140 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY 
during long ages of forest growth, marks the upper boundary of the 
beach. The transitional stages have thus been pinched out, and 
opportunities for their investigation are therefore scanty. 
Where the forest ends most abruptly a line of Alnus crispa 
commonly fringes it (fig. 30). Where the transition is slightly more 
gradual there are suggestions of 
intermediate stages. Out among 
the shingle are found scattered 
herbs: Egquisetum arvense L. 
(horsetail), Epilobium angustifo- 
lium L. (fireweed), Deschampsia 
caespitosa (L.) Beauv. (hair 
grass). Rubus triflorus Richards 
(dwarf raspberry) often trails 
over the stones for many deci- 
meters. A more important group 
is made up of low shrubs, among 
which Rubus idaeus var. acu- 
leatissimus (red raspberry); 
Diervilla Lonicera Mill (bush 
honeysuckle), Rosa acicularis 
Lindl., Physocarpus opulifolius 
(L.) Maxim. (ninebark), and 
Rubus parviflorus Nutt. (white- 
flowered raspberry) are most 
prominent. Behind these come 
Fic. 30.—Upper limit of shingle beach the tall shrubs, Alnus crispa 
on the northwest side of the Blake Point most important, and also Cornus 
pene: et a tet Oateels ofoifera and several species o 
Salix. No instance of actual 
transition into the climax forest was observed, but it probably 
follows immediately after the tall shrubs. 
Pato ALTO, CALIFORNIA 
