was made on March 7. 

 1918.* At that time a large part of the area was covered with water from 

 2.5 to 30 cm. (1 to 12 inches) deep. 



Two conifers are common in this forest opening. They are the lodge 

 pole pine (Finns contorta) and the Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) . The 

 former is much more common than the latter. Both are found in the 

 neighboring forest but there the spruce is much more abundant than the 

 pine. Both species are much smaller in the opening than in the forest, 

 but the individuals are not misshapen and do not appear stunted. Ap- 

 parently they are pioneers in the conquest of the swampy 

 "prairie" by the forest. To what extent this present invasion by those 

 conifers will result in the establishment of a forest depends largely upon 

 the extent of bog development. The trees will evidently be unable to 

 enter the areas on which Sphagnum is well established and should it sur- 

 round growing trees in its progress it seems probable that the trees will 

 be killed. Such has been the case elsewhere (Turesson 1916. Rigg 1917). 

 No cedar (Thuja plicata) is found in these "prairies" except in a few 

 swampy places. It is common in the neighboring forest. Hemlock (Tsuga 

 heterophylla) is common in the forest but was not found in the "prairie" 

 or the swamp. Douglas fir (Pseudolsuga taxifolia) is found in the forest 

 but not in the prairies or swamps. Sweet gale (Myrica gale) is a common 



* Th^B visit was made by courtesy of tlie late Harry .Taiiips Siiiith of the Bureau of Developiiient, 

 American Red Cross. 



