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NOAA TR NMFS CIRC-384
A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PUBLICATION
c - -— — — T
NOAA Technical Report NMFS CIRC-384
Maiine BioloKlcil lii»rituy
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE «" I^IBRARY
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service . j\^;jy c. 1973
Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States. Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe
EDWIN T. MOUL
SEATTLE, WA September 1973
NOAA TECHNICAL REPORTS
National Marine Fisheries Service, Circulars
The major responsibilities of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are to monitor and assess the abundance and geographic distribution of fishery resources, to understand and predict fluctuations in the quan- tity and distribution of these resources, and to establish levels for optimum use of the resources. NMFS is also charged with the development and implementation of policies for managing national fishing grounds, develop- ment and enforcement of domestic fisheries regulations, surveillance of foreign fishing off United States coastal waters, and the development and enforcement of international fishery agreements and policies. NMFS also assists the fishing industry through marketing service and economic analysis programs, and mortgage insurance and vessel construction subsidies. It collects, analyses, and publishes statistics on various phases of the industry.
The NOAA Technical Report NMFS CIRC series continues a series that has been in existence since 1941. The Circulars are technical publications of general interest intended to aid conservation and management. Publica- tions that review in considerable detail and at a high technical level certain broad areas of research appear in this series. Technical papers originating in economics studies and from management investigations appear in the Circular series.
NOAA Technical Reports NMFS CIRC are available free in limited numbers to governmental agencies, both Federal and State. They are also available in exchange for other scientific and technical publications in the ma- rine sciences. Individual copies may be obtained (unless otherwise noted) from NOAA Publications Section, Rock- ville, Md. 20852. Recent Circulars are:
315. SjTiopsis of biological data on the chum salmon, Oiicorkynclius keta (Walbaum) 1792. By Rich- ard G. Bakkala. March 1970, iii + 89 pp., 15 figs., 51 tables.
319. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Great Lakes Fishery Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan. By Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. March 1970, 8 pp., 7 figs.
330. EASTROPAC Atlas: Vols. 4, 2. Catalog No.
1 49.4:330/ (vol.) 11 vols. ($4.75 each). Avail- able from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402.
331. Guidelines for the processing of hot-smoked chub. By H. L. Seagran, J. T. Graikoski, and J. A. Emerson. January 1970, iv + 23 pp., 8 figs.,
2 tables.
332. Pacific hake. (12 articles by 20 authors.) March 1970, iii -1- 152 pp., 72 figs., 47 tables.
333. Recommended practices for vessel sanitation and fish handling. By Edgar W. Bowman and Alfred Larsen. March 1970, iv + 27 pp., 6 figs.
335. Progress report of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Center for Estuarine and Menhaden Research, Pesticide Field Station, Gulf Breeze, Fla., fiscal year 1969. By the Laboratory staff. August 1970, iii + 33 pp., 29 figs., 12 tables.
336. The northern fur seal. By Ralph C. Baker, Ford Wilke, and C. Howard Baltzo. April 1970, iii -f 19 pp., 13 figs.
337. Program of Division of Economic Research, Bureau of Commerecial Fisheries, fiscal year
1969. By Division of Economic Research. April
1970, iii "+ 29 pp., 12 figs., 7 tables.
338. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Lab- oratory, Auke Bay, Alaska. By Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries. June 1970, 8 pp., 6 figs.
339. Salmon research at Ice Harbor Dam. By Wesley J. Ebel. April 1970, 6 pp., 4 figs.
340. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Technological Laboratory, Gloucester, Massachusetts. By Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries. June 1970, 8 pp., 8 figs.
341. Report of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Beaufort, N.C., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1968. By the Lab- oratory staff. August 1970, iii -f 24 pp., 11 figs., 16 tables.
342. Report of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, fiscal year 1969. By the Laboratory staff. August 1970, iii + 22 pp.,"20 figs., 8 tables.
343. Report of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Galveston, Texas, fiscal year 1969. By the Laboratory staff. August 1970, iii + 39 pp., 28 figs., 9 tables.
344. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Tropical Atlan- tic Biological Laboratory progress in research 1965-69, Miami, Florida. By Ann Weeks. Oc- tober 1970, iv + 65 pp., 53 figs.
346. Sportsman's guide to handling, smoking, and pre- serving Great Lakes coho salmon. By Shearon Dudley, J. T. Graikoski, H. L. Seagran, and Paul M. Earl. September 1970, iii -|- 28 pp., 15 figs.
347. Synopsis of biological data on Pacific ocean perch, Sebastodes alutiis. By Richard L. Major and Herbert H. Shippen. "December 1970, iii -f 38 pp., 31 figs., 11 tables.
Continued on inside back cover.
^p WMOSp^,.
^(VfEMT Of
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Frederick B. Dent, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Robert M. White, Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SEWICE „• , • , , u '~"^' Robert W. Schoning, Director . ^^'"8 BlOlOglCal LaboraiOry
LIBRARY
NOV 5 1973 Woods Hole, Mass.
NOAA Technical Report NMFS CIRC-384
Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States. Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe
EDWIN T. MOUL Illustrations by Ruth von Arx
SEAHLE, WA September 1973
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 6S cents
FOREWORD
This issue of the "Circulars" is part of a subseries entitled "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States." This subseries will consist of original, illustrated, modern manuals on the identification, classification, and general biology of the estuarine and coastal marine plants and animala of the Northeastern United States. Manuals will be published at irregular intervals on as many taxa of the region as there are specialists willing to collaborate in their preparation.
The manuals are an outgrowth of the widely used "Keys to Marine Invertebrates of the Woods Hole Region," edited by R. I. Smith, published in 1964, and produced under the auspices of the Systematics-Ecology Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass. Instead of revising the "Woods Hole Keys," the staff of the Systematics- Ecology Program decided to expand the geographic coverage and bathymetric range and produce the keys in an entirely new set of expanded publications.
The "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States" is being prepared in collaboration with systematic specialists in the United States and abroad. Each man- ual will be based primarily on recent and ongoing revisionary systematic research and a fresh examination of the plants and animals. Each major taxon, treated in a separate manual, will include an introduction, illustrated glossary, uniform originally illustrated keys, annotated check list with information when available on distribution, habitat, life history, and related biology, references to the major literature of the group, and a system- atic index.
These manuals are intended for use by biology students, biologists, biological ocean- ographers, informed laymen, and others wishing to identify coastal organisms for this region. In many instances the manuals will serve as a guide to additional information about the species or the group.
Geographic coverage of the "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States" is planned to include organisms from the headwaters of estuaries seaward to approximately the 200-m depth on the continental shelf from Maine to Virginia, but may vary somewhat with each major taxon and the interests of collaborators. When- ever possible representative specimens dealt with in the manuals will be deposited in reference collections of the Gray Museum, Marine Biological Laboratory, and other universities and research laboratories in the region.
After a sufficient number of manuals of related taxonomic groups have been pub- lished, the manuals will be revised, grouped, and issued as special volumes. These vol- umes will thus consist of compilations of individual manuals within phyla such as the Coelenterata, Arthropoda, and Mollusca, or of groups of phyla.
11
CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 1
Glossary 2
Vegetative key to higher plants of beaches, dunes,
and tidal marshes 4
Distribution of plants by habitats 44
Vegetation of beaches 44
Vegetation of dunes 45
Vegetation of tidal marshes 51
Selected bibliography 53
Systematic index 55
Index to common names and habitats 57
Acknowledgments 60
Coordinator's comments 60
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not approve, rec- ommend or endorse any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned in this publication. No reference shall be made to NMFS, or to this publication furnished by NMFS, in any advertising or sales pro- motion which would indicate or imply that NMFS approves, recommends or endorses any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned herein, or which has as its purpose an intent to cause directly or indirectly the advertised product to be used or purchased because of this NMFS publication.
Ill
MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE NORTHEASTERN
UNITED STATES. Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe
EDWIN T. MOUL'
ABSTRACT
The common higher plants of the beaches, dunes, morainal cliffs, and tidal marshes of Southern New England are treated in an illustrated key, using only vegetative characters. Both scientific and common names are given. Habitat lists of the plants are included, presenting to the investigator the association of plants as they occur in nature. The range of each plant along the Atlantic coast is designated. A glossary of terms is included.
INTRODUCTION
The marine environment in southern New England is bordered by beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, and morainal cliffs. In these various types of harsh habitats a limited number of high- er plants are able to grow and flourish, resisting wind and salt spray.
The illustrated key on the following pages was prepared for the identification of most of the higher plants growing on this marine fringe. The characters employed in the key are vege- tative, principally leaf form, and occasionally root and stem features. The use of these char- acteristics not only makes the key less technical, but permits the identification of plants without flowers and fruits. The key is designed for bi- ologists, biology students, and amateur botanists. A glossary of the few technical terms employed, as well as diagrams illustrating the main char- acters used to describe leaf shapes (Plate I), are provided.
A systematic list of plants has been omitted. Instead plants are arranged in lists according to the habitats in which they grow. This meth- od of listing is useful to the investigator as it
' Department of Botany, Nelson Biological Labora- tories, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, and Systematics-Ecology Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
presents the association of plants as they occur together in nature.
After the name of each species in the habitat list is given the geographic distribution of the plant along the Atlantic coast as recorded in "Gray's Manual of Botany" (Fernald, 1950). Although "Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe" has been designed primarily for use in southern New England, the information on distribution will give it wider application to the north and to the south. The key has been tested primarily on Cape Cod and has also been found usable in Maine, New Jersey, and Delaware. However, the user should be cautioned that species of plants will be found both north and south of southern New England which are not included in the key. While most of the plants in the kev are wide ranging, a few are restricted to our northern shores. Frequently, mention is made of species of a genus not included in the key that may occur in southern New England or out- side the range of this key.
The majority of plants included here are the spermatophytes or flowering plants. Only one fern occurring in the dune habitat is listed. A few mosses and lichens that are characteristic of dune bogs and two algae that are integral parts of the flora of tidal marshes are mentioned in the habitat lists, but not in the key.
The type of key used in this manual is prob- ably familiar to most investigators. It consists of two statements of contrasting characters. The user makes a choice of the one which fits the plant in hand. This will lead to a number which will take him to another pair of characters where he again makes a choice. This eventually leads to a specific plant name. In order to permit working in reverse, the number of the preceding character is given in parenthesis.
A complete collection of the plants included in this key has been deposited in the Herbarium of the Gray Museum, Marine Biological Labora- tory.
GLOSSARY
The use of technical botanical terms has been kept to a minimum. Those found to be neces- sary are included in this glossary. Terms used to describe leaf shapes, tips, and margins, and the juncture of sheath and blade in grasses are illustrated in Plate I.
achene a small, dry, one-seeded fruit that does
not open at maturity. acuminate see Plate I. acute see Plate I. apical relating to the apex or tip. auricle an ear shaped appendage or lobe (see
grass, Plate I). axile in the angle between two structures. hract a modified leaf subtending a flower, some- times on the stem. capsule a dry fruit that opens when ripe and
with more than one-seed cavity. caudex the persistent base, sometimes woody,
of an herbaceous stem. clasping in which the base of the leaf partially
encircles the stem (see Fig. 47). corymb a flat topped or convex open flower
cluster. cryptogams lower plants, nonflowering. deciduous not persistent, not evergreen. dioecious male and female elements in separate
plants (two households). drupe a fleshy fruit with a stone seed. filifo)-m threadlike. glume a chaff'like bract at the base of the spik-
let in grasses. imbricated overlapping. involute rolled inward.
leaf shapes and m,argins see Plate I.
lenticels corky spots on the young bark of trees
and shrubs. ligule a projection from the summit of the
sheath in grasses (see Plate I) ; the flattened
limb of the ray flower of compositae. node place on a stem where leaves or buds
occur. ocreae a tabular stipule, or a pair of stipules,
joined and elongated. panicle a loose irregular compound flower
cluster with flowers on small stems. pappus appendages in tufts at top of ovary or
fruit of such plants as thistle and dandelion.
