350 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
A. HALOPHYTIC DIVISION (HALOPHYTIA). 
Consists of herbaceous plants of compact low growth, small size, 
and xerophytic structure, these features being determined by the 
presence of much salt, which both prevents the ready absorption of 
water requisite for large size and diffuse habit, and also, being wself 
injurious to the vital processes and not removable by plants from the 
absorbed water, requires the development of water-conserving adapta- 
tions to prevent its concentration in the tissues by transpiration. The 
division here includes but a single formation. 
I. THE WILD SALT-MARSH FORMATION (LIMNODIUM). 
Consists of slender-rooted and surface-following grass-like 
plants (this feature being determined by the fineness and com- 
pactness, and hence the poor aeration of the soil, which does 
not permit thick roots), mostly wind- or self-pollinated and wind- 
disseminated and late blossoming. The area of the salt-marsh 
has been restricted to a small fraction of the original area by 
reclamation through diking, and includes at present only a fringe 
outside the dikes,3° together with certain points (shown in 
jig. 2) unprofitable from their form to dike. The formation here 
includes three associations. 
I. THE SPARTINA STRICTA, OR “SEDGE” ASSOCIATION, OR SPARTINETUM. 
The characteristic association of the immediate edge of the 
salt water extending typically as a belt just above and below 
ordinary high-tide mark and further distinguished to the eye by 
its bright green color, and the stiff habit and close growth of its 
plants ( figs. 7, 8, 9, 70, rr). It extends also in isolated clumps 
much below high-water mark (the ‘‘sedge-bogs’’), follows the 
ditches inside the dikes, occupies depressed areas amongst the 
Staticetum on high marsh, and takes possession of the lakes in 
process of reclamation. The association comprises but a single 
ug Lani ts as follows:37 
s fringe extends not only along the sea but also along the rivers to near 
their thes (as shown by fg. 7), though for the sake of clearness this is not shown on 
the map, fg. 2. 
37 There occurs — with it, or at all events in its situation, and especially 
on the little “cliffs” where the high marsh is being worn away, an abundance of a 
reen alga, Enteromorpha clathrata (Roth.) J. Ag. (auc. G. T. Moore). 
