An Ecological Study of Buckeye Lake. 



67 



dying in many places. The diseased portions vary in extent from 

 a few inches to more than a foot in diameter and in degree from 

 Sphagnum beginning to look wet, grayish and decayed to wholly 

 dead and dried plants. I have not yet been able to satisfy myself 

 as to the cause of the disease. It may be of fungoid origin or 

 due to the mechanical breaking and crushing of the plants. This 

 portion of the bog is frequented by hunters and cranberry pickers 



Fig. 25. — Nymphaea advena a semi aquatic completely surrounded by the 

 encroachinsT bog-meadow. 



and is crossed by many paths. ]\Iuch of the diseased Sphagnum 

 lies in and along these paths. Many of the affected areas are on 

 top of the hummocks at the bases of Rhus and Alnus shrubs. 

 The first evidence of a diseased condition is the wet, greenish- 

 gray appearance of the Sphagnum. Microscopic examination 

 revealed that the fronds are covered with Algae imbedded in 

 gelatin. A Gleocapsa is very abundant both on the surface and 

 in the large hyaline cells of the scales. Nostoc and several other 