Usually cottony and useful in the dispersal of
the fruits or seeds. pedicel the stem of a single flower in a cluster. peduncle the stem of a single flower. petiole the stem of a leaf. pome a fleshy fruit like an apple. piibescent covered with short, soft hairs. raceme a flower cluster of stemmed flowers on
an elongated axis. rachis the axis of a compound leaf. rhizome a prostrate, subterranean stem, root- ing at nodes. r'ugose wrinkled. scabrous rough to the touch. scape a naked flower stem rising from the
ground. sej)al a leaf like outer division of the flower,
often green. sessile without an individual stem, as a leaf
attached directly to main stem. setaceous bristle shaped.
silique a specialized capsule in which a parti- tion separates each seed cavity; characteristic
of Cruciferae. spike an elongated flower axis in which the
flowers are sessile or almost sessile. stipule an appendage at the base of the petiole
or leaf or at each side of the attachment to
the main stem (see Fig. 6, 7). terete cylindrical, having a circular cross sec- tion. umbel a flower cluster in which the individual
flower stems arise from the same level (Flower
of Wild Carrot). veins the conducting tissue in a leaf. villous bearing long and soft hairs. rvhorl three or more leaves in a circle around
the stem (at the node).
A
I
LEAF SHAPES
1. linear
2. Innceolate
3. oblanceolate
4. spatulate
5. oblong
6. ovate
7. obovate
8. deltoid
9. hastate
10
10. cordate
II
11. palmately compound
LEAF MARGINS
1. entire 3. serrate
2. dentate 4. sinuate
5. pinnate
12
12. pinnately compound
LEAF TIPS
1 . acuminate
2. acute
Blade
Sheath
Junction of blade and sheath in grasses
Plate I. — Examples of leaf shapes, leaf margins, leaf tips, and junction of blade and sheath in grasses
referred to in the glossary.
3
VEGETATIVE KEY TO HIGHER PLANTS OF BEACHES, DUNES, AND
TIDAL MARSHES
1 Woody plants, trees and/or shrubs more than 2 ft tall 2
(Caution: before proceeding, see description of Poison Ivy in couplet 6 be- low; also a few herbaceous plants have a woody caudex or underground basal woody structure.)
1 Herbaceous plants 24
2 (i) Needle or scale leaved trees, evergreen; cones or berrylike cones present 3
2 (1) Broad leaved trees or shrubs, cones or berrylike cones not present 4
3 (2) Needle leaves in bundles of three; seeds in a cone.
Pinus rig Ida,
Pitch Pine
Figure 1. — Leaves XI-
3 (2) Scaly leaves, opposite or in whorls of three, spiny on ju- venile stems, adpressed to twigs on mature stems; berry- like cone Juniperus virginiana,
Red Cedar
Figure 2. — Mature twig X2,
4 (2) Simple leaves (single blade) (see Fig. 8, 9) 9
4 (2) Compound leaves (three or more leaflets to a blade) (see Fig. 4, 5) 5
5 (4) Palmately compound or trifoliate leaves (see Fig. 3, 4) 6
5 (-4) Pinnately compound leaves (see Fig. 5) 7
4
6 (5) Shrubby to vinelike plants with three leaflets which are dark green and shiny above, orange to scarlet foliage in the fall; POISONOUS TO TOUCH; clusters of yellowish flowers below the i-^aves ; fruit berrylike, yellow to
white Rhus radicans.
Poison Ivy
Figures.— Leaf X%-
6 (5) Vinelike plants with leaves of five leaflets which are light green above and have serrate edges; scarlet foliage in the fall; tendrils with adhesive disks; flowers in a panicle; fruit a blueberry.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia,
Virginia Creeper or Woodbine.
Figure 4.— Leaf X %
7 (5) Shrub to about 10 m high, lacking thorns; 7-23 linear, oblong, entire leaflets with wing margined ra- chis (leaf stem) ; flowers term- inal, pyramidal, yellowish to green; a hairy red drupelike fruit.
Rhus copallina.
Dwarf Sumac
Figure 5.— Leaf X%.
7 (5) Shrubby plants with thorns; five to nine leaflets; large persistent stipules at base of compound leaves; rose colored flowers (sometimes white)
Figure 6.— Fruit and leaf X %
8 (7) Leaflets coarse, dark green above, light green below, to 5 cm long; many thorns, large and small on stem; flowers rose or white; large red apple- like fruit (hips) to 3 or 4 cm broad; usually forming thick- ets on dunes and resistant to
salt spray Rosa rugosa,
Salt-Spray Rose
8 (7) Leaflets finer, light green above and below, coarse- ly serrate with 5-15 teeth above middle, to 3 cm long; thorns at nodes only; flowers rose; a small applelike fruit to 1 cm broad; plants of upland borders of dunes
and marshes Rosa palustris,
Swamp Rose (other members of genus may be present)
Figure 7. — Fruit and leaf XI.
9 (4) Maritime shrubs 2-12 ft tall; on higher ground in the tidal marshes and edge of dunes; stems light tan and smooth; leaves fleshy and thick to the touch; light green in color ; flowers greenish
9 (i) Shrubs and trees on dunes, many not restricted to maritfme habitat; leaves not fleshy and thick to touch; flowers variable in color
10 11
10 (9) Leaves opposite (at least below), lanceolate, sharply 6-15 toothed on each side, 2-5 cm broad; prom- inently 3-veined (nerved) ; plants primarily at ditch edge and higher
ground in tidal marshes Iva frutescens
var. oraria, Marsh Elder, High Tide Bush
Figure 8.— Leaf X 1-
10 (9) Leaves alternate, obovate or del- toid-obovate, coarsely dentate (toothed) on upper two-thirds of leaf; plants dioecious (male and female separate) ; white fluffy pap- pus on the achenes of female plant
in the fall Baccharis halimifolia,
Sea Myrtle, Groundsel Tree
Figure 9.— Leaf XL
11 (9) Trees only (single main stem). .. 11 (9) Shrubs only (several main stems).
12 18
12 (11) Simple ovate leaves, entire or with two or three apical lobes all on the same tree; bark spicy- aromatic; young twigs green;
fruit an ovoid blue drupe
Sassafras albidum,
Sassafras
Figure 10. — Leaves X %
12 (11) Simple leaves, but without apical lobes 13
13 (12) Leaves with a stiff leathery texture and somewhat lobed; trees of the dunes and hollows
13 (12) Leaves not leathery, simple and not lobed.
14 15
14 (13) Leaves with heavy spiny teeth at the end of shallow lobes, dark green above,
light green below Ilex opaca,
American Holly
Figure 11.— Leaf XI-
14 (13) Leaves lobed with a bristle at the end of the lobe, dark green above, dense wooly hairy below; fruit an
acorn Quercus ilicifolia.
Holly Oak or Scrub Oak (other species of genus on older dunes)
Figure 12.— Leaf Xl-
15 (13) Leaves ovate or elliptic, almost broad as long; petioles (leaf stalk) flattened or compressed toward the base of leaf, two glands at base of leaf blade, 20- 40 teeth; new branches reddish- brown; leaves trembling in the slightest breeze; trees of tran- sition area between dunes and
uplands Populus tremuloides,
Quaking Aspen
Figure 13.— Leaf XI
15 (13) Leaves not as above, lacking long flattened petioles 16
16 (15) Trees with stiff horizontal branch- es; leaves simple, obovate to el- liptic and entire; fruit an elongate drupe to 1.5 cm long, purple, on a long peduncle (3-6.5 cm) ; foliage
scarlet early in the fall Nyssa sylvatica,
Sour Gum
Figure 14.-
-Leaf XI.
16 (15) Trees with usual branching, leaves simple, serrulate 17
17 (16) Bark of twigs smooth, reddish brown to blackish gray, with conspicuous len-
ticels (corky spots) ; bitter almond odor in bark; fruit a drupe (stone fruit). .Prunus. A
A (17) Small trees, flowers and fruit in racemes B
A (17) Small trees or shrublike growth habit; on dunes and along shores; flowers and fruit soli- tary or clusters; leaves ovate or oval, acute tip, pubescent be- neath when mature; fruit a plumlike drupe; stone pointed at both ends Prunus maritima,
Beach Plum
Figure 15.— Leaf XI.
B (A) Sepals deciduous; leaf blade obovate, thin, mostly serrulate with slender
teeth, no villose hairs along midrib of the leaf. . . .Prunus virginiana, Choke Cherry
B (A) Sepals persistent; leaf blade elliptic or lanceolate, serrulate with relatively coarse teeth, sometimes villose hairs along prominent midrib of the leaf below Prunus serotina,
Black Cherry
Figure 16.— Leaf X %
17 (16) Bark of older twigs grayish, lenticels not conspicuous; leaves elliptic to ovate-oblong, 4-5 cm long; no bitter almond odor in bark;
fruit a small pome (apple-like) Amelnnchier laevis,
Shadbush (other members of genus may be present)
Figure 17.— Leaf XL
18 (11) Leaves tiny and scalelike, closely imbricated (covering base of leaf above) , pubescent, flowers yellow, sessile ; low shrubs forming hoary cushions 15-30 cm high on secondary sand
dunes and in the hollows between dunes Hudsonia tomentosa,
Beach Heather, Poverty Grass of Thoreau {H. ericoides may occur on dunes)
Figure 18. — Stem, leaves and flowers X2.
18 (11) Leaves not tiny and scalelike 19
19 (18) Shrubs with leaves aromatic when crushed between the fingers 20
19 (18) Shrubs; leaves not aromatic 21
20 (19) Leaves elliptic, oblanceolate or obovate with wax dots beneath; branches whitish gray or drab; clus- ters of bony globular nuts covered with white or gray
wax Myrica pensylvanica,
Bayberry
Figure 19. — Stem and leaves X%-
10
20 (19) Leaves linear lanceolate with pinnate dentations (fernlike), hairy on one or both surfaces, wax dots prominent on upper surface of leaf; branches darker grey; bristled dry fruit (nut).
Comptonia peregrina,
Sweet Fern
Figure 20.— Leaf Xl-
21 (19) Trailing shrubs; bark papery red to ashy and ex- foliating; leaves obovate to spatulate, evergreen, leathery; fruit a dull red drupe; forms large mats on sandy surface of back dunes and sea cliffs.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi,
Bearberry
Figure 21.— Stem and leaves X2.
21 (19) Erect shrubs; bark and leaves various; fruit various 22
22 (21) Leaves of stem broadly ovate, 7-18 cm long, 3-lobed, dark green above, lower surface covered with light pubescence; stems woody with large pith (one-half width of stem) ; large pink flowers, 4-10 cm broad (in some areas flowers white with pink cen- ter) ; fruit a capsule; plants of the brackish fringe of the tidal marshes.
Hibiscus palustris,
Marsh Mallow
Figure 22.— Leaf X %•
22 (21) Leaves of stem small to 4 cm in length, not'lobed; stem with pith not visible; flowers small, various colors; fruit various; plants generally of older dunes or hollows of dunes
23
11
23 (22) Shrubs of transitional part of dunes and in wooded areas; leaves oval to oblong, entire; vi^ith shiny resinous dots, black berrylike drupe with- out a bloom Gaylussacia baccata,
Black Huckleberry
Figxire 23. — Stem and leaves XI.
23 (22) Shrubs growing in low ground; leaves obovate to oblong, serrate, flowers in
elongate terminal panicles Spiraea. . . .A
A (23) Leaves light green on both sides; flowers white to pinkish 1
1 (A) Main stem red or purple brown; flower stem glabrate (smooth).
