THE ECOLOGICAL PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



OF MARYLAND; COASTAL ZONE; 



WESTERN SHORE DISTRICT 



M. A. CHRYSLER 



Introductory. 



The Western Shore District is a favorable region for study since 

 topographic maps of the whole area are obtainable, and four out 

 of the six counties have been mapped by the United States Soil 

 Survey in cooperation with the Maryland Geological Survey. The 

 climatic conditions have also been carefully studied. Since Balti- 

 more lies in the district, and Washington lies on its border, lists 

 and collections of plants have been easily available. It was found 

 possible to visit a few of the localities twice, in June and Septem- 

 ber, but most of the work was done during July and August, hence 

 no mention is made of vernal vegetation. This is the less unfor- 

 tunate in that the arborescent vegetation seems to be the most im- 

 portant from the ecological standpoint, and in that the salt marshes 

 -how their most characteristic vegetation in the' latter part of the 

 season. 



Topography and Soils. 



This district of the Coastal Zone lies, as its name implies, on the 

 western shore of Chesapeake Bay. It extends from about latitude 

 38°]Sr to 39° 30'K"., a distance of almost 100 miles, and has a max- 

 imum width of 40 miles in the southern part, where it includes prac- 

 tically all of the counties of Charles, St. Mary's, Calvert, Anne 

 Arundel, and most of Prince George's, while at its northern ex- 

 tremity it narrows rapidly, including a strip along the eastern side 

 of Baltimore and Harford counties. It has approximately the form 



