ST. JOHN: SABLE ISLAND. 73 



Arenaria lateriflora L., var. typica (Regel) St. John. Turfy 

 banks and grass-covered dunes. J. Macoun; H. T. Gussow; H. St. 

 John, no. 1,227 (H). 



Fr. August. 



[A. GROENLANDICA (Retz.) is recorded by J. Dwight, Jr. (D. p. 

 14). I searched for this specimen in the Herbarium of the New York 

 Botanical Garden, but could not find it. I strongly suspect the plant 

 is A. lateriflora, var. typica.] 



[A. PEPLOIDES L. Recorded by J. Dwight, Jr. (D. p. 14) and by 

 J. Macoun (M. p. 213A) is probably to be treated as of the var. 



robusta.] 



A. peploides L., var. robusta Fernald. See Rhodora, xi. 114 

 (1909). Very abundant at the top of the beaches, on the dry bars 

 and sand spits. As is the case with Ammophila, this plant plays an 

 important part in the affairs of the island. The terns of three sorts 

 which nest on the sand flats, almost invariably place their nests in a 

 clump of the Arenaria. From a somewhat unusual cause, a botanist 

 finds great difficulty in collecting good specimens of this abundant 

 plant. For weeks he can inspect clump after clump of the Arenaria 

 and find that in each case there has been an earlier visitor, and a 

 very destructive one. This succulent, free-growing plant is the 

 choicest fodder of the "gangs" of wild ponies that roam the island, 

 and as these total anywhere from two to four hundred ponies, it is 

 easy to see how they would make serious depredations on any plant 

 growing only in a limited portion of an area of about fifteen square 

 miles. Taking the hint from the ponies, I myself tried munching a 

 sprig of the Arenaria, and found it of good texture, juicy and with a 

 strong but not unpleasant taste resembling that of cabbage. J. 

 Dwight, Jr. (D. p. 14); J. Macoun; H. T. Gussow; H. St. John, 

 no. 1,228 (H). 



Fr. August. 



STELLARIA GRAMINEA L. A weed, established at the Main Life 

 Saving Station. J. Macoun; H. St. John, no. 1,229 (H). 

 FL, Fr. August. 



S. MEDIA (L.) Cyrill. A weed, thoroughly established at the 

 Main Life Saving Station. J. Macoun (C. no. 21,154); H. St. John, 

 no. 1,230 (H). 



FL, Fr. July and August. 