S. latifolia.
Meadowsweet
1 (A) Main stem yellowish brown; flower stem densely pubes- cent S. alba,
Meadowsweet
Figure 24. — Stem and leaves XI
A (23) Leaves felted beneath with white or tawny hairs ;
flowers pink S. tomentosa,
Hardhack or Steeplebush
Figure 25. — Stem and leaves XL
12
24 (/) Plants submerged in water at all times, collapse when taken from the water (flowering plants only, exclude algae); flowers may be above the water surface and later withdrawn
25
24 (1) Plants may be submerged only periodically by tidal waters or completely terrestrial. . 27
25 (24) Blade of leaf long, flattened, 1.5-6 mm wide and up to a meter long; usually
in very soft muddy bottom Zostera marina,
Eel Grass
Figure 26.— (a) Habit sketch;
(b) terminal portion of leaf XI-
25 (24-) Blades of the leaf, threadlike; in quieter water of estuaries, pools in the tidal marsh, and brackish pools back of beaches
26
13
26 (25) Flower and fruit spike of isolated whorls of sessile flowers and fruits raised above the stipules; fruit with
a short beak Potamogeton pectinatus,
Sago Pond Weed (other species may occur)
Figure 27. — (a) Habit sketch;
(b) stem and flowers X2.
26 (25) Flower spikes enclosed at first in sheathing leaf base; fruit an assymetri- cal cone-shaped drupe on a long pedicel, 4 to 6 in a cluster, peduncles fre- quently twisted in a spiral coil, pulling the fruits be- low the water surface. . .
Ruppia maritima,
Widgeon Grass
Figure 28.— (a) Habit sketch;
(b) peduncle, pedicels and fruits XI-
14
27 (24^) Grasses, sedges or rushes; leaves narrow and sheathing the stem. To deter- mine grasses, sedges, and rushes read the following key characters and deter- mine to which of the three groups your plant belongs. These are difficult groups to identify and only the dominant species found along the marine fringe are in- cluded. If doubtful, consult some reference such as Gray's Mamial of Botany (Fernald, 1950) or Gleason and Cronquist (1963):
A (27) Grasses (Gramineae). Stems cylindric, hollow except at the nodes (a few have soft pith); leaves in two ranks on the stem, parallel veined; leaves in two parts, a sheath enveloping the stem but open its full length and a flat blade; at junction of sheath and the blade a membranous or hairy appendage, the ligule (see Plate I), this will be the principal character illustrated to designate the species; fruit a grain 85
B (27) Sedges (Cyperaceae). Stems usually solid and many are triangular (three angled) ; roots fibrous; leaves in three ranks, when present, sheath closed at the top; infloresence, a spike or cluster at top of the stem, flowers lack petals and sepals, one flower in axile of each imbricated bract (scale) which is usually brown; fruit an achene 86
C (27) Rushes (Juncaceae). Stems pithy or hollow, unbranched; leaves nar- rowly lanceolate or filiform, in basal clumps (tussocks), or represented by sheaths only; cymose or clustered small greenish or brownish flowers; fruit a capsule 87
27 (2i) Plants not grasses, sedges or rushes, leaves usually broader 28
28 (27) Plants extremely succulent (water in tissues) and fleshy, in some cases only the leaves of this type; leaves then are very thick and firm between the fin- gers; plants of exposed areas of beaches, dunes, and tidal marshes (if in doubt, try this choice) 29
28 (27) Plants not extremely succulent or fleshy; leaves not thick and firm between the fingers; plants more varied in their habitat, but usually not in extremely ex- posed areas 39
29 (28) Plants with cylindrical (terete) leaves that look like extensions of the stem 30
29 (28) Plants with broader leaves, not cylindrical, or leaves reduced to scales 31
15
30 (29) Leaves awl-shaped, alternate, ending in a hairlike prickle, plants difficult to handle because of these stiff points, pubescent, plants usu- ally of beaches Salsoli kali,
Saltwort
Glabrous or sparingly pubescent, leaves longer and points of leaves not as stiff var. caroliniana
Figure 29. — Stem and node with leaves XI-
30 {29) Leaves linear or slender, cylindric, not bearing a prickle,
rounded tips Suaeda. . . A
A {30) Low plants, branches spreading at base, seeds 2 mm
broad S. maritima.
Sea Elite
Figure 30. — Stem and leaves X2.
B {30) Erect plants, seeds 1.2-1.5 mm broad. Sea Elite
.S. linearis,
31 {29) Plants with opposite branching and opposite leaves or scales (opposite branching
strong at the base only in Atriplex) 32
31 {29) Plants with alternate branching and alternate leaves 34
16
32 (31) Plants with jointed fleshy stems, leaves reduced to tiny scales at each joint (node) ; flowers in hollows of the thickened upper joints, which form a spike. Salicomia, Glassworts or Samphire. . . A
A (32) Plants perennial, with a stout woody depressed stem (rhizome) forking in the sand; long branched trailing stem; flower spikes at tip of ascending branch- es; forms extensive perennial mats S. virginica
Figure 31.— (a) Habit sketch; (b) stem and scale leaves XL
M
1 1
ili.f
111!/
f
/ ii r
a
^ b
A (32) Plants annuals from small root sys- tems; erect plants B
B (A) Scales at the nodes of the stem mucronate-pointed and conspicuous; joints of the flower spike thicker than long S. bigelovii
Figure 32.— (a) Habit sketch; (b) stem and scale leaves XL
i
r
B (A) Scale at the nodes blunt, inconspicuous when dried; joints of the flowering spike longer than thick S.
europaea
Figure 33.— (a) (b)
Habit sketch; stem, branches, and scale leaves XL
32 (31) Plant stems not as above; leaves not reduced.
33
17
33 (32) Leaves in close tiers, oblong or oblong-ovate, not nar- rowed at base, resembling a Chinese pagoda; plants forming large compact clumps or cushions; plants of
the beach Arenaria peploides
var. robusta, Sandwort
Figure 34. — Apical portion of stem and leaves XI-
33 (32) Leaves not in close tiers; coarse strag- gling weedy species, both somewhat gray and scurfy, especially young leaves; op- posite branching frequently only at base; flowers greenish, both plants usually on the beach Atriplex. . . A
A (33) Principal leaves hastate or ar- row-shaped A. patula
var. hastata. Orach
A (33) Leaves broadly oval, stems
usually reddish A. arenaria,
Sand Orach
Figure 36.— Leaf Xl%.
Figure 35.— Leaf XL
34 (31) Leaves linear-lanceolate, alternate in a ro- sette, erect or strongly ascending; flowers from an erect spike from the rosette; plants
of the tidal marsh Plantago, Seaside Plantain. . . A
A (34) Bracts or sepals or both mi- nutely ciliate; flower spike dense with flowers to base; flower stalk exceeding leaves. P. juncoides
A (34) Bracts and sepals glabrous; flower spike remotely flow- ered at base; leaves equaling Figure 37.- or exceeding the erect flower stalk P. oliganthos
-(a) Habit sketch; (b) terminal portion of leaf X Vz.
18
34 (31) Leaves not in a rosette; variable shaped leaves on erect stems.
35
35 (54) Leaves not entire
35 (3^) Leaves entire, not toothed or lobed.
36
38
36 (35) Leaves covered with stiff bristles, older leaves cordate, slightly lobed with undulate margins; fruit an olive-shaped bur with recurved spines, plants of beach and dunes. . . .
Xanthium echinatum,
Cocklebur
Figure 38.— Leaf XL
36 (35) Leaves smooth with no bristles, ovate lanceolate to obovate; pale green plants, no burlike fruits
37
37 (36) Leaves serrate, ovate-lanceolate to ovate or obovate, glabrous or sparingly pubescent below; flat topped clusters of many pink or purple flowers; plants
of the tidal marsh Phichea purpurascens
var. succulenta, Salt Marsh Fleabane
Figure 39.— Leaf XL
37 (36) Leaves obovate or oblanceolate, sinuate toothed, narrowed to base, young leaves taste of horseradish; fruit a cone-shaped silique; plants
of the beaches Cakile edentula,
Sea Rocket
Figure 40. — Leaves XI-
19
38 (35) Large coarse plants, basal leaves oblanceolate to spatulate-oblong, 1-4 dm long; stem leaves to lanceolate; panicles of yellow flowers late in the summer; plants of beaches, dunes
and tidal marshes Solidago sempervirens,
Seaside Goldenrod
Figrure 41. — Stem with leaf and basal leaf X Vj .
38 (35) Smaller, more delicate plants; perennial; leaves narrow- linear; branching subdichotomous; small pink flowers on pedicels arising from axils of the upper leaves; plants of
the tidal marsh Aster tenuifolius,
Salt Marsh Aster
Figure 42. — Stem and leaves XI
Another species of the genus present in the area is an an- nual; it has smaller (purple) flowers than A. tenuifoliiis. A. subulatus
39 (28) A coarse fern with tripinnate frond from an underground creeping and fork- ing rhizome; world wide, growing here on older dunes and sea cliffs. . Pteridium aquilinum. Bracken Fern
Flgrure 43. — Portion of frond with pinnule X %.
39 (28) Plants not ferns.
40
20
40 (39) Plants with opposite leaves and branches 41
40 (39) Plants with alternate leaves and branches 49
41 (40) Low creeping plants growing flat on the substrate 42
41 (40) Erect plants, not flat on the substrate 43
42 Ul) Spatulate-shaped leaves, usually in whorls at the nodes; one-flowered pedicels form an umbel at the nodes; plants usually weeds of
waste places but growing on the beach
Molluga verticillata,
Carpet Weed
Figure 44. — Stem and node with leaves and flower umbel X2.
42 (4i) Oblong linear to oblong lanceolate leaves two at each node; milky juice; flowers in fork of leaves; reddish color on leaves and stem;
plants of beach and the dune hollows
Euphorbia polygonifolia,
Seaside Spurge
Figure 45. — Stem and leaf nodes X2.
43 (41 ) Erect plants with a square stem
43 in) Erect plants with a terete or flattish stem.
44 47
21
44 (4^3) Leaves linear, entire, primary ones 1.5-3 cm long, rough above, scattered short white hairs; racemes 2-10 flowered, purple; fruit a subglobose capsule, plants of wet areas back of dunes and edges of the tidal marsh.
Gerardia maritima,
Seaside Gerardia
Figure 46. — Stem and node with leaves
44 (43) Leaves lanceolate 45
45 (4-4) Leaves entire, crowded on stem, cordate clasp- ing at base; flowers regular in long terminal racemes, magenta; plants of the freshwater
marsh border or brackish marsh Lythrum salicaria,
Spiked Loosestrife
Figure 47. — Stem and leaf XL
45 (H) Leaves not entire.
46
46 (45) Leaves lanceolate to narrowly ovate, merely serrate on edges; flowers purplish, irregular, deeply cleft into two parts; in terminal
racemes Teucrium canadense,
Wood Sage
Figure 48.— Leaf XL
46 (4-5) Leaves broadly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, serrate-dentate; flowers whitish, small, regular in whorls at the nodes, plant
of dunes and marsh border Lycopus rubellus,
Bugleweed (look for other species)
Figure 49.— Leaf XL
22
47 (43) Low, weedy, much branched annuals with awl-shaped or linear leaves 48
47 (43) Larger erect plants with clasping linear stem leaves; flowers in few clusters at tip of branches, petals ro- seate; plants of upland border of marsh and dunes.
Dianthus armeria,
Deptford Pink
Figure 50. — Stem and clasping leaves Xl-
Figure 51. — Stem and leaves X3.
48 (47) Leaves broad based tapering to a fine point (awl- shaped), to 1 cm long, no stipules; flowers greenish, sessile in fork of leaves ; on waste places, roadsides,
beaches Scleranthus annuus,
Knawel
48 (47) Leaves filiform from base to tip, mostly longer than 1 cm, large triangular stipules present; flowers on pedicels to 10 mm long, from axils of
leaves Spergularia marina,
Sand Spurrey (S. rubra may also be found)
Figrure 52. — Stems and leaves X2.
23
49 (40) Plants with compound leaves 50
49 (^0) Plants with simple leaves 54
(Note: Be careful not to include here as compound, simple leaved plants with deeply cut or filiform divisions; example, Yarrow, Figure 68.)
