BELT TRANSECT OF THE MARSH Tog. 
7. SPARTINA GLABRA BELT. 
At 25 to 50 feet north, a tall growth (1 meter high) of Spartina glabra 
becomes the dominant vegetation. Nothing else is apparent. Its inner border 
has been described above; its outer border is the open water. The ground 
consists of a soft, brown, oozy mud, whose surface slopes decidedly toward the 
north. It is cut by many tide-channels from 3 to 18 inches deep. 
On close examination we find isolated shoots of Spartina patens as far as 10 
or 15 feet north of the boundary of this zone. They are represented diagram- 
matically on the map, actually occurring much closer together than marked. 
Within 2 or 3 feet of the south margin, Distichlis spicata and Salicornia 
europea are plentiful. Scirpus nanus makes a dense growth on the west, just 
within the border of this zone. The most notable secondary species, however, 
is the tiny umbellifer Lileopsis lineata. Not over 0.4 dm. in height, it forms a 
dense sod on the west side of our belt, growing luxuriantly and flowering and 
fruiting freely. The shade of Spartina glabra and two daily baths with salt 
water seem to furnish the necessary conditions for its existence. It occurs 
here only, on our strip. Beyond this the seventh belt is a pure growth of 
Spartina glabra. It reaches a height of 9 dm. at 50 north and 13 dm. at 70 
north. No other spermatophyte apparently can meet the conditions here. Total 
number of spermatophytes, 6. 
As this belt is the most constantly wet with salt water, it supports the smallest 
number of species. Are they the most specialized ? 
a Fifty stalks per square foot (33 on one, 68 on another sample foot). 
