430 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
WEST LAKE. 
This lake, situated three miles north of Chelsea (Sec. 30, Dexter 
Tp.), is also known locally as Johnson’s Lake. In area it is slightly 
more than a fourth of a square mile (65 hectares). The margin of 
the lake originally extended a half mile (0.8*™) farther west and 
southwest. This part is now occupied by a partially floating bog. 
The north, south, and east shores are sandy and low. Patches of 
bulrushes and water-lilies occur here and there over the lake and show 
its generally shallow character. Toward the east there is a narrow 
swampy outlet by which its water after a long and circuitous route 
reaches the Huron River. There are no streams tributary to the 
lake. The basin lies near the southeastern margin of the interlobate 
moraine, and is bounded on the north and south by hills 60 to 80 feet 
(18-24™) in height. Not all of the original extension to the southwest 
has been filled by peat; two small areas of open water still remain. 
The shores, with the exception of the western side, support a 
vegetation similar to that of many lakes in this region. Three 
societies of plants may be distinguished. 
Aquatics—The most abundant plants are Scirpus lacustris, 
Castalia tuberosa, and Sagittaria rigida. These occur not only along 
shore, but in shallow water throughout the lake. Associated with 
these are Naias flexilis, Brasenia purpurea, Potamogeton heterophyl- 
lus, Chara (sp.), Spirodela polyrhiza, Vallisneria spiralis, Scirpus 
americanus, and Decodon verticillatus. 
Sedge-grass society.—Very near the north, south, and east shores 
occur a great number of species of grass-like plants. Their associations 
vary greatly at different parts of the shore line. ‘The dominant forms 
are Carex filiformis, Panicularia nervata, Eleocharis palustris, Carex 
teretiuscula, C. Muskingumensis, Dulichium arundinaceum, Panicu- 
laria Canadensis, Dryopteris Thelypteris, and Scutellaria galericulata. 
Among the species of secondary importance are Onoclea sensibilis, 
Carex riparia, C. stipata, C. hystricina, C. interior, Spartina cynosut 
oides, Typha latifolia, Iris versicolor, Lobelia Kalmii, Comarum 
palustre, Lycopus americanus, and Eupatorium maculatum. Closely 
associated with these plants are the secdlings of the shrubs and trees 
which make up the next society. 
Willow-maple society—The shrub and tree border is composed, 
Se a 