50 (A9) Plants with pinnately compound leaves 51
50 (4.9) Plants with palmately compound, or trifoliate, leaves 52
51 (50) Leaves with large stipules at nodal attachment to stem, fre- quently a tendril replaces a leaf- let; flowers pealike, purple or rarely white; fruit a pod or le- gume; plants of the dunes and
beach Lathyrus japonicus,
Beach Pea
Figure 53. — Stem, stipules and leaf X %•
51 (50) Leaves from basal stem or stolon, purplish at base of leaf and flower stems; leaves densely whitish pubescent be- low, dark green above; flowers like a buttercup, yellow; plants of upper slope of tidal marsh.
Potentilla egedei
var. groenlandica, Sil- ver Weed
Figure 54. — Compound leaf X%-
24
Figure 55. — Leaf XI
52 (50) Five to eleven oblanceolate leaflets; pealike purple flowers; fruit a pod or legume; plants of dune border
or sea cliff Lupinus perennis,
Wild Lupine
52 (50) Plants with trifoliate leaves, each leaflet may be divided into three segments 53
53 (52) Plants 3-6 dm tall from a large root; three leaflets, each of which is divided into three segments (biternate); flow- ers in umbels; fruit of two carpels, di- viding down the middle when ripe; when crushed faint parsleylike odor; plants
of beach and edge of tidal marsh
Ligtisticum scothicum,
Scotch Lovage
Figure 56.— Leaf XV*.
53 (52) Plants 2-3 ft tall, smooth and slender; three rounded, wedge-obovate leaflets, almost sessile; flowers yel- low, pealike; fruit a legume; plants turn black on
being dried ; back of dunes and on sea cliffs
Baptisia tinctoria,
Wild Indigo
Figure 57.— Leaf X2.
25
54 (i9) Plants twining or creeping over the substrateor on other plants; leaves cordate or deltoid-ovate, long peti- oled; large funnel-shaped flowers, white to roseate; plants of beaches
and waste places Convolvultis sepium,
Hedge Bindweed or Wild Morning Glory
Figure 58.— Leaf XL
54 (4^9) Plants not creeping 55
55 (5i) Plants with cluster of basal leaves, erect flowering stalk that arises from basal
rosette 56
55 (54-) Plants not as above.
60
56 (55) Rushlike slender leaves sheathing the base of a narrow and jointless flower scape, up to 11.5 dm tall; fruit longer than thick;
plants of brackish and tidal marsh Triglochin maritima,
Arrow-Grass
Figure 59. — Habit sketch.
56 (55) Leaves not rushlike, broader, various shapes 57
26
57 (56) Leaves hastate, two basel lobes some- what divergent; flowering stem to 5 dm high, slender, reddish raceme of flow- ers, nodding on short stems (pedicels) ; common weed of beach, dunes, and
waste places Rumex acetosella,
Sheep Sorrel
Figure 60.— Leaf XI.
57 (56) Leaves not hastate, longer.
58
58 (57) Caudex (a basal persistent stem of an herb) woody and thick, leaves spatulate, entire, sometimes tinged with red at the tips; flowers tiny, lavender on a much branched leafless stem (scape), panicled; plants of tidal marsh and edge of the
dunes Limonium carolinianum,
Sea Lavender
Figure 61.— Leaf X %.
A plant transitional to L. carolinianum, with a more compact flower panicle,
more common north of Cape Cod and northward L. nashii
58 (57) No distinct thick and woody caudex 59
59 (58) Leaves linear, pinnate, rough to the touch with bristly hairs, main veins whitish; flowers yellow, resembling large dandelions at top of branched stalks; fruits an achene with white pappus (hairs) ; plants of sea cliffs
and waste places Hypochoeris radicata,
Cat's Ear
59 (58) Leaves spatulate, narrow to stem, slightly undulate border, veins reddish; flowers yellow, resembling small dande- lions, in open clusters at top of an al- most leafless stalk; fruit an achene with pappus; plants of older dunes and
sea cliffs Hieracium venosum,
Hawkweed, Rattlesnake Weed
Figure 62.— Leaf X%-
Figure 63.— Leaf X%.
27
60 (55) Plants forming compact cushions 1.5-3 dm high on sand dunes; somewhat woody at base; leaves tiny, scalelike, closely imbricated (covering base of leaf above), pubes- cent; flowers bright yellow, sessile; plants of secondary
dunes and hollows between dunes Hudsonia tomentosa.
Poverty Grass of Thoreau, Dune Heather (H. ericoides on some dunes)
Figure 64. — Stem, leaves, and flowers X2.
60 (55) Plants not forming compact hoary cushions on dunes 61
61 (60) Plants with simple lobed leaves
61 (60) Plants with simple leaves, not lobed, linear-lanceolate to deltoid (triangular).
62 69
62 (61) Plants with palmately lobed leaves, broadly ovate, three-lobed, lower sur- face covered with light pubescence; stems woody with large pith (middle one-half of stem) ; large pink flowers, to 10 cm broad; fruit a capsule; plants of brackish fringe of the tidal marsh.
Hibiscus pcUtistris,
Marsh Mallow
Figure 65.— Leaf X %
62 (61) Plants with pinnately lobed leaves, not cut to the midrib.
63
28
63 (62) Plants with filiform (threadlike) segments of the leaf 64
63 (62) Plants with leaf broader, segments or lobes not threadlike 65
64 (63) Coarse plants of the dunes with huge tap root; large cluster of basal leaves with filiform segments to 10 cm long, with expanded petiole at the nodal joint; leaves of flower stem similar; large panicle of green to bronze flowers on stem arising from
base Artemisia caudata,
Wormwood
Figure 66.— Leaf XL
64 (63) More delicate plants of marshes, with fi- brous roots; stem branching subdichoto- mous, leaves delicately filiform to 5 cm long; flowers white, small, in terminal
umbels Ptilimnium capillaceum,
Mock Bishop's Weed
Figure 67. — Leaf with filiform divisions XL
65 (63) Leaves 2.5-15 cm long, bipinnately parted into fine divisions like a fern leaf, odor strong and disagreeable
when leaf is crushed; flowers white <A^^^^^^^=^
(rarely pink) in flat topped crowd- rtx??=^^^\c-^^^^i^'^
ed corymbs; common plant on
beaches and waste places
Achillea millefolium. Figure 68. — Leaf XL
Yarrow
65 (63) Leaves not as above 66
29
66 (65) Plants covered with thick wooly hairs ; growing from extensive creeping and forking rhizomes, forming extensive clumps; leaves with broad petioles, obovate, bluntly lobed; flowers on an erect stem, yellow but not showy; plants of the
beaches and frontal dunes Artemisia stelleriana,
Silver King, Dusty Miller
FigTire 69.— Leaf X%.
66 {65) Plants not thickly covered with hairs; beaches and waste places 67
67 {66) Leaves pinnately lobed with soft spiny teeth, clasping cordate base with basal auricles, terminal half of the leaf much larger than lat- eral lobes; flowers yellow; fruit an achene with a white pappus; on beaches and waste places. . . .
Sonchus oleraceus,
Common Sow Thistle
Figure 70.— Stem and leaf X%.
67 {66) Leaves pinnately lobed without spiny teeth 68
68 {67) Leaves grayish-green, lower leaves pinnate, upper leaves deeply pin- nately lobed, toothed, fine hairs be- neath, hairs thick along midrib; saffron colored juice; yellow flow- ers; capsules long and linear to 20 cm dividing into two halves when ripe; plants of the beach. . . .Glaucium flavum, Sea Poppy
Figure 71.— Leaf X %•
30
68 (67) Leaves grass-green or gray-green, pinnate to tripinnately lobed, both opposite and alternate, foliage re- sembling that of Artemisia steller- riana (Fig. 67) , but lacks the wooly hairs; flowers in greenish terminal clusters; upper beaches and waste
places Ambrosia artemisiifolia,
Ragweed
Figure 72.
69 (61) Leaves broad triangular to oval. 69 (61) Leaves linear or lanceolate
70 73
70 (69) Large vinelike plants with thorns; usually creeping over other vegetation, may form im- penetrable thickets; leaves ovate or oval with three prominent main veins, tendrils at the base of some leaves; flowers in loose umbels; berries
blue ; plants of old dunes and sea cliflFs
Smilax rotundifolia,
Common Greenbriar (other species may be
found)
Figure 73. — Stem and leaf X%-
70 (69) Not vinelike, no thorns.
71
71 (70) Plants with light green, ovate-deltoid, serrate dentate or serrate leaves, very mealy especially below; flowers green- ish in paniculate spikes; long tap roots; on beaches but a common weed of
waste places Chenopodium album,
Lamb's Quarters
Figure 74
-Leaf Xl%.
71 (70) Plants with darker green leaves, no mealy spots on leaves; flowers variable 72
31
72 (71) Large coarse plants with thick spongy- stems; leaves large ovate to deltoid, sinuate-toothed or angled; flowers white, large and funnel-shaped; fruit a prickly capsule; an ill-scented and poisonous weed (but not to the touch) ; upper beaches and on piles of
dead trash Datura stramonium,
Jimson Weed
Figure 75.— Leaf X Vz
72 (71) Plants not as coarse, and stems firm; leaves ovate, entire, or sinuate, and acuminate at tips, without auricled or lobed base; flowers in umbels, white; berry black, poisonous in the unripe condition; on beaches and dunes.
Solarium nigrum.
Black Nightshade
Figure 76a.— Leaf XI
A vinelike plant of the same genus ; leaves entire but au- ricled or lobed at the base; flow- ers in cymes, violet; berry red
and poisonous S. dulcamara.
Bittersweet, Nightshade
Figure 76b.— Leaf XL
73 (69) Leaves lanceolate, with 7-12 parallel veins; terminal raceme of flowers; berries at first greenish, later
ruby-red; plants in the hollows of older dunes
Smilacina stellata,
False Solomon's Seal
Figure 77. — Stem and attached leaf XI-
73 (69) Leaves not parallel veined '^'*
32
74 (73) Leaves showing irregular serrations or slight undulating border, or even slight- ly pinnatifid (pinnately cleft)
74 (73) Leaves entire.
75 79
75 (74) Leaves long petioled, lanceolate to lance-ovate, irregularly toothed; terminal raceme of deep red flow- ers; plants of the freshwater border
of tidal marshes Lobelia cardinalis,
Cardinal Flower
75 (7-4) Leaves not as above
Fi^re 78.— Leaf XV2.
76
76 (75) Stems with scattered silky hair or dense wooly hair 77
76 (75) Stems smooth, no hairs 78
Figure 79.— Stem and leaf X%.
77 (76) Stem with scattered silky hair; leaves narrowly to broadly lanceolate, border undulate, crowded on stem, passing into bracts below the flowers, short appressed hairs more abundant on under surface, leaves fre- quently tipped with red; flowers yellow opening late afternoon; fruit a conical capsule to 3 cm long, crowded on terminal por- tion of stem; plants of beaches
and dunes Oenothera parviflora,
Evening-Primrose (other spe- cies of genus may occur, 0. hum- ifusa in New Jersey and Dela- ware)
77 (76) Stems densely covered with white wooly hair, leaves narrowly lanceolate, undulate borders, sessile, dense wooly hair on the undersurface; flowers in crowded terminal corymbs, pearly white and drying like straw flowers ; plants of
back dunes and protected areas
Gnaphalium obttisifolium,
Common Everlasting, Cudweed
Figure 80. — Stem and leaves XL
33
78 (76) Lower leaves long, petioled and spatulate with pinnate serra- tions, upper stem leaves sessile and deeply pinnately toothed; flowers a daisy; plants of sea cliff's and dunes (also roadsides,
etc.) Chrysanthemum leucanthemum,
Ox-Eye Daisy
Figure 81. — Leaves XI-
78 {76) Lower leaves almost sessile, pinnately toothed, up- per stem leaves linear; racemes of small white flow- ers, followed by larger oval-shaped siliques; plants
of dunes and waste places Lepidium virginicum,
Peppergrass
Fi^re 82. — Siliques and leaf XI
79 (74) Plants with conspicuous stipules at each node in form of a sheath (ocreae) sub- tending the leaf
79 (74) Plants lacking conspicuous stipules at nodes
80 81
80 (79) Stipules ending in points; leaves whitish gray or green linear-oblong, rugose on upper sur- face; flowers white; clusters growing from stipules at nodes; fruit a lustrous black achene, exserted from floral envelope; plants of sea
beaches and dune hollows Polygonum glaucum,
Seabeach Knotweed
Figure 83. — Stem and node with stipule, Leaf and flower X2%.
