126 



Vitls cordifoUa. Far more common, however, the common milk weed, 

 Asclepias Syriaca, the bug-seed, Gnrispermum hyssopifoUund and Puccoon, 

 Lithospm-mum Gi'iicUni. This last is by far the most common of the groups, 

 consisting in many instances a large proportion of the plants, A golden 

 rod is not at all imcommon in sucli situations, but I am not certain what 

 species it is. T am, ho^\ever, confident it is not S. virgaurea gillmanl, to 

 which it is referred by Dr. Cowles in "The Ecological Relations of the 

 Vegetation of the Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan." In no two cases are the 

 conditions exactly similar, so that in spite of the paucity of species there is 



At times the Artemisias are dominant plants over considerable areas. 



no monotony. Different dominant species, differing proportions of those 

 occurring make each area a special study, if we add to these the varying 

 adaptations of the sa)ne species and the fact that at best any victory of the 

 plants is but apparent, we can understand something of the complexity of 

 the problem. The illustration on page 127 shows a large pine dying because 

 of an uncovering of its roots during the storm mentioned above. 



The succulent type of annuals was not so strongly marked as I had ex- 

 pected, but dissected leaves, the profile position, inrolling of leaf blades, and 

 coverings of hairs seemed the dominant adaptations against the excessive 

 transpiration and doubtless also against the fierce heat of the sun. Against 

 the wind action the prostrate or trailing habit and great rigidity were the 

 prevailing ada]:)tations among herbaceotis plants. Against sand coverings, 

 nodal rooting and branching root stocks are almost universal among the 



