British North American Plants. 5 
times, but this does not necessarily follow in the absence of 
other more direct evidence. Thevery fact of their flourish- 
ing now on the fresh-water lake coasts shows how—n 
doubt after a severe struggle—they have, but in greatly 
diminished numbers, adapted themselves to the new condi- 
tions in which in the one case the saline element, and in 
the other, the moist atmosphere of the sea shore, were 
wanting. We can conceive how, in these distant times, 
when the sea had receded and when the struggle with 
changed circumstances had ended in the survival of some, 
these survivors could, in the usual course, find their way 
from the former sca shore to the inland seas, and spread 
themselves around their borders. Some further evidence is 
needed of the fresh or saline condition of these inland seas 
of glacial and post-glacial times. In the meantime, it is to 
be observed that the largest number of the inland maritime 
plants are found around Lake Ontario and smaller sheets of 
water east and south of it. 
The maritime plunts occurring on the coasts of the Great 
Lakes include the following :— 
Ranunculus cymbalaria, Pursh. Euphorbia polygonifolia, L. 
Cakile Americana, Nutt. Myrica cerifera, L. 
Hudsonia ericoides, L. Naias major, All. 
H. tomentosa, Nutt. Ruppia maritima, L. 
Spergularia media, Presl. Triglochin maritimum, L. 
Hibiscus Moscheutos, L. T. palustre, L. 
Lathyrus maritimus, Bigel. Juncus Gerardi, Lois. 
Atriplex hastata, L. Sciopus maritimus, L. 
Salicornia herbacea, L. Calamagrostis arenaria, Roth. 
Polygonum aviculare, L. Leptochloa fascicularis, Gray. 
Var. littorale, Link. Spartina stricta, Roth. 
P. articulatum, L. Var. alternifolia, Gray. 
Rumex maritimus, L. Hordeum jubatum, L. 
These inland maritime plants can be regarded as one of our 
older floras, dating back to at least the times of the Leda 
clays. 
EASTERN COAST GROUP, 
The following species may be taken as illustrative of this 
group in Canada. Where they occur in the United States, 
they have, with two exceptions, a similar range there :— 