34
80 (79) Stipules, tubular, truncate and clasping stem, giving the appearance of a jointed stem; leaves linear-filiform; flowers rose or white in slender terminal racemes; fruit an achene; plants of the back dunes and cobble beaches.
Polygonella articulata,
Jointweed
Figure 84.-
-Stem, stipules and leaves X4.
81 (79) Plants with many erect stems from a biennial or perennial woody tap root. 81 (79) Plants with a single or a few erect stems from a tap root or fibrous root. . .
82 83
82 (81) Very leafy stems from 1-4.5 dm high, smooth, no pubescence; leaves obovate to elliptic and only 2 cm long; loose terminal racemes 2-12 cm long, rose-pink to rose-purple flowers, minute cleistogamous (closed colorless, self fertile flow- ers) flowers and capsules in one-seeded racemes at base of plant after showy flowers ; plants of sea cliffs and bask dunes. . .Poly gala polygama var. ohtusa. Milkwort
Figure 85. — (a) Stem and leaves;
(b) raceme and cleistogamous flowers X3.
82 (81) Leafy stems to 1 dm tall, densely covered with white hairs; leaves lanceolate to elliptic, three to four times as long as broad, whorled on stem or alternate in flower panicle, starting about middle of stem ; old flower stalks persisting into next year; plants of
dunes (Hudsonia zone) Lechea maritima,
Seaside Pinweed
Figure 86. — Stem and whorl of leaves XL
35
83 (81) Very slender annual or biennial with trailing basal offshoots; narrowly linear leaves, scattered widely on flowering stalk; very loose raceme of blue-violet flowers; fruit a capsule; a plant of late spring and early summer and disappear- ing after seeds are formed; plants of older protected dunes, sometimes near
beaches and waste places Linaria canadensis,
Toadflax
Figure 87. — Stem and leaves X2.
83 (81) Coarser plants without trailing basal shoots 84
84 (83) Erect plants, usually with a single hair- less stem, branching above; leaves lin- ear on main stem to 5 cm long, 2 cm long on branches with a single vein; flowers in flat topped corymbs, yellow; plants of margins of brackish ponds and
marshes Solidago tenuifolia,
Goldenrod
A much coarser plant growing in the same habitat; leaves lanceolate with three to five veins; much branched cor- ymbose flower heads S. graminifolia,
Grass Leaved Goldenrod
84 {83) Erect plants frequently with several stems from base and the branching lower on stem; linear leaves to 6 cm, smaller leaves to 3 cm; flowers in terminal clusters, yellow, resembling an aster; plants of dunes frequently in the Htidsonia zone (also sandy
roadsides) Chrysopsis falcata,
Golden Aster
Figure 88. — Stem and leaves XI-
Figure 89. — Stem and leaves XI-
36
85 (27) Gramineae
The character illustrated for each of the common species of grasses is the ligule. This is a membranous or hair structure found where the blade of the leaf joins the sheath (see Plate I). The grasses are arranged below in their typical habitat:
I. Dunes
Ammophila breviligulata, Dune, Marram, or Beach Grass
A very coarse grass characteristic of frontal dunes and hollows. It also occurs at edge of and on the eroded portions of sea cliffs and on beaches. Ligule membranous to 3 mm long. Flowering spike linear, cylindric and completely covered with flowers.
Figure 90. — Ligule X4.
Festuca rubra. Red Fescue Grass
A less coarse grass of the back dunes, sometimes scattered in the Ammophila zone. Sheath brownish and blades stiff and setaceous, ligule membranous. Growing from a creeping rootstock. Less frequent in tidal marsh, in Spartina patens and Juncus gerardi zones. Flowers in a loose panicle.
Figure 91.— Ligule XIO
Deschampia flexuosa, Common Hairgrass
Numerous inward rolled threadlike basal leaves 5-20 cm long, 0.4 mm wide; stem slender and nearly naked of leaves; ligule membranous, 2 mm; flower panicle very loose, nodding with pedicels blackish and threadlike. Plants of the hollow of dunes and top of sea cliffs.
Figure 92.— Ligule X15.
37
II. Tidal marsh
Spartina alterniflora, Salt Marsh Cord Grass
A large coarse grass found at the margin of tidal marshes and along all creeks and pools in the marsh. Ligule a fringe of hairs, base fused and membranous. Blade of 18 mm wide. A dwarf form occurs in the lower portion of the S. patens zone. Growing from a rhizome covered with white papery scales; flowers in comblike cluster, tight against the stem.
Figure 93.— Ligule X4.
Spartina patens, Salt Marsh Hay
A slender grass forming almost pure stands on lower slope of the marsh, also on sea beaches. In late summer and fall the growth habit shows a "cowlick" formation. Basal leaves filiform (threadlike) , upper leaves to 1 dm long, ligule a fringe of hairs ; flower two or more comblike spikes forming an open panicle, purplish, flowers unilateral on spike.
Figure 94. — Ligule X4.
Spartina pectinata, Fresh Water Cord Grass
A tall coarse grass found growing around the upland edge of the tidal marsh and on upper reaches of the creeks in low salinity. Leaf margins and glume keel strongly scabrous, harsh to run finger down edge. Growth from a large scaly rhizome. Ligule a fringe of hairs to 2 mm long; blade 6-10 mm wide. Flower stalks with many panicles of comblike spikes, long awns on flowers of spikes.
Figure 95.— Ligule X3.
38
Phragmites communis. Reed Grass
Large erect grass to 6 m tall, from long creep- ing rhizomes; ligule a fringe of hairs, some to 6 mm long. Exceedingly feathery flower panicle with long silky hair, tawny or purplish in color, grass of brackish to fresh water areas of marsh, sometimes on low dunes.
Figure 96.— Ligule X%-
Distichlis spicata, Spike Grass
Grass of the Spartina pateyis zone, sometimes in pure stands. Leaves 2-3 mm wide and a compact, subcylindrical panicle of flowers, dis- tinct from the Spar-tina spike. Ligule mem- branous. Creeping rhizome frequently invades bare areas.
Figure 97. — Ligule X4.
Agrostis alba var. palustris, Redtop Grass
Delicate grass scattered in Spartina patens zone. Densely matted, partly decumbent. Creeping rhizome. Blade of leaf 4-10 mm wide, ligule mem- branous to 3-7 mm long. Panicle of flowers purplish-bronze, becomes whitish in fruit.
Figure 98. — Ligule X5.
Elymns virginicus var. halophilus, Terrell Grass
Erect stiff grass of the upland edge of tidal marsh or between it and beach or dunes. Blade of leaf 5-14 mm wide, ligule membranous. Flowering spike resembles wheat but seems two-ranked and flat.
Figure 99.— Ligule X4.
39
Panicum virgatum, Switch Grass
Large coarse grass in thick hummocks or tus- socks. Blade 10-15 mm wide, ligule a fringe of hairs. Loose widely spreading flower panicle. Grass in the transition zone of the marsh border, sometimes at the edge of beaches and dunes.
Figure 100.— Ligule X2.
in. Beach
Bromus tectorum, Cheat
An annual grass, growing early in the season and becoming brown and dead by midsummer. Blade 5-8 mm wide, ligule membranous 1.5-3 mm long, rounded to acute. Very loose panicle, re- curving flexuous branches with long awns (bristles) resembling oats, often purple in color.
Figure 101.— Ligule X2.
86 (27) Cyperaceae
L Dunes
Cyperus grayii, Gray's Sedge
Rhizomes with hard cormlike swollen branches; stems wiry, filiform, leaves gray- green to 3 dm tall; flowers in nearly spherical heads on 3-14 stiff capillary smooth stems forming an umbel; in sandy hollows of dunes. It is suggested that a more inclusive manual be referred to for verification.
Cyperus spp.
Other species of Cypertcs may occur in the dunes or at the edge of dunes. Identi- fication should be made by the use of one of the manuals (Fernald, 1950; Gleason and Cronquist, 1963) or referred to a botanical taxonomist.
40
II. Tidal marsh
Scirpus americanus, Three-Square Rush
Rhizomes stout and hard, dark brown; upper sheath concave, but not notched, bearing an elongate, linear, sharp, pointed blade; spikelets many in sessile clusters, reddish-brown; involucre appears to be con- tinuation of stem, long to 15 cm, acute ; plants of brackish to fresh- water borders of marshes, usually in almost pure stands.
Flgfure 102. — Stem, flower cluster and involucre X2.
Scirpus paludosus var. atlanticus, Bayonet Grass
Growing from a cormlike enlargement of the rhizome; stems three-angled; leaves boi'ne chiefly or wholly below the middle of the stem; two or three involucral bracts; in borders of brackish ponds and on tidal marshes.
Figure 103.— Habit sketch X '/lo.
Scirpus torreyi, Torrey's Rush
Rhizome flaccid, brownish; upper sheath readily splitting, leaves triangular chan- neled with obliquely rounded tips; spikelets in sessile clusters, oblong-lanceolate, reddish-brown; involucre appears to be continuation of stem; 3-5 cm long; plants along brackish to freshwater margins of ponds and marshes.
41
Eleocharis spp., Spike Rush
Thin wiry stems forming tufted clusters from a creeping rhizome, leafless, but basal part of stem sheathed ; many of the stems topped with a conelike brown or reddish-brown flower spikelet; wet margins of brackish ponds and marshes. Several species, but identification cannot be made until fruits (achenes) are ripe. For species identification reference should be made to one or other of the manuals suggested.
Figure 104. — Stem and flower spikelets X3-
Eleocharis parvida
A small spike rush, 1-7 cm high, growing in muddy areas of tidal marshes and on wet saline or brackish shores. Plants tufted with threadlike leaves, shallow fibrous roots.
Figure 105.— Habit sketch XL
87 (27) Juncaceae
I. Tidal Marsh
Juncus gerardi, Black Grass
Wiry erect herbs resembling grasses or rushes, from slender rhi- zomes growing horizontally in the marsh; leaf sheath extending about one-third of the way up the stem, leaf blade stiflF, ascending scarcely flattened; stem ends in a cyme of brown flowers (see Fig. 106) ; achenes protruding from floral envelope in late summer giv- ing a dark brown aspect to the marsh zone; almost pure stands growing at the upper, landward edge of the tidal marsh.
Figure 106. — Flower cyme XI-
42
Juncus baltictis
Erect herbs with slender cylindrical stems; basal leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; rhizomes firm, extensively forked; along brackish shores and mar- gins of tidal marshes.
Figure 107.— (a) Habit sketch; (b) sheathing basal
a
leaves X '^lO-
II. Dunes
Junciis spp.
Species of Juncus occur in the hollow of the dunes. Two species that are found are: J. greenei with flowers in loose cymes and resembles /. gerardi, and J. canadensis with flowers in subglobose clusters in a compound cyme. For identification of these, refer to one of the manuals or submit the specimen to a botanical taxonomist.
43
DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS BY HABITATS
Vegetation of Beaches
Higher plants are confined to the extreme up- per level of beaches. They grow in the sand, at the base of dunes or moraines, among cobbles and boulders or in the mass of plant debris de- posited by storms. Only about 11 species of plants are regularly abundant in this extreme environment in southern New England. Many of them are quite succulent, which is a common characteristic of halophilic plants as well as plants that grow in deserts. A tension zone ex- ists between the beach and the uplands where many common weedy plants will occur tempo- rarily. The more common of these accidentals have also been included in key (Figure numbers refer to illustrations in the key) .
1. Dominant beach plants:
Cakile edentula (Bigel.) Hook., Sea Rocket Fig. 40. Southern Labrador to South Carolina. Young tender leaves are good as a green. Horseradish flavor.
