116 THE RELATION OF PLANTS TO TIDE-LEVELS 
Scirpus americanus (subdominant, Aster nove-belgii f t 
averaging 3.2 feet tall, with an occa- Impatiens biflora } kage 
sional maximum of 5.3 feet). Panicum sp. (scattered 
Agropyron repens (beside the tele- RHoeron Dis as 
picket: poles). Galium claytoni 
pias incarnata June d i 
Eupatorium perfoliatum -as charted. PO ice cna etie 
Myrica gale Selaginell (gumantss 
; : nine elaginelia apus plants). 
Erechtites hieracifolius. A liverwort (Pallavicinia). 
abundant. 
near southeast 
corner only. 
Hypericum canadense 
mutilum 
virginicum 
Atriplex patula hastata occurs frequently, but the plants are slender and 
etiolated, with narrow, erect leaves. They are hopelessly overshadowed by other 
plants. Total number of spermatophytic species 19; of pteridophytes 2. 
3. THE SCIRPUS AMERICANUS BELT. 
Scirpus americanus occurs from the foot of the road-bank to about 345 
south, being plentiful throughout this area, and of an average height of about 
1 meter. Its inner margin is determined by the road-bank. The outer margin, 
however, is hardly less distinct. For though the plants become fewer and 
shorter (2.5 feet), they greatly overtop their companion species. The outlying 
individuals were easily plotted (plate x1x B). This plant has already been noted 
as subdominant in the fern area. In the middle of its range it is clearly 
dominant. Toward its outer borders it is dominant only in appearance. In 
number of individuals it is greatly exceeded by Spartina patens. This grass, 
beginning at the margin of the ferns in some places, becomes more plentiful 
by imperceptible gradations, until it becomes dominant, and finally pure (345 
south, Belt IV). In the south and east half of Belt III, Lysimachia terrestris 
and Hypericum virginicum are frequent at the southeast, becoming sparse 
toward north and west. Hrechtites hieractfolius is abundant (about every 4 or 
5 feet in August 1909) over the southern two-thirds of the belt. The limits 
of these plants are shown on the map. Impatiens biflora has two outlying 
representatives at 450 by 1,075 and 445 by 1,050. Single plants occur of 
Asclepias incarnata, Aspidium thelypterts (as already noted), Carex lurida, 
Epilobium coloratum, Hibiscus moscheutos, Hypericum canadense, H. mutilum, 
Myrica gale. Trifolium agrarium and Rumezx crispus occur at the foot of the 
road-bank on the south. 
Carex tenera and Eleocharts olwacea are frequent in the north and northwest 
portions, the latter species extending as far south as 450 feet and 1,077 east. 
Eleocharis becomes subdominant about 350 south to 360 south and 1,050 east 
to 1,062 east. Another bed of it occurs at 400 south and 1,075 east. Carex 
tenera is abundant about 350 south to 355 south, where Scirpus is becoming 
decidedly sparse. It grows about 2 feet tall. Panicum is sparse throughout 
this zone. Lycopus americanus is represented by 2 or 3 plants near 400 south. 
Oscillatoria was noted on the moist ground at 340 south. 
* One square foot near the middle of our third belt was occupied (August 4, 1911) 
by 48 Scirpus americanus, 31 Carex tenera, 6 Aster, 1 Erechtites, 234 Hleocharis 
olivacea, 128 Spartina patens. One square foot in the densest patch of Scirpus ameri- 
canus contained 88 stalks of that species, and 32 Spartina patens, 1 Carex, 2 unidenti 
fied grasses, 1 Acer rubrum (first year seedling). 
