MacMillan : shores at lake of the woods. 971 



of the Northwest Angle shore. Without question Oak point is 

 one of the most wind- swept points on the whole lake, and the 

 dwarfed types of plants which are established upon the mid- 

 strand would seem to be a reaction to such an exposed situa- 

 tion. Two types of mid-strand may therefore be defined, with 

 reference to adaptation to prevailing winds. 



I. Prunus mid-strand. Prunus pumila, the dominant and 

 characteristic plant. Example, the Oak point midstrand. 

 {Plate LXXI.) 



II. Comas mid strand. Cornus sericea and Cornus baileyi, 

 the dominant and characteristic plants. Larger Salix shrubs 

 and special twining and shade-loving plants are also estab- 

 lished upon such a mid-strand. Example, the Sandy beach 

 midstrand. Plate LXXII, in the background, shows this 

 type of mid-strand as developed on the sheltered side of Isle aux 

 Sables. 



A third type should be added, according to my observations 

 on mid-strand in quieter bays. For example, on the north side 

 of Garden island, shielded from the winds and waves of the 

 Grand Traverse, and enclosed from most of the surf and white 

 caps of the Little Traverse, is a bay with finely developed mid- 

 strand upon which Salix fluviatilis is the dominant plant. This 

 is a very level and gently sloping beach, and at the back other 

 species of Salix, S. discolor, S. nigra and S. amygdaloides, form 

 an abundant growth. The beach is exposed to rather frequent 

 inundations, but to slight wind action or surf impact. The 

 peculiar prevalence of the Salix fluviatilis formation may be 

 regarded as a response to this group of conditions. 



III. Salix mid-strand. Salix fluviatilis, the dominant and 

 characteristic plant; but few other species, e. g. Capnoides 

 micranthum, Chenopodium album, Polygonum ramosissimum, es- 

 tablished. Example, the northeast bay of Garden island (Plate 

 LXX.) 



The three types of mid- strand appear to be practically the 

 only types that can be isolated over all the beach area that I 

 have studied at Lake of the Woods. That there should be three 

 types, 1, a group of numerous, low, small leaved forms, the 

 Primus mid-strand; 2, a group of numerous, higher, many of 

 them large leaved forms, the Cornus mid-strand; and, 3, a group 

 of homogeneous low plants, long leaved, deep rooted, the Salix 

 mid-strand, is connected, I believe, with three different groups 

 of conditions. Thus it would appear that strong wird, occa- 

 sional light surf and almost continuous spray favors the devel- 