Arenaria peploides L. var. robusta Fern., Sea Purslane Fig. 34. Circumpolar species. Quebec to Maryland. (Arctic coast has other varieties. Seen on Hudson Bay.)
Sahola, kali L., Saltwort
Fig. 29. Southern Labrador to Georgia. Variety caroliniana (Walt.) Nutt. also occurs Massachusetts to Florida.
Artemisia steUeriana Bess., Dusty Miller, Silver King Fig. 69. Gulf of St. Lawrence to Vir- ginia.
Lathyrus japotiicus Willd., Beach Pea Fig. 53. Circumpolar species. The va- rieties extend from Hudson Bay to New Jersey. White variety rare.
Polygonum glaucum Nutt., Seabeach Knotweed Fig. 83. Massachusetts to Georgia.
Atriplex patula L. var. kastata (L.) Gray, Orach Fig. 35. Newfoundland south to South Carolina. Tender leaves can be used as a salad.
Atriplex arenaria Nutt., Seabeach Orach Fig. 36. Southern New Hampshire to Texas. Tender leaves can be used as a salad.
Solidago sempervirens L., Seaside Goldenrod
Fig. 41. Newfoundland, Quebec to New Jersey, locally to Virginia. Other va- ieties to Florida, Texas, and Mexico.
Xanthium echinatum Murr., Cockle-
bur, Sea Burdock Fig. 38. Nova Scotia to Virginia.
Euphorbia polygonifolia L., Seaside Spurge Fig. 45. Prince Edward Island, east New Brunswick to Georgia.
Rare beach plants:
Ligusticum scothicum L., Scotch Lovage Fig. 56. Greenland and Labrador to southern New York. Glaucitcm flavum Crantz., Horn or Sea Poppy Fig. 71. Southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island south to Vir- ginia.
Plants found growing on beaches, but not restricted to this habitat (many weed spe- cies) :
Chenopodium album L., Pigweed or Lamb's Quarters Fig. 74. Cosmopolitan. Widespread along coast. Oenothera parviflora L. var. oakesiana (Gates) Wieg., Small Flowering Evening-Primrose Fig. 79. Plymouth County, Mass., to Northampton County, Va. Look for O. humifusa Nutt. from New Jersey to Florida. 0. biennis may also occur, as it is widely distributed. Convohmlus sepium L., Wild Morning Glory Fig. 58. Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. Achillea millefolium L., Yarrow Fig. 68. Cosmopolitan. Widely distrib- uted. The crushed leaves have a strong disagreeable odor. If eaten by cattle
44
can cause odor and taste in milk and milk products.
ParthenocissiLS quinquefolia (L.) Planch., Virginia Creeper or Woodbine Fig. 4. Southeastern Maine to Florida and Texas.
PolygoneUa articulata (L.) Meisn., Jointweed Fig. 84. Maine to North Carolina.
Amhi^osia artemisnfolia L., Ragweed Fig. 72. Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. A pernicious weed. One of the causes of hay fever in the late summer.
Myrica pensylvanica Loisel., Bayberry Fig. 19. Southern Newfoundland, east- ern New Brunswick to North Carolina. Wax from the berries used formerly for candles.
Scleranthtis annuus L., Knawel
Fig. 51. Prince Edward Island south to Florida.
Datura stramonium L., Jimson Weed Fig. 75. Massachusetts to Pennsylva- nia. Locally northward and southward. A subcosmopolitan weed from South America, ill scented and poisonous. Frequently growing on plant debris on beaches.
Molhiga verticillata L., Carpet Weed Fig. 44. Nova Scotia, Quebec, south to Florida and Texas.
Linaria canadensis (L.) Dumont. Old Field Toadflax Fig. 87. With the variety from Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas.
Riimex acetosella L., Sheep Sorrel Fig. 60. Ubiquitous weed of worn out soils. Quebec to Virginia.
Sonchus oleraceus L., Common Sow Thistle Fig. 70. Newfoundland and southward to Florida.
Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl., Salt Marsh Hay Fig. 94. Newfoundland to Virginia.
Ammophila breviligulata Fern., Beach or Marram Grass Fig. 90. Newfoundland and southern Labrador to North Carolina. Planted to hold dunes and beaches.
Bromris tectorum L., Cheat
Fig. 101. Southern Quebec to Virginia.
Elymus virginicus L. var. halophilits (Bickn.) Wieg., Terrell Grass Fig. 99. Nova Scotia to Virginia. Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumont., Sea Blite Fig. 30. Quebec to Virginia. Suaeda linearis (Ell.) Moq., Sea Blite Southern Maine to Florida and Texas. Solanum nigrum L., Black Nightshade
Fig. 76a. Nova Scotia to Florida. Solanum dulcamara L., Bittersweet, Nightshade Fig. 76b. Newfoundland to Delaware.
Vegetation of Dunes
The dominant plants of sand dunes are listed below. Plants not restricted to dunes, but oc- curring there have been included. Some rare plants or accidentals are probably omitted. The zone number or numbers listed with each plant indicate the area of the dunes where these plants can generally be found (Fig. 108). The num- ber of species increases from Zone I to Zone VI ( Figure numbers refer to the key) .
Zone I. From the beach to the top of the dune. Precipitous slope; fre-
quently undercut by wave action.
Zone II. Crest of the primary dune. Exposed to effects of salt spray.
Zone III. Back slope of the dune protected from salt spray.
Zone IV. Hollow. Sandy with scattered vegetation; sometimes a small marsh or acid bog present; thickets of shrubs, usually ijt iso- lated stands, on mounds of accumulated sand.
Zone V. Secondary dune. The vegetation on the top may show the effects of salt spray. The back part of this dune may support a unique dune forest. In some cases the secondary dune is absent.
Zone VI. The transition zone to forest, tidal marsh, or a brackish pond. This zone may be found directly back of the front dune if the secondary system is missing.
Figure 108. — Distributional zones where the dominate plants of the sand dunes are generally found.
1. Dominant grass of the dunes:
Ammophila breviligulata Fern., Beach or Marram Grass Fig. 90. Newfoundland and southern Labrador to North Carolina. Found in all Zones from I to VI, but becoming- less frequent from III to VI. The grass
45
is planted to stabilize dunes. Replaced by Uniola paniculata from Virginia south.
2. Important plants associated with Ammo- phila:
a. Herbaceous plants:
Artemisia stelleriana Bess., Dusty Miller or Silver King
Fig. 69. Gulf of St. Lawrence to
Virginia. Zones I, II, III. Lathyrus japonicus Willd., Beach Pea
Fig. 53. Circumpolar species. The
varieties extend from Hudson Bay
to New Jersey. White variety rare.
Zones II, III, IV. Solidago sempervirens L., Seaside Goldenrod
Fig. 41. Newfoundland, Quebec to
New Jersey, locally to Virginia.
Other varieties to Florida, Texas,
and Mexico. Zones II, III, IV,
V. Hudsonia tomentosa Nutt., Beach Heather, Poverty Grass
Fig. 18. Gaspe Peninsula to North
Carolina. Thoreau's poverty grass.
H. encoides may occur on the dunes.
More usual in interior pine barrens.
Zones III, IV, V, VI. Xanthium echinatum Murr., Cocklebur, Sea Burdock
Fig. 38. Nova Scotia to Virginia.
Zones II, III, IV, V. Lechea maritima Leggett., Seaside Pinweed
Fig. 86. Southern Maine to east
Virginia.
b. Shrubby species:
Prunjis maritima Marsh., Beach
Plum Fig. 15. Knox County, Maine, to Delaware. Fruit used for jelly. Zones II, III, IV, V, VI.
Rhus radicans L., Poison Ivy Fig. 3. Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas. Poisonous to touch, many people sensitive. Zones III, IV, V, VI.
Myrica pensylvanica Loisel., Bay- berry Fig. 19. South Newfoundland, east New Brunswick to North Carolina. Wax from the berries formerly used for candles. Zones III, IV, V, VI.
Rosa rugosa Thunb., Salt-Spray Rose Fig. 6. Nova Scotia to Delaware. Zones II, III, IV, V, VI.
Querciis ilicifolia Mang., Scrub or Holly Oak Fig. 12. Maine to North Carolina. The oak of the pine barrens of New Jersey. Zones IV, VI.
Junipertis virginiana L., Red Cedar, Juniper Fig. 2. Southeastern New England to Florida and Texas. Zones III, IV, VI.
Baccharis fialmifolia L., Sea Myrtle, Groundsel Tree Fig. 9. Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. Sexes separate ; in the fall the female shrub has cottony tipped seeds. Zones IV, VI.
Additional characteristic plants growing in areas protected from wind and salt spray:
Festuca rubra L., Red Fescue Grass Fig. 91. Greenland, Labrador to North Carolina. (Many varieties.) Zones III, IV, VI. Artemisia caudata Michx., Wormwood. Fig. 66. Southern Maine to Florida and Texas. Zones III, IV, V. Euphorbia polygonifolia L., Seaside Spurge Fig. 45. Prince Edward Island, east New Brunswick to Georgia. Atriplex arenaria Nutt., Seabeach Orach Fig. 36. Southern New Hampshire to Texas. Young leaves are useful in sal- ads, or cooked as greens. Zones I, II, III.
Plants not exclusively dune plants, but grow- ing in protected areas:
Linaria canadensis (L.) Dumont., Old Field Toadflax Fig. 87. With the varieties from Nova
46
5.
Scotia to Florida and Texas. Zones III,
IV, VI. Smilacma stellata (L.) Desf., False Solomon's Seal
Fig. 77. Southeastern Labrador to New
Jersey. Zone VI. Juncus canadensis J. Gay. Canadian Rush.
Maine to Georgia. Zone IV, possibly
VI. Junnis greenei Oakes & Tuckerm., Torrey's Rush
Nova Scotia to New Jersey. Zone IV,
possibly VI. Cyperus grayii Torr., Gray's Sedge
Massachusetts to Florida. Zone IV,
possibly VI. Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin., Common Hairgrass
Fig. 92. Southern Labrador to North
Carolina. Zone VI. Rtimex acetosella L., Sheep Sorrel
Fig. 60. Ubiquitous weed of worn-out
soils. Quebec to Virginia. Zones IV,
VI. Lepidium virginicum (L.) R. Br., Peppergrass
Fig. 82. Widespread weed. Natural- ized from Europe. Chrysopsis falcata (Pursh.) EL, Golden Aster
Fig. 89. Southeastern Massachusetts
to New Jersey. Zones III, IV, V, VI. Parthe7iocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch., Virginia Creeper
Fig. 4. Southern Maine to Florida and
Texas. Zones III, IV, V, VI.
Cryptogams of the dunes:
Geaster spp.. Earth Stars
Massachusetts; Delaware. Bare sandy areas. Zones IV, VI.
Cladonia spp.. Lichens
Widely distributed. Several species of Cladonia may occur between vegetation on bare areas. Zones II, III, IV, V, VI.
Usnea barbata, Old Man's Beard Maine; Massachusetts. On beach blum and bayberry twigs. Zones II, III, IV, VI.
Aulacomnium palustre Schwaegr., Moss Eastern North America. In wet hol- lows. Zones IV, VI. Ceratodon pwrpureus (L.) Brid., Moss Drier sites. One of the few mosses that grows regularly near the shore. Zones III, IV, VI. Polytrichum piliferum Schreb., Hairy Cap Moss Drier sites in hollows. Edges of bogs. P. commune may also occur at edge of bogs. Zones IV, VI. Sphagnum spp.. Sphagnum or Peat Moss Cosmopolitan species. May form dom- inant plant in boggy areas in some hol- lows of dunes. Zones IV, VI.
