14 
North Carolina Experiment Station 
Physiognomy. Definite xerophytism especially as this condition 
characterizes the juvenile stages. The young trees of the Turkey Oak 
(Q. catesbaei) and to a marked degree the old, as well, orient their 
leaves in a vertical position to escape the intense heat of the burning 
sands. The thin, erect tightly twisted, wire-like leaves of the wire- 
grass (Aristida stricta) are excellently adapted to meet the same ex¬ 
treme environment. 
Associations. The dominance of the two species mentioned is so 
complete that no other form is sufficiently prominent to constitute the 
basis of an association. Many societies of great ecological interest do 
occur, among the most striking of which are the following: 
Stipulicida setacea 
Lupinus diffusus 
Cladonia sylvatica 
Selaginella acanthonota 
Successional Relations. Accompanying the development of the 
Aristida grass, which reduces the areas of shining sands, the formation 
tends to give way to the Quercus Marylandica association of the meso- 
phytic forest. Following soon after or even accompanying this latter, 
Pinus palustris appears, which tree is destined to constitute the climax 
plant on these sandy areas. 
9. Syntherisma-Erigeron-Andropogon (Syntherisma sanguinale, 
Erigeron spp., Andropogon virginicus) . Old field, meadow, and road¬ 
side vegetation. 
Distribution. Locally throughout the State. 
Habitat. Upland sunny areas formerly cultivated or the original 
vegetation otherwise destroyed. Soils varying widely in water, humus, 
and mineral content. 
Physiognomy. Narrow leaved herbs (sun adapted), those on dryer 
soils showing xerophytic characters; on moist soils, hydrophytic ones. 
Associations. A large number of associations are found in this 
formation of which the following are especially prominent in addition 
to the three dominants chosen: 
Ambrosia artemisiifolia 
Eupatorium capillifodium 
Aster tradescanti 
Helenium tenuifolium 
Daucus carota 
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum 
Paspalum spp. 
While this formation is not so definite as most of the other develop¬ 
mental formations, due to the fact that many of its elements are in¬ 
volved in open tree associations, it has nevertheless in actual field ex¬ 
perience proved to he a valuable concept. 
