BELT TRANSECT OF THE MARSH Tas 
Agropyron attains a height of 30 inches. Dotted here and there occur: 
Acalypha virginica. Hypericum perforatum. Rhus toxicodendron. 
Ambrosia artemisiifolia. Juncus tenuis. Rubus allegheniensis. 
Aster sp.? Lactuca sp. Rumex acetosella. 
Barbarea vulgaris. Melilotus atba. crispus. 
Carex, 2 spp. Oenothera biennis. Solidago canadensis. 
Cerastium vulgatum. Oxalis stricta. Taraxacum officinale. 
Chrysanthemum tleucanthe- Plantago lanceolata. Trifolium agrarium. 
mum. Potentilla argentea. pratense, 
Daucus carota. Prunus serotina (2 plants). Vaccinium pennsylwani- 
Dianthus armeria. Pyrus malus (1 small cum. 
Erigeron canadense. plant). Various mosses. 
So far as these species are indicated on the map, every individual is noted. 
At the foot of the bank where moisture is plentiful we find also: 
Asclepias incarnata (3.3 feet tall). Lysimachia terrestris. 
Hupatorium perfoliatum. Myrica gale (3.8 feet tall). 
Hibiscus moscheutos (3.4 feet tall). Polygonum sagittatum. 
Impatiens bijfiora. Scirpus americanus. 
Lycopus americanus. 
The most peculiar feature of this belt, perhaps, is the group of Scirpus 
americanus which is found 3 feet up the bank, among the grasses. This, 
together with Hibiscus and Myrica, owes its presence to the nearness of the 
salt sea-water. The other plants are such as might be expected on any roadside 
bank in the Piedmont region of the northeastern United States. The total 
number of species in Belt I is 45. 
2..THE FERN BELT. 
Associated with a seepage of fresh water which comes in at the southeast 
corner of the Marsh, there is a large bed of Aspidiwm thelypterts of dense and 
luxuriant growth. Overtopping the fern is a sparse but (in our area) universal 
fringe of Scirpus americanus. The ferns are about 2 feet tall, and easily domi- 
nate their area (plates XIX A and x1xB). Their border is very sharply defined. 
They stop off suddenly both south and north without diminution in size or fre- 
quency. Outside of this belt only 4 plants of this species occur, namely, at 398 
south by 1,072 east, 403 south by 1,081 east, 448 south by 1,098 east, 449 
south by 1,089 east. This is doubtless due to the fact that the fern usually 
spreads by rhizomes, and only rarely by spores. The fern area does not extend 
quite across the belt. At the middle of the belt there is a narrow strip of marsh 
between the foot of the road-bank and the ferns. This strip is occupied by a 
dense and luxuriant growth of Lysimachia terrestris, Aster nove-belgu, and 
Impatiens biflora, the first being dominant and the last least numerous. With 
these, Myrica gale and Hupatorium perfoliatum occur as noted on the map. At 
492 south and about 1,095 east are two telegraph poles. Between them is a 
strong bush of Sambucus canadensis. 'This doubtless sprang from a seed dropped 
by a bird which perched on one of the poles. Seeds dropped in this way are 
frequent on the marsh. One bird excrement was found containing 11 cherry 
seeds (probably Prunus serotina). Other plants found among the ferns are: 
