ALTAMAHA GRIT REGION OF GEORGIA 



77 



in bulk all the rest of the vegetation combined. The trees and 

 shrubs are mostly evergreen, but probably none of the herbs 

 are. There are no vines (except the unique Pier is phillyrei- 

 folia), and no epiphytes or parasites have been noted. 



Adaptations for reducing transpiration (principally taking 

 the form of coriaceous or reduced leaves) are just as conspicuous 

 here as in the pine-barrens. Coreopsis nudata, differing from all 

 its congeners in having terete leaves, is an excellent example. 

 Saururus and Pontederia, with broad thin cordate leaves, seem 

 rather anomalous ; but the Saururus is more frequently found in 

 shaded places, and the Pontederia has narrower leaves in these 

 ponds than anywhere else. Both of these species have a wide 

 range, and are by no means confined to ponds. 



An interesting character of the pond vegetation is that most 

 of the species have their stems noticeably enlarged toward the 

 base, more so than their congeners (if any) which grow in other 

 habitats. This is most conspicuous in the cypress itself, but is 

 pretty well exhibited by the Pinus and Nyssa. Among the 

 herbs Ludwigia pilosa often has a spongy bark several times as 

 thick as the rest of the stem, and many other species have stems 

 which are perceptibly spongy inside toward the base. 1 

 . The number of flowers seems to be greatest in midsummer. 



Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 



20 

 10 



-t ( t _ -JrS- - , I A" H -~7 T 



20 

 10 



Fig. io. 

 Phsenological diagram for 46 plants of cypress ponds. 



Fourteen species have anemophilous flowers, 11 yellow, 7 white, 3 

 purple, and 3 blue. The purple flowers (all pink purple) are much 

 larger and more conspicuous than the blue, and also a little more 

 abundant. The average flowering period is exceptionally long, 

 55 days. 



'• For references to morphological notes on Pluchea bifrons, Stillingia 

 aquatica, and Taxodium imbricarium see the catalogue of species. 



