Northern Pine Barren-Strand District. 411 
sand Salsola kali grows in the greatest abundance, and an inspection indi- 
cates that the tide must flow at times between the Salsola patches. On the 
far side of the tidal pool are found, in association with isolated clumps of the 
marram grass, Ammophila arenaria, growths of an annual Atriplex arenaria. 
Proceeding up the beach in a straight line, a wind-swept area tenanted by 
marram grass and isolated plants of Aanthium (echinatum), Euphorbia, Salsola 
kali (not as a character plant), Seswvium maritimum and Sirophostyles hel- 
vola are passed. The only area which merits the name Ammophila-Strip oc- 
cupies the portion of the beach adjoining that described, but the sand grass, 
Ammophila arenaria, although abundant here, hardly can be called a zonal 
plant at present, although it has commenced to build a frontal dune, which 
when raised above the level of the beach (a stage which it has not yet reached) 
may separate the middle beach from the upper beach sufficiently to merit the 
application of the zonal name to this area of the Wildwood sea-strand. The 
sand grass growing here was found in full flower associated with Arenaria 
peploides, gathering the sand about it, and Strophostyles helvola, creeping 
out as a radiant plant in all directions. The Oenothera humifusa-strip or 
upper beach, comprises the hollow place in front of the low frontal dune and 
the seaward face of the dune itself. Here grow in perfect harmony Gerardia 
purpurea, Strophostyles helvola with narrower leaflets, Solidago sempervirens 
with thick leaves, which is found on the lee face of the sea dunes farther 
northward, Zrigeron canadensis. and Oenothera humifusa — the plant which 
gives name to this interesting assemblage of species. The latter is chosen as 
a character plant, because Cape May county represents the northern limit of 
its distribution, which extends to Florida. This species is essentially southern 
in its range, occurring on the sea beaches of the southern states. Its presence 
is proof of the mild climate of Wildwood. The lower face of the dune here 
supports Zactuca canadensis and life-everlasting, Anaphalis margaritacea. 
Dune Formation. Ammophila Strip. Upon the top and lee side of the 
sea dune at Sea Side Park, which extends in some places uninterruptedly there 
for a distance of half a mile, with a uniform height of about ı5 feet, and at 
a uniform distance from the ocean front, grows the best of all sand-binders, 
Ammophila arenaria. Associated in a remarkable ecologic way with this grass 
is the sand pea, Zaihyrus maritimus, which flourishes with it on the dune 
summit and supplies the grass by means of its tubercles with nitrogenous ma- 
terial which stimulates the growth of the marran grass, so that it-makes a 
denser growth. 
Myrica Strip. Just behind the high dune which faces the ocean and on 
its lee slope, protected by the top of the dune, is met an extensive belt of 
Myrica carolinensis which occurs normally at Sea Side Park, South Atlantic 
City and Ocean City, but is absent at Wildwood. It occurs typically at Sea- 
side Park and also clearly defined at South Atlantic City, but at Ocean City 
it is broken up in two parallel areas behind the second and third series of 
dunes. Normally it should occur behind the first or frontal dune. Isolated 
