189 



tracts.* The second stage In the sand plains succession is 

 dominated by the bunch grass, and not infrequently the areas 

 controlled by this grass are so large, and the tenacity with which 

 this control is retained so great, that, in the opinion of the writer, 

 they should be recognized as edaphic prairies (fig. 7). Except 

 for their smaller size they resemble the well known natural prairie 

 of western Long Island. f 



Beside the bunch grass and some of the species already men- 

 tioned the vegetation of these prairies includes many other her- 

 baceous forms, nearly all of which are perennial. The following 

 species are perhaps as representative as any: 



Artemisia caudata Lupiniis perennis 



Asclepias verticillata Lysimachia quadrifolia 



Aster linariifoliiis Paniciim depauperatum 



Carex Muhlenhergii Poa compressa 



Cyperus filiculmis var. Potentilla canadensis 



macilentus Pteris aquilina 



' Desmodium canadense Riimex Acetosella 



Eragrostis pectinacea Sericocarpiis asteroides 



Erigeron canadensis Solidago nemoralis 



Fragaria virginiana Viola fimbriatnla 



Also two low shrubs, Myrica asplenifolia and Rubus villosus, are 

 almost invariably present and seem to form a constituent part 

 of the prairie vegetation. 



Sooner or later grassland is destined to be replaced by forest. 

 Sometimes a short-lived shrub stage intervenes, but quite as 

 often shrubs and trees appear at about the same time. Most of 

 the shrubs listed in connection with the shrub stage of the trap 

 rock succession are represented in the corresponding phase of 

 the sand plains succession, while several species not there men- 

 tioned may also be prominent, e. g., Juniperus communis, Kalmia 

 angustifolia, Myrica carolinensis, and Rhus Toxicodendron. The 

 pioneer trees include Juniperus virginiana, Betula popidifolia, 

 Pinus rigida, and Rohinia Pseud- Acacia. The last named species 



* See Britton, op. cit., p. 579. 



t See Harper, R. M. The Hempstead Plains of Long Island. Torreya 12: 

 277-286./. 1-7. 1912; also Bull. Am. Geog. Soc. 43: 351-360./. 1-5. 1911. 



