74 HARSHBERGER— LEAF STRUCTURE OF [April 23, 



of Barnegat Inlet the salt marshes widen out until in places they may 

 be from two to four miles wide cut by thoroughfares into character- 

 istic marsh islands. The tidal channels are generally bordered 

 throughout the two regions by the tall salt grass, Spartina stricta 

 maritima, back of which occur Spartina patens, Juncus Gerardi and 

 Distichlis spicafa. On the flat marsh only flooded to a depth of 

 an inch or two at high tide occur Limonium caroJ'uiiannm, Plantago 

 maritima, Aster siihulatiis, Sucrda linearis, Distichlis spicata, Cheno- 

 podinm rubrum, Pluchea camphorata, Salicornia hcrbacca, S. mii- 

 cronata, Tissa marina and Gerardia maritima, while Baccharis 

 halimifolia and Hibiscus moscheutos occur in salt marsh soil which 

 is never flooded with each rising tide. Eleocharis pygmcsus forms 

 floating mats in the sloughs surrounded by salt marsh at Sea Side 

 Park (Plate III, Fig. 4). 



EcoLOGic Factors. 



The ecologic factors must be considered under two heads, be- 

 cause the strand plants are found growing under two distinct en- 

 vironmental conditions. The typic strand plants display various 

 xerophytic adaptations to their growth in the silicious sand of the 

 sea beaches and sand dunes. The factors which are instrumental 

 in producing the xerophytic structures which the leaves of strand 

 plants show may be considered to be the following: (i) The per- 

 meability of the sand to water, so that after a rain the surface 

 layers dry out. (2) The action of strong winds that blow across 

 the sandy beaches increasing the rate of transpiration materially 

 and carrying sand, which is directed against the plant, as a sand- 

 blast. (3) The relatively dry soil and the increased transpiration 

 by wind action necessitates the adoption of structures which will 

 enable the plant to conserve its water supply. (4) The reflection 

 of light from the sand and the foam-crested breakers beyond is 

 influential, but this influence is not so marked as in Bermuda where 

 the sand is a white coral sand and presumably the sunlight is 

 reflected to a greater extent. (5) The illumination from above has 

 also been effective, but perhaps not so much so as in Bermuda. 

 (6) The action of the salt spray blown inland by the wind is 



