9 



Barren Plant Formation 



On the level summit of the Navesink Highlands at a point 

 overlooking Sandy Hook Bay occurs a plant formation which is 

 entirely distinct from the surrounding deciduous tree formation 

 previously described. The whole formation is an open one and 

 has not reached a climax condition. Here the edaphic conditions 

 control, because the trees which enter this formation are all more 

 or less dwarfed with their lower branches close to the ground 

 and separated from each other by wide intervals, so that the sun- 

 light can reach the ground all around the base of the trees. The 

 chestnut, Castanea dentata (Marsh) Borkh. ; the red oak, Querais 

 rubra L. ; the scarlet oak, Q. coccinca Wang ; the aspen poplar, 

 Poptdiis trenmloides Michx. ; the red maple, Acer riibnim ; the 

 pignut hickory, Hicoria glabra (Mill) Britt. ; the cherry birch, 

 Betiila lenta L. ; the wild cherry, Prunus serotina Ehrh. ; the 

 tulip poplar, Liriodendron Tiilipifera L. ; the red cedar, Jitnipcriis 

 virginiana L. ; the chesnut oak, Querais prinns L., and the pitch 

 pine, Finns rigida Mill, are components of this unusual forma- 

 tion. Each species is represented in general by a single speci- 

 men which is more or less dwarfed in habit, assuming a rounded 

 form. Associated with these trees and growing in the dry soil, 

 which is bare at intervals, are found such shrubs as Myrica caro- 

 lincvisis Mill, RJms glabra L., Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult., 

 and the following herbaceous plants noted in their summer 

 (August) aspect : Hudso.nia toineiitosa Nutt., Panicinn virgatum 

 L., CJirysopsis falcata (Pursh) Ell., Eiipatorium album L., and 

 Sericocarpus asteroides (L.) B. S. P. Such lianes as Partheno- 

 cissus qiiinqiiefolia (L.) Planch, and Rhus radicaus L. occur in a 

 straggling growth by taking avail of the dwarf trees previously 

 described. The presence of this formation is probably to be ex- 

 plained by the existence of some undenuded remnant of an im- 

 pervious overlying stratum, such as the indurated green earth 

 which stratigraphically is above the characteristic red sand. 



The forest covering of the Navesink Highlands is, therefore, 

 one of great uniformity. Practically, although minor differences 

 are noticeable owing to a difference of exposure and edaphic con- 

 ditions, the chestnut-oak facies represents the climax succession. 



