THE VEGETATION OF MONTAUK 3 1 



Ludwigia alternifolia 

 Cyperus dentatus 

 Scirpus debilis 

 Iris versicolor 

 Polygala cruciata 

 Lycopus americanus 

 Agrostis perennans 

 Glycine Apios 

 Oenothera muricata 

 Agalinis purpurea 

 Panicum virgatum 



Dominant in that part of the marginal zone nearest the Downs. 



These plants, with those already mentioned, make up, generally speak- 

 ing, the vegetation of these low kettleholes that have no woody plants in 

 them. The species in certain kettleholes differ somewhat, the individual 

 frequency of the species even in the same kettlehole may differ in different 

 years, but in dozens of them that are in this stage of development, the 

 plants are mostly those indicated. One wide divergence from the type of 

 a kettlehole in approximately this stage comes to mind not far from the Inn, 

 where the bottom of the kettlehole is packed with Decodon verticillatus 

 and Hibiscus Moscheittos, the Marshmallow, in about equal parts. An- 

 other, much nearer the Ditch Plain Coast Guard Station (see the map, 

 Fig. i) has exclusively Hydrocotyle umbellata in it. 



In a few cases the first appearance of a woody plant is to be noted. 

 In every case where only one shrub has been found it is invariably Spiraea 

 latifolia or Cephalanthus occidentalis. These two bushes are certainly the 

 pioneer ones at Montauk in populating kettleholes otherwise without woody 

 vegetation. The appearance of either or both these bushes near the margin 

 of a kettlehole does not, if, as often happens they are solitary or rare, change 

 the general character of the place which is essentially a low, open kettle- 

 hole without woody vegetation. The appearance of woody plants in 

 sufficient quantity to change, ever so slowly, the character of the kettlehole 

 is an event of almost dramatic importance in the vegetation of the Point, 

 and requires special mention. 



LOW KETTLEHOLES: THE BEGINNINGS OF WOODY VEGETATION. 



Many kettleholes at Montauk are in the condition just described, or are 

 verging upon a still later stage in their development, when woody plants 

 make a definite and apparently rather aggressive bid for occupancy. 



