64 
FRANCIS RAM ALE Y 
In favorable parts of subalpine lake shores a closer analysis of the 
vegetation can be made than is indicated in table 4. Thus the moor is 
seen to include as many as six communities arranged in successive belts; 
a heath association may be distinguished outside the moor, i.e., in drier 
ground ; two or more consociations may form distinct bands in the meadow- 
association. All of these communities are associated with differences in 
edaphic conditions and are not merely floristic in nature. Such a vegetation 
complex is indicated in table 5. 
Table 5. Subalpine shore vegetation, extended classification 
1. Moor (moor-association type): 
a. Half submersed association of Carex aguatilis. 
h. Moss-moor consociation; sedge moor with large amount of moss. 
c. Typical sedge-moor association. 
d. Willow-moor association; sedge moor with shrubby willows. 
e. Rush-moor society; sedge moor with rushes (Juncus Drummondii and Juncus 
mertensianus) . 
f. Meadow-moor consociation; sedge moor with a number of meadow plants and 
hence a smaller proportion of Carex than typical sedge moor. 
2. Heath association: 
a. Heath moor, a transition between heath and moor. 
b. Kalmia heath consociation. ' 
c. Gaultheria heath consociation. 
3. Meadow association: 
a. Erigeron-Castilleja-Ligusticum consociation. 
b. Pedicularis-Vaccinium consociation. 
4. Forest association. 
It seldom occurs that all these communities can be distinguished for 
any great distance along the shore. Many lakes have a part of the shore 
in which the vegetation analysis may be carried as far as indicated in our 
table, other parts of the shore may show no more than is suggested in 
table 4, while still other parts have no distinct shore vegetation at all. 
An abnormal position of some of the communities is often brought about, 
due to local areas of seepage. Islands of meadow moor occur in many places 
surrounded by sedge moor, while similar islands of willow moor and moss 
moor are common (see map, fig. 6). Meadow moor, rush moor, and the 
entire heath association are absent from many lakes. The positions of 
heath and meadow are sometimes completely reversed, or there may be 
heath meadow in which there is a mingling of plants of the two associations. 
Lakes near to timber limit may have little vegetation except meadow moor, 
or sedge moor and meadow moor. 
Descriptions of the Various Lake-shore Zones (Circum-areas) 
The half submersed Carex aquatilis association is typically a pure stand 
of the species of Carex which gives its rijame. This is in contrast to con- 
ditions in montane lakes (5, 7, 11), where three or more species may make 
up the half submersed zone. 