6. Plants of the transition zone:
a. Dune forest to uplands:
i. Trees and shrubs:
Pinus rigida Mill., Pitch Pine Fig. 1. Maine to Virginia. Sometimes Zone IV. Zone VI. PruHus serotina Ehrh., Black Cherry Fig. 16. Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas. Zones IV, V, VI. Nyssa sylvatica Marsh., Sour Gum Fig. 14. Maine to Florida and Texas. Zones V, VI. Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees., Sassafras Fig. 10. Southern Maine to Virginia. Zones IV, V, VI. Rhus copallina L., Dwarf or Shining Sumac Fig. 5. Southern Maine to Flor- ida and Texas. Zones IV, V, VI. Ilex opaca Ait., American Holly Fig. 11. Eastern Massachu- setts to Florida and Texas. Zones V, VI. Amelanchier laevis Wieg., Shadbush Fig. 17. Newfoundland to Georgia. Species of Amelanch- ier hybridize readily and there
47
may be great variation. Other species of the genus may be present. Zones V, VI.
Populus tremuloides Michx., Quaking Aspen Fig. 13. Labrador to Virginia. Zone VI.
Spiraea alba DuRoi., Meadow- sweet Fig. 24. Quebec to Delaware. Bog hollows. Zones IV, VI.
Spiraea tomentosa L., Hard- hack, Steeplebush Fig. 25. Prince Edward Island to North Carolina. S. latifolia may also occur. In the key it precedes Figure 24. In bog hol- lows. Zones IV, VI.
ii. Herbaceous plants:
Panicum virgatum L., Switch Grass Fig. 100. Maine to Florida and Mississippi. P. longi folium grows in the same habitat, more southerly in distribution, occurs in southeastern Massachusetts. Zone VI. Polygovella articulata (L.) Meisn., Jointweed Fig. 84. Maine to North Car- olina. Gerardia maritima Raf., Sea- side Gerardia Fig. 46. Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, to North Carolina. Zone VI. Rosa palustris L., Swamp Rose Fig. 7. Nova Scotia to Florida. R. Carolina may also occur, less common. Zone VI. Oenothera parviflora L. var. oakesiana (Gates) Wieg., Small Flowering Evening- Primrose. Fig. 79. Plymouth County, Mass., to Northampton County, Va. Look for 0. humifiisa Nutt. from New Jersey to Florida. O. biennis may also occur, as it is widely distributed.
Ambrosia artemisiifolium L., Ragweed Fig. 72. Newfoundland to Flor- ida and Texas. A pernicious weed. One of the causes of hay fever in the late summer. Zone VL Lycopus rtibelhis Moench., Bugleweed Fig. 49. Southern New Eng- land to Florida and Texas. Other species of the genus may be present. Zone VI. Polygala palygama Walt. var. obtusa Chodat., Milkwort Fig. 85. Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas. Zone VI. Pteridijim aqidlinum (L.) Kuhn., Bracken Fern Fig. 43. Cosmopolitan plant. Newfoundland to North Caro- lina. Zone VI. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L., Ox-Eye Daisy Fig. 81. Labrador to Florida. Several varieties. A common but attractive weed. Zone VI. Gnaphalinm obtusifolium L., Cudweed, Common Ever- lasting Fig. 80. Prince Edward Island to Florida and Texas. Zone VI.
b. Transition to tidal marsh:
Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl., Salt Marsh Hay Fig. 94. Newfoundland to Virginia. Zone VI. Atriplex arenaria Nutt., Seabeach Orach Fig. 36. New Hampshire to Texas. Zone VI. Limonium carolinianum (Walt.) Britt., Sea Lavender Fig. 61. Newfoundland to Florida and Mississippi. Flower panicles can be dried for winter bouquets. North of Cape Cod L. nashii is more common. Zone VI. Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb., Sand Spurrey Fig. 52. Quebec and south along
48
coast to Florida. S. canadensis may also occur. S. diandra is reported only from shores of Buzzards Bay, Mass. Zone VI.
Salsola kali L., Saltwort
Fig. 29. Southern Labrador to Georgia. Variety caroliniana (Walt.) Nutt. also occurs Massa- chusetts to Florida. Zone VI.
Ly thrum, salicaria L., Spiked Loosestrife Fig. 47. Newfoundland to Virginia. Zone VI.
Phragmites communis Trin., Reed Grass Fig. 96. Eurasia and with its va- rieties nearly cosmopolitan. Zone VI.
c. Transition to the brackish pond:
Pluchea purptirascens (Sw.) D. C. var. succulenta Fern., Salt Marsh Fleabane. Fig. 39. Southern Maine to Flori- da. P. camphorata from Delaware south to Texas.
Cyperus odoratus L., Fragrant Sedge Massachusetts to tropical America. Zone VI.
Cyperus rivularis Kunth., Sedge Maine to Georgia. Zone VI.
Eleocharis spp.. Sedge
Fig. 104. Mature seeds must be available to identify the species. It is suggested that references be consulted for complete identifica- tion. Zone VI.
Eleocharis parvula (R. & S.) Link. Fig. 105. Newfoundland to Louisi- ana. Zone VI.
Ptilimnium capillaceum (Michx.) Raf., Mock Bishop's Weed. Fig. 67. Southern New England to Florida and Texas. Zone VI.
Solidago tenui folia Pursh., Golden- rod Fig. 88. Nova Scotia south to Vir- ginia. S. graminifolia (L.) Salisb. also found growing here. Quebec south to North Carolina. Zone VI.
7. Acid bogs in dune hollows (found at Chap- paquoit Beach, Provincetown, and Monomoy Island). Plants in the Gray Museum, Ma- rine Biological Laboratory, are in the collec- tion from Monomoy Island.
a. Dominant plants:
Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait., Cranberry Newfoundland to North Carolina. The small cranberry, V. oxycoccus, may also occur.
Sphagnum palustre L., Sphagnum or Peat Moss Circumpolar, south into New Jer- sey. Other species of Sphagnum may be present.
Lycopodium inundatum L., Bog Club-Moss Typical form and its varieties ex- tend from Newfoundland to Florida and Texas.
Drosera rotundifolia L., Round- Leaved Sundew Labrador to Florida. D. intermedia Hayne, the intermediate leaved spe- cies may also occur.
b. Less common plants:
Viola lanceolata L., Lance-Leaved Violet New Brunswick to Florida. Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker., Pogonia Orchid Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. Calopogon pulchellus (Sal.) R. Br., Grass Pink Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. Spiraea tomentosa L., Hardback, Steeplebush Fig. 25. Prince Edward Island to North Carolina. S. alba and S. kit- ifolia may also occur. See dune forests. Usually on the edge of the bog. Polytrichum commune L., Hairy
Cap Moss Cosmopolitan. Edge of the bog.
49
Onoclea sensibilis L., Sensitive Fern Southern Labrador to Florida and Texas. Sensitive to frost.
8. Sea cliffs (vegetation of the top of the cliffs along the eastern shore of Cape Cod. These are moraines) :
a. Trees:
Juniperus virginiana L., Red Cedar, Juniper Fig. 2. Southeastern New England to Florida and Texas. Pinus rigida Mill., Pitch Pine
Fig. 1. Maine to Virginia. Rhus copallina L., Dwarf or Shining Sumac Fig. 5. Southern Maine to Florida and Texas. Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees., Sassafras Fig. 10. Southern Maine to Vir- ginia. The bark of the roots is dried and used for tea. Pnmus maritlma Marsh., Beach Plum Fig. 15. Knox County, Maine, to Delaware. Fruit used for jelly. Prunus serotina Ehrh., Black Cherry Fig. 16. Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas.
b. Shrubs and vines:
Rhus radicans L., Poison Ivy Fig. 3. Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas. Poisonous to touch, many people sensitive. Parthenocisstis quinquefolia (L.) Planch., Virginia Creeper, Woodbine Fig. 4. Southeastern Maine to Florida and Texas. Rosa riigosa Thunb., Salt-Spray Rose Fig. 6. Nova Scotia to Delaware. Rosa palustris Marsh., Marsh or Swamp Rose Fig. 7. Nova Scotia to Florida. R. Carolina may also occur.
Myrica pen^ylvanica Loisel., Bay- berry Fig. 19. South Newfoundland, east New Brunswick to North Carolina. Wax from the berries formerly used for candles. Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult., Sweet Fern Fig. 20. Cape Breton Island to Vir- ginia. (Not a fern.) Gaylussacia baccata (Wang.) K. Koch., Black Huckleberry Fig. 23. Newfoundland to Geor- gia. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., Bearberry Fig. 21. Newfoundland to Virginia. May form a solid ground cover. Smilax rotundifolia L., Common Greenbriar Fig. 73. Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. Other species may be present.
c. Grasses:
Ammophila breviligulata Per., Dune or Marram Grass Fig. 90. Newfoundland and south- ern Labrador to North Carolina. This grass is frequently planted to stabilize dunes. Replaced by Un iola paniculata from Virginia south. Festuca rubra L., Red Fescue Grass Fig. 91. Greenland, Labrador to North Carolina. Many varieties. Deschampia flexuosa (L.) Trin., Common Hairgrass Fig. 92. South Labrador to North Carolina. Agrostis alba L. var. palustris
(Huds.) Pers., Redtop Grass Fig. 98. Newfoundland south to Georgia and Louisiana.
d. Herbs (the commonest are given, some others are expected but rare) :
Solidago sempervirens L., Seaside Goldenrod Fig. 41. Newfoundland, Quebec to New Jersey. Locally to Virginia.
50
Lathyrus japonicus Willd., Beach
Pea
Fig. 53. Cirumpolar species. The
varieties extend from Hudson Bay
to New Jersey. White variety rare.
Lupinus perennis L., Wild Lupine Fig. 55. Southern Maine to Flor- ida.
Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br., Wild Indigo Fig. 57. Maine to Florida. Plant turns black when pressed for her- barium. Used at one time for a blue dye.
Rumex acetosella L., Sheep Sorrel Fig. 60. Ubiquitous weed of worn- out soils. Quebec to Virginia.
Hypochoeris radlcata L., Cat's Ear Fig. 62. Newfoundland to North Carolina.
Hieracium venosum L., Hawk- weed, Rattlesnake Weed Fig. 63. Southern Maine to north Virginia, along the coast. Other hawkweeds may be present.
Artemisia stelleriatia Bess., Silver King, Dusty Miller Fig. 69. Gulf of St. Lawrence to Virginia.
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L., Ox-Eye Daisy Fig. 81. Labrador to Florida. Sev- eral varieties.
Polygala polygama Walt. var. obtusa Chodat., Milkwort Fig. 85. Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas.
Linaria canadensis (L.) Dumont., Old Field Toadflax Fig. 87. With the variety from Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas.
Vegetation of Tidal Marshes
The dominant plant species of the tidal marshes are listed below. Rare plants may have been missed or intentionally omitted. Zone numbers in the diagram (Fig. 109) will be used to indicate the areas in which each plant com- monly grows. The number of species increases from Zone I to VL
Zone I. Estuary. The bottom may be sandy, sand and mud, or cobbles.
Mostly covered with water, but may be fringed by a flat
exposed at low tide. Zone H. Lower Border. EdRe of the marsh, also along creeks and ditches:
normal tides flood the area twice a day; few species present.
Spartina altfrniftora zone. Zone III. Lower Slope. Are subjected to the higher tides. At some seasons
there may be intervals of no tidal flooding. Spartina patens
zone. Zone IV. Pool, Filled with water; salinity varies with tidal influx or
long periods without flooding; may reach salinity of 56 %, or
more in summer. Zone V. Upper Slope. Areas subjected to exceptionally high tides and
storm waters, juncm Rfrardi zone. Zone VI. Transition. (Upper Border). Area subjected to storm tides
only; upland vegetation tailing over and mixed with typical
tidal marsh plants.
Figure 109. — Distributional zones where the dominate plants of the tidal marshes grow.
1. Submerged flowering plants:
Zostera marina L., Eel Grass
Fig. 26. Zone I. Both shores of the Atlantic. Greenland to North Carolina. Turtle grass takes over from North Carolina southward. Always sub- merged, cannot survive if exposed to desiccation by the lowering tidal waters.
Euppia maritima L., Widgeon Grass Fig. 28. Zones L IV. Nearly cosmopol- itan species. The typical plant and its varieties from Newfoundland to Flor- ida, West Indies, and Mexico. Quiet estuaries and brackish ponds. Impor- tant as food for ducks and other wild fowl.
