TRANSACTIONS OF WAGNER 



10 



THE VEGETATION OF THE HACKENSACK MARSH: A TYPICAL AMERICAN FEN 



NORTH AMERICAN FENS 



The American counterparts of the fen formation of England and other 

 parts of the world have been studied in a number of localities, but we lack 

 ecologic details for a large number of areas of marsh which belong to this 

 category. About the head of Cayuga Lake, in Central New York State, is 

 found Renwick Marsh, near Ithaca. The largest association of plants in this 

 marsh consists of two predominating species of cattail, Typha latifolia and 

 T. angustifolia, with the former more abundant. The two plants seldom 

 mingle and are associated with few other plants. The species of Typha reach 

 a height of 8 to 9 feet, and the growth in height is completed by the latter 

 part of June or early July. This association furnishes the optimum condi- 

 tions for certain birds. Such are the red-winged blackbirds,* coots, Florida 

 gallinules, and the least bittern. 



Skokie Marsh is associated with Skokie Stream along the west side of 

 Lake Michigan in Illinois. The reed-marsh association is the principal one 

 of the marsh. Within the associations of Nymphcea and Castalia almost pure 

 growths of Typha latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, Scirpus fluviatilis, S. 

 validus occur, associated with scattering plants of Sagittaria latifolia, Sium 

 cicutcBfolium, Dulichium arundinaceum, and Decodon verticillatum. In certain 

 parts of the reed marsh, at stations sHghtly less hydrophytic, Phragmites 

 communis grows. Elsewhere there are scattered patches of Iris versicolor and 

 Acorus calamus. 



Sherfff has studied in a detailed manner and has made careful drawings 

 of the under surface stems and roots of the t3rpical marsh plants which come 

 into competition. He finds that two or more species may be associated har- 

 moniously, because — (i) their subterranean stems may be at different depths; 

 (2) their roots may thus be produced at different depths; (3) even where the 

 roots are produced at the same depth, they may make unHke demands on the 

 soil. 



Wild rice, Zizania aquatica, is a tall-growing marsh grass found in espe- 

 cially pure growths in the ponds and lakes characteristic of Wisconsin and 

 Minnesota, where the falle avoine has been from the earhest times gathered 



* Allen, Arthur: The Red- winged Blackbird: A Study in the Ecology of a Cattail Marsh. 

 Proc. Linn. See. of New York, 1911-13: 43-128. 



t Sherff, Earl E.: The Vegetation of Skokie Marsh. Bot. Gaz., LIII: 415-43S. May, 191 2. 



