VEGETATION OF BLAKENEY POINT. 53 



these patches a few scattered Obiones mark the advance-guard 

 of the enemy. 



The older marshes are for the most part a thick carpet of 

 Obione from one to two feet in height, amongst which the only 

 plant which appears to grow with success is Glyceria maritima; 

 Plantago and Aster are also present, but scattered and of rather 

 rare occurrence. 



The low patches unoccupied as yet by Obione, which are 

 found near the centre, as in the fifth marsh, chiefly differ from 

 those of the first in the abundance of Plantago maritima, and 

 in the presence of a slight mulch of Pelvetia. The following 

 is a list of the species of these patches, shewing their relative 

 frequencies : 



Plantago maritima (v.c.) 



Statice Limonium (v.c.) 



Armeria maritima (v.c.) 



Triglochin maritimum (c.) 



Spergularia media (c.) 



Salicornia europaea (r.r.) 



Glyceria maritima 



. in patches 

 Obione portulacoides J 



Nearly all the marshes are bordered where they abut upon 

 laterals by a fringe of Artemisia maritima of varying width, 

 the members of which frequently intermingle with those of the 

 lowest or Suceda zone of the lateral hooks. 



For the latest stages of salt marsh formation it is necessary 

 to pass across to those on the opposite side of the Cley channel. 

 Here, where the marshes are of much higher level, the increase 

 of the Glyceria sward is a marked feature, as also the substitu- 

 tion of such species as Salicornia ramosissima, S. gracillima, 

 S. disarticulata for the Salicornia europcea of the earlier 

 phases. 



The following list is fairly representative of nearly all the 

 saltings on the far side (south) of the channel : 

 Armeria maritima (v.c.) 

 Glyceria maritima (v.c.) 

 Spergularia media (c.) 



