CATALOG OF PLANTS. 07 



The river.s and creek.s runninji into Sajjinaw Bay are much impeded 

 l)y the dunes and drifting sand. Durino; tlieir courses they form many 

 so-called '"ox-bows." the streams almost doubling upon themselves 

 and very materially changing their beds from time to time. Pigeon 

 River, reaching the lake at Caseville, seems at present to flow con- 

 tinuously but its winding course near the mouth, and the many coves 

 and old river beds there show that it has often in the past been impeded 

 if not closed up. The Pinnebog River at Port Crescent, the creek at 

 Port Austin, and most of the streams throughout the sand district 

 were, in the summer of 1909, closed up at their mouths with gravel and 

 sand washed up by the waves. 



Each of the habitats mentioned above harbors plants adapted to such 

 places and in studying and listing the flora of the district all must be 

 taken into consideration. It will be seen therefore that an exhaustive 

 plant list of this region will very probably include nearly all the species 

 of the northern half of Huron County, although the various species 

 vary greatly in abundance in different associations. The present list 

 may be considered a fairly exhaustive one of the flora of the region 

 and should fm'nish substantial data for the study of the geographic 

 distribution of the plants in the state. 



A better locality than Sand Point for a base from which to examine 

 and study the fauna and flora of the sand dune region could hardly 

 have been chosen. It is a comparatively narrow point running from 

 the mainland westward about three and one-half miles into Saginaw 

 Bay. It is not over a mile wide at the east and gradually narrows to 

 a point on the west end. A large outer dune passes along the north 

 side from southwest to northeast, and from about the middle the west 

 end is covered with dunes mostly running parallel with the shore. The 

 balance, a large tract, is flat sandy land vnth only low gravel ridges, 

 numerous marshes, swamps, small creeks and ponds, some of which 

 are spoken of as lakes. In 1908 the fishery buildings were not occupied, 

 and scarcely any signs of cultivation appeared throughout. It was 

 practically a primitive wilderness. 



Vegetation on the beaches and dunes is comparatively ^■ery sparse, 

 but quite primitive, especially on the sandy beach. While fires have 

 many times swept over Huron County, especially over all low and 

 marshy parts that become ver>' dry in mid-summer, the plant covering 

 of dunes and beach has been practically untouched and remains nearly 

 the same as it has been for a long time. Only such plants establish 

 themselves on beaches and dunes as are fitted to endure the hard con- 

 ditions imposed. The shore is often swept by heavy waves and powerful 

 winds, both of which must be resisted. I'nder such conditions it is 

 difficult for seeds to lodge and germinate, or for young seedlings to 



