THE VEGETATION OF MONTAUK 4 1 



exposure where there is a break in these, and in other particulars. The 

 main fact of significance seems to be that the wooded kettleholes exhibit a 

 chmax condition of the vegetation, comparatively stable so far as changes 

 are concerned, and in this respect unlike any of the vegetation types thus 

 far dealt with. For we have seen that the most protected parts of the 

 Downs may become invaded ultimately by patches of bush, which them- 

 selves sometimes lead to higher bushes and possibly, but rarely, to stunted 

 trees. Where there is protection from wind this may result in considerable 

 areas of scrub or forest. This has happened, notably toward Gin Beach, 

 a region near the north (lee) end of Great Pond. Here there are consider- 

 able areas of stunted oak woods that appear to have started in the method 

 suggested in the preceding paragraphs. 



Most of the kettleholes at Montauk could probably be sorted into the 

 different categories that have been described, or into easily recognizable 

 variants of them. One or two curious exceptions are interesting, however. 

 In an upland kettlehole between the Inn and CuUoden Point there is 

 practically no Downs vegetation, but the floor of it is packed with Trio- 

 steum perfoliatum, interspersed with a thicket-like growth of Euthamia 

 tenuifolia, Solidago rugosa, Panicum clandestinum , Asdepias syriaca, and 

 an occasional bush of Rosa Carolina. Triosteum perfoliatum besides this 

 Montauk record is known only from a rich woods at Orient, then not for 

 a hundred miles to the west and again in rich woods which is its usual 

 habitat. Its occurrence in such profusion in this upland kettlehole, only 

 just out of range of the wind, and in full sunlight, is curious. 



The other kettehole is Great Pond, near the north end of which there is 

 an island. This is just above the water level of the lake and contains the 

 tallest trees at Montauk. In fact the appearance of this densely wooded 

 island suggests an unbroken occupancy by the forest. The forest floor here 

 is quite like that of other forests, and not at all like the undergrowth of the 

 wooded kettleholes already described. Because of these conditions a list 

 of the plants found there is given: 



Quercus coccinea 



Quercus alba 



Quercus velutina 



Quercus rubra 



Hicoria sp. 



Amelanchier sp. 



Viburnum venosum 



Corylus americana 



Hamamelis virginiana 



