126 Papers from the Department of Marine Biology. 



than the northern projection and hence had a larger number of build- 

 ings and people on it, and also to the fact that the dock is on this 

 southern side and all persons and commodities entering the fort passed 

 over this strip of land to the sally-port. 



The northern strip or arm of the island has a well-mixed assemblage 

 of species, in which Townefortia, Ipojncea, and Canavalia predominate, 

 with some Uniola, Sccevola, and Iva. Over a tangled mass of iron rods 

 and girders, the ruins of a loading-crane at the coal sheds, there is a 

 luxuriant growth of Calonyction and several stout young bushes of 

 Guilandina crista. Scattered along the western side, near the moat, 

 are numerous Leptilon canadense plants. 



On the eastern side of the fort, outside of the east coal-sheds on the 

 narrow strip of soil between the moat and the beach, there was an 

 extensive area of Glottidium vescarium plants, very luxuriant and of 

 stout, tall growth. Just at the southwest corner of these eastern coal- 

 sheds are two well-grown Rhizophora mangle trees, about 2 meters tall, 

 which had flowers and fruits in 1916. On this strip also occur Sporoho- 

 lus, Sccevola, Suriana, Chamcesyce, Iva, and a few plants of Calonyction. 



As the southeast corner of the fort is approached, the increase in 

 species is apparent as one gets nearer the walk leading to the sally-port. 

 In addition to the above species, masses of Alternanthera maritima and 

 Sesuvium are seen, together with large quantities of the rather showy 

 blue-flowered Valerianoides jamaicense and the long, shining, dark- 

 green, blade-like leaves of Hymenocallis. Scattered with these are 

 Lepidium, Argemone, and Portulaca. 



Most of the species lie to the left of the walk on going in to the sally- 

 port. Here are numerous grasses, Paspalmn, Syntherisma, Capriola, as 

 well as Uniola and Cenchrus, which were likewise noted along the 

 eastern side. Sporobolus, also, is fairly abundant and some of the 

 sedge Cyperus brunneus. Near the old tumbled-in cistern are masses of 

 Calonyction, Hymenocallis, Ipomcea, and the castor-oil plant, Ricinus 

 communis, resembling trees, some being 10 to 15 feet tall, and with these 

 many plants of Leptilon, Ipomcea, and Iva. Along the curving shore 

 between the dock and the southern coal-shed were several young trees 

 of Thespesia and Suriana. These are probably self-sown in the rather 

 sheltered nook. Along the inner side of the coal-sheds among ballast 

 were many plants of Sonchus oleraceus and Leptilon, which are in reality 

 ballast plants. Stretching along the ridge of sand on the western side 

 of the southern projection is a thick association of Uniola interspersed 

 with Leptilon, Cenchrus, Iva, and Canavalia. 



On the inner side, near the moat, is a mixture of Bidens leucantha, 

 Melanthera brevifolia, Boerhaavia viscosa, Sccevola, and Chamcesyce. On 

 the westernmost side of this area was found the only station for 

 Chamcesyce hyperidfoUa in the entire Tortugas. These low- tufted, 

 grayish plants grow thickly under several Tournefortia bushes. 



