188 



Two annual species are especially characteristic of such areas^ 

 viz. Hypericum gentianoides and Trichostema dichotomum. Asso- 

 ciated with these may grow Asclepias syriaca, Baptisia tinctoria, 

 Helianthemum majus, Lespedeza capitata, Oenothera biennis, Poly- 

 gonella articulata, Stenophyllus capillaris and occasional repre- 

 sentatives of the succeeding stage in the succession. These 

 barren tracts are often quite extensive, one area near North 

 Haven, according to Britton, covering from So to 90 acres. 



Tufts of bunch grass (Andropogon scopariiis) are always more 

 or less in evidence on these barrens. At first widely scattered, 



Fig. 7. Edaphic prairie; North Haven. The predominating plant is Andro- 

 pogon scoparius. The dark patches near the center of the picture are shrubs — 

 Myrica asplcnifoUa and Myrica carolinensis. All of the herbaceous species listed 

 on page 189 could probably be found here. 



they may gradually become more numerous (fig. 6) so that 

 eventually, as more and more soil is preempted, a permanent 

 plant cover is established. Other plants beside the bunch grass 

 may fulfil an important role in the reclamation process, notably 

 the moss, Polytrichum piliferum, and species of Cladonia (e. g., 

 C. sylvatica, C. papillaria). These usually appear in company 

 with the bunch grass, occupying the soil between the tufts; but 

 sometimes mosses or lichens alone may reclaim considerable 



