MARYLAND WEATHEK SERVICE SI 



Heterotheca pubaxillaris 

 Maryland: Wicomico County. 



Chrysopsis graminifolia 



Maryland: Wicomico County. 



The southern relationship of the flora of the Coastal Zone is 

 emphasized by the occurrence of members of such families as the 

 Melastomaceae, Bignoniaceae, Loganiaccae, Ebenaceae and Symplo- 

 caceae, all of which reach their greatest development in tropical and 

 subtropical regions, as well as by the occurrence of the shrubby Com- 

 positae Ira frutescens and Baccharis halimifolia, the main branches 

 of which are hardy in all but the most severe winters. A number of 

 tropical or subtropical exotics may be grown without winter protec- 

 tion in the Coastal Zone, but are rarely hardy in the Midland. 

 Among these are the Fig (Ficus carica), the Mimosaceous tree 

 Albizzia julibrassin, the Crepe-myrtle, {Lagevstroemia indica) and 

 the Pomegranate (Punica granatitm). The predominance of pines, 

 together with the occurrence of several broad-leaved evergreens, 

 marks the relationship with the southern coastal pine belt and with 

 the sub-tropical evergreen broad-leaved forests with which Maryland 

 is in unbroken connection. In March the observer of the vegetation 

 in the Coastal Zone may find leaves on Magnolia virginiana, Ilex 

 opaca, Ilex glabra, Kalmia latifolia, Kalmia angustifolia, Myrica 

 rcrifcra, Euonymus americanus and Smilax rotundifolia, as well as 

 on such herbaceous plants as Chimaphila maculata. Chimaphila 

 umbellata, MUchella repens, Gaulfheria procumbens, Tipularia uni- 

 folia and Dryopteris achrostichoides. 



The noticeable richness of the Coastal Zone flora in Cyperaceae, 

 < rramineae and Compositae, together with its poverty in rock-plants, 

 vernal herbs and other herbaceous plants of deep forests, leads up to 

 the subject of the habitats which are confined to the Coastal Zone. 

 The marked geologic and topographic features of the Coastal Plain 

 determine the occurrence of plant habitats which are not to be found 

 beyond its borders. Of these it is necessary to mention in some 

 detail a) the Strand, b) the Salt Marshes, c) the Pine Barrens. 



