An Ecological Study of Buckeye Lake. 61 



trees are becoming established. In the wood on the northeast is 

 a young Quercus palustris about 25 feet tall. There are also a 

 number of Q. palustris seedlings, and two, two-year old O. im- 

 bricaria. Close to the water's edge is a young Prunus serotina. 

 Quercus palustris seedlings were also found in the other forest 

 areas. Associated with Acer rubrum and equally characteristic 

 are Alnus rugosa and Rhus vernix. Both of these are small 

 trees rather than shrubs where the environment is most fa- 

 vorable. 



From readings taken from stumps, it is estimated that the 

 largest maples are about 35 years old, they are about 50 feet tall 

 and from 15 to 18 inches in diameter. 



As the entire wooded zone is a blending of the two associa- 

 tions, forest and thicket, I shall treat of them as one. The domi- 

 nant species of the entire wooded belt are Acer rubrum, Alnus 

 rugosa and Rhus vernix. Other tall shrubs and small trees form 

 with them a dense growth. Aronia arbutifolia and A. nigra 

 are everywhere present. Ilex verticillatus is frequent at the more 

 open margins. On the north, east and south sides, Cornus 

 stolonifera forms conspicuous clumps at the water's edge. Also 

 near the water but sometimes in the open bog is an occasional 

 Cephalanthus occidentalis ; Sambucus canadensis is not infre- 

 quent in the more open or central portion of the bog-forest. 

 Scattered all thru the thicket border are the strong thorny canes 

 of Rubus nigrobaccus. Rosa Carolina and Decodon verticillatus, 

 members of the marsh zone, occur also in the western portion of 

 the shrub thicket. Salix discolor, the most abundant willow in 

 the bog, occurs at the margin associated quite frequently with 

 S. petiolaris. A low shrub layer is wanting but at a height of 

 from 2.5-3 fs'^t) the tall broad fronds of Osmunda cinnamomea 

 form a dense stratum. In the more open regions of the shrub 

 and forest zone these ferns have found optimum conditions for 

 growth. The large branching rhizomes and strong leaf bases 

 form hummocks which with the exposed roots of trees and 

 shrubs form in many places the only dry spots in the zone. 

 Where Osmunda is abundant the shade of the fronds permits 



