536 
VEGETATION OF BLAKENEY POINT. 
with the usual regularity — these show the earliest stages of 
colonisation, consisting of a sparse scattering of Saliconiias in 
very open formation, the only other plants being algae, such as 
Rhizoclonium, Cliaetomorpha, and Enteromorpha. 
The next stage is that which forms the bulk of the saltings 
at the Headland itself. Here, besides the now much closer 
formation of Salicornia europcea and the scattered Asters , we 
find the Glycerin in greater quantity and Statice Limonium in 
fair abundance. In one part of this area, and there alone, 
Statice humilis occurs in considerable amount. 
Salicornia perennis and Suceda maritima, though both 
present in the interior, are mostly confined to two successive 
zones at the edge, where Obione is also present. A marked 
feature here is the almost continuous carpet of algae, some 
attached to the mud, consisting of Pelvetia canaliculata vars. 
libera and coralloides, and Fiicus volnbilis. (Cf. S. M. Baker, 
Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot., Vol. XL., p. 275, 1912). 
For further stages 'in marsh building we have to pass to the 
series constituting the Marams. These, however, lose much 
of their value through being mostly overrun by Obione. The 
presence of this plant only at the edges of the younger stages, 
and its absence from the low-lying margins of the older, seems 
to shew that it is only when marsh formation has built up the 
level that this plant can flourish ; and even in the maturer 
members of the Marams series there are patches near the 
centre where the centripetal advance of the Obione has not yet 
completely ousted the pioneer species. Obione may, in fact, be 
regarded as a weed which interrupts the proper sequence of 
colonisation, and having completely established itself, prevents 
the salting from passing, unless very slowly, into the state of 
pasture. 
Relict patches are well seen in the last of the Maram 
saltings (alongside the Watch House), where the commonest 
plant is still Salicornia, but the individuals are small in size. 
Very common, too, are Statice. Limonium, Triglochin mariti- 
mum, and A rmeria maritima ; whilst rather less so, Plantago 
maritima, Spergularia media and Aster Tripolium. Even in 
