160 
Ohio Biological Survey 
The deep lacustrine deposits through which Sharon creek and 
Banklick creek cut before entering the gorge, present a habitat different 
from any found elsewhere. Here clay slopes of 60 degrees are not un¬ 
common (fig. ^i). On the newest slopes, nothing but herbaceous vege¬ 
tation is found. This presents a strange medley of xerophytes and hy- 
Fig. 30. A steep sided, but mesophytic valley in the Eden shale, Banklick creek. 
drophytes. The ridges are extremely dry, and on them are Desmodium 
canescens, Erechtites hieracifolia, Euphorbia maculata, Oenothera biennis, 
Aster Shortii, and Equisetiim arvense. Here and there are wet pockets, 
in which may be found Lobelia siphilitica, Amphicarpa monoica, and Hy- 