Potamogeton pectinatus L., Sago Pond Weed Fig. 27. Zone IV. Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. Brackish ponds. Important wild fowl food.
2. Dominant grasses and rushes:
Spartina alterniflora Loisel., Salt Marsh Cord Grass Fig. 93. Zone II dominant. Nova Sco- tia to Florida and Texas. Important producer of the tidal marshes. Dwarf form, rarely blooms in Zone III.
Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl., Salt Marsh Hay Fig. 94. Newfoundland to Virginia. Zone III dominant, at end of growing season shows "cowlick" formation.
51
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene, Spike Grass, Alkali Grass Fig. 97. Prince Edward Island south to Florida and Texas. Zones III, V. Common invader of the bare tidal marsh pannes.
Junais gerardi Loisel., Black Grass Fig. 106. Newfoundland to Florida. Dominant in Zone V. A rush, not a grass. Its place taken further south by /. roemerianus — Georgia to Texas, north to Maryland.
Panicum virgatum, L., Switch Grass Fig. 100. Maine to Florida and Missis- sippi. P. longifolium grows in same habitat, more southerly in distribution, occurs in southeastern Massachusetts. Dominant in Zone VI, the substratum frequently may be acid here.
Phragmites communis Trin., Reed Grass Fig. 96. Eurasia and with its varieties nearly cosmopolitan. Quebec to Louisi- ana and Texas. Zone VI.
Festuca rubra L., Red Fescue Grass Fig. 91. Greenland, Labrador to North Carolina. Many varieties. Zone VI.
Agrostis alba L. var. palustris (Huds.) Pers., Redtop Grass Fig. 98. Newfoundland south to Geor- gia and Louisiana. Zone VI.
3. Important herbs with dominant grasses and rushes:
Limonium carolinianum (Walt.) Britt., Sea Lavender Fig. 61. Newfoundland to Florida and Mississippi. Flower panicles can be dried for winter bouquets. North of Cape Cod L. nashii is more common. Zones II, III, V. Solidago sempervirens L., Seaside Goldenrod Fig. 41. Newfoundland, Quebec to New Jersey, locally to Virginia. Varieties to Florida, Texas and Mexico. Zones III, V, VI. Blooms mostly in September. Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumont., Sea Elite Fig. 30. Quebec to Virginia. Zones II, III, rarely V.
Suaeda linearis (Ell.) Moq., Sea Elite Southern Maine to Florida and Texas. Zones II, III, rarely V.
Salicornia virginica L., Perennial Glasswort Fig. 31. Southern New Hampshire to South Carolina. Zones II, III, usually bare areas. All species of Salicornia are edible, can be used to spice up a salad.
Salicornia europaea L., Samphire Fig. 33. Nova Scotia south to Georgia. Zones II, III. Usually recolonizing bare areas, but sometimes forms a turf be- low the grasses.
Saliconiia bigelovii Torr., Dwarf Saltwort Fig. 32. Southern Maine to South Car- olina. Zones II, III. Bare areas.
Aster tenidfolius L., Marsh Aster Fig. 42. New Hampshire to Florida and Mississippi. Zones II, III. (Aster sub- ulatiis Michx., an annual, also occurs in this region. New Brunswick to Dela- ware.)
Pluchea purpurascens (Sw.) D. C. var. succulenta Fern., Salt Marsh Fleabane Fig. 39. Southern Maine to Florida. P. camphorata from Delaware south to Texas. Zones III, V, VI.
Ptilimnium capillaceum (Michx.) Raf., Mock Bishop's Weed Fig. 67. Southern New England to Florida and Texas. Zones III, V.
Plantago oliganthos R. & S., Seaside Plantain Fig. 37. Southern Labrador and New- foundland to New Jersey. Zone III. Sometimes on bare areas or pannes. P. juncoides may be present.
Atriplex patula L. var. hastata (L.) Gray.,
Orach
Fig. 35. Newfoundland south to South
Carolina. Zones V, VI. Young tender
leaves can be used as a salad or green.
Spergulariamarirm (L.) Griseb., Sand Spurry Fig. 52. Quebec and south along coast to Florida. S. canadensis may occur. S. diandra is reported only from shore of Buzzards Bay, Mass. Zone VI.
52
TrigJochin maritima L., Arrow-Grass Fig. 59. Labrador to Delaware. Zones III, V.
Potentilla egedei Wormsk. var. groenland- ica (Tratt.) Polunin., Silver Weed Fig. 54. South Greenland to Long Is- land.
Eleocharis parvula (R. & S.) Link
Fig. 105. Newfoundland to Louisiana.
4. Shrubs:
Iva fnitescens L. var. oraria (Bartlett.) Fern. & Grisc, Marsh Elder, High Tide Bush Fig. 8. With its varieties from west Nova Scotia to Virginia. Zone III, V; on elevations on the marsh, VI. Baccharis halmifolia L., Sea Myrtle, Groundsel Tree Fig. 9. Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. Sexes separate, in the fall the female shrub has cottony tipped seeds. Zones V, VI.
5. Conspicuous algae of the marsh:
Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) LeJolis f. scorpioides (Hornemann) Reinke Nova Scotia to New Jersey. Zone II. Tangled masses at the base of Spartina alterniflora and sometimes in Zone III at the base of Salicornia virginica. No sexual reproduction in this form. Great variation in the form.
Fucus vesiculosus L., Bladder Wrack Ellesmere Island to North Carolina. Variety spiralis may be found here. Zone II at base of Spartina alterniflora.
6. Plants of the transition, brackish to fresh- water border of the marsh:
Hibiscus palustris L., Swamp Rose Mallow Fig. 22. Massachusetts to North Car- olina. Zone VI — pink blossom dom- inant on the Cape, white form with pink center also occurs. H. moscheutos oc- curs from Maryland to Florida.
Scirpus americanus Pers., Three- Square Rush Fig. 102. Newfoundland to Florida and Texas. Zone VI. Forms almost pure stands around pools.
Scirpus torreyi Olney., Torrey's Rush New Brunswick to Long Island. Zone VI. S. olneyi should also be expected in brackish marshes. Found in Dela- ware.
Scirpus paludosu^ Nels. var. atlanticvs Fern. Fig. 103. Anticosti Island to lower St. Lawrence River south to New Jersey.
Spartina pectinata Link., Fresh Water Cord Grass Fig. 95. Prince Edward Island to New Jersey. Zone VI.
Elymus virginicus L. var. halophilus (Bickn.) Wieg., Terrell Grass Fig. 99. Nova Scotia to Virginia. Zone VI.
Eleocharis spp.. Sedge
Fig. 104. Mature seeds must be avail- able to identify to species. It is sug- gested that references be consulted for complete identification. Zone VI.
Lobelia cardinalis L., Cardinal Flower Fig. 78. New Brunswick to Florida and Texas. Freshwater marshes at edge of tidal marsh. Zone VI.
Lythrum salicaria L., Spiked Loose- strife Fig. 47. Newfoundland to Virginia. Zone VI.
Amelanchier laevis Wieg., Shadbush Fig. 17. Newfoundland to Georgia. Species of Amelanchier hybridize read- ily and there may be great variation. Other species of the genus may be pre- sent. Zone VI.
Juncus baltic7is Willd.
Fig. 107. Labrador to Pennsylvania.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
For identification of plants not included here and for further help with the plants listed con- sult the following two manuals. They will also be helpful with the grasses, sedges, and rushes:
FERNALD, M. L.
1950. Gray's manual of botany; a hand- book of the flowering plants and ferns of the central and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 8th ed. American Book Co., N.Y., 1632 p.
53
GLEASON, H. A., and A. CRONQUIST. 1963. Manual of vascular plants of North Eastern United States and adjacent Can- ada. Van Nostrand, Princeton, N.J., 810 p.
For treatment of the salt spray community and references to the Cap Cod Region:
BOYCE, S. G.
1954. The salt spray community. Monogr. 24:29-67.
Ecol.
For treatment of the tension zone along beaches, and for island floras of southern New England:
LEWIS, I. F.
1924. The flora of Penikese, fifty years after. Rhodora 26: 181-195, 211-219, 222- 229. MOUL, E. T.
1948. Flora of Penikese Island. Rhodora 50:288-304.
1969. Flora of Monomoy Island, Massa- chusetts. Rhodora 71:18-28. (Plants from this island are deposited in the herbarium of the Gray Museum, System- atics-Ecology Program, Marine Biological Laboratory.)
For a geheral description of the New England types of tidal marshes:
MILLER, W. R., and F. E. EGLER.
1950. Vegetation of the Wequetequock- Pawcatuck tidal-marshes, Connecticut. Ecol. Monogr. 20:143-172.
For a detailed description of vegetation on a barrier beach, including beaches, dunes, and salt marshes:
MARTIN, W. E.
1959. The vegetation of Island Beach State Park, New Jersey. Ecol. Monogr. 29: 1-46.
For floras of southern New England:
BARTLETT, H. H.
1909. The submarine Chamaecyparis bog at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Rhodora 11: 221-235. (List of plants found at Quis- sett.) FOGG, J. M., JR.
1930. Flora of the Elizabeth Islands, Mas- sachusetts. Rhodora 32:114-132, 147- 161, 167-180, 208-221, 226-258, 263-281. MacKEEVER, F. C.
1968. Native and naturalized plants of Nantucket. Univ. Mass. Press, Amherst, 132 p.
54
SYSTEMATIC INDEX
53
53
Achillea
millefolium 29, 44
Agrostis
alba 39, 50, 52
V. palnstris 39, 50, 52
Ambrosia
artemisiifolia 31, 45, 48
Amelanchier
laevis 9, 47, 53
Ammophila
breviligulata 37, 45, 50
Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi 11, 50
Arenaria
peploides 18, 44
V. robiista 18, 44
Artem.isia
caudata 29, 46
stelleriana 30, 31, 44, 46, 51
Ascophyllum.
nodosum,
f. scorpioides
Aster
subiilatiis
tenuifolius
Atriplex
arenaria 18, 44,
patula 18,
V. kastata 18,
Aulacomnium,
palustre
Baccharis
halimifolia 7,
Baptisia
tinctoria
Bromtis
tectorum,
Cakile
edentula
Calopogon
pulchellus
Ce7-atodon
purpureus
Chenopodium
album,
Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum 34,
Chrysopsis
falcata 36, 47
Cladonia spp 47
20,52 20,52
46,48 44,52 44,52
.. 47
46, 53
25,51
40,45
19,44
.. 49
.. 47
31,44
48,51
Comptonia
peregrina
Convolvulus
sepium
Cyperaceae
Cyperus spp
grayii
odoratus
rivularis
Datura
stramonium
Deschampia
flexuosa 37,
Dianthus
armeria
Distichlis
spicata
Drosera
inteiynedia
rotundifolia
Eleocharis spp 42,
parvula 42,
Elymus
virginicus 39,
V. halophilus 39,
Euphorbia
polygonifolia 21,
Festuca
rubra 37, 46,
Fucus
vesiculosus
V. spiralis
Gaylussacia
baccata
Geaster spp
Gerardia
maritima
Glaticium
flavum
Gnaphalium
obtusifolium
Gramineae
Hibiscus
moscheutos
palustris 11,
Hiera^ium
venosum
Hudsonia
ericoides 10,
tomentosa 10,
11,50
26,44 15, 40 .. 40 40,47 .. 49 .. 49
32, 45
47,50
.. 23
39,52
.. 49 .. 49 49,53 49,53
45, 53 45,53
44,46
50,52
53 53
12,50 .. 47
22,48
30,44
33,48 15,37
.. 53 28,53
27, 51 .. 36 28,46 28,46
55
Hypochoeris
radicata 27, 47
Ilex
opaca 8, 47
Iva
ffutescen^ 7, 53
V. oraria 7, 53
Juncaceae 15, 42
Junctis spp 43
balticus 43, 53
canadensis 43, 47
gerardi 37, 42, 43, 52
greenei 43, 47
roemerianus 52
Jimipenis
virginiana 4, 46, 50
Lathyrus
japonicus 24, 44, 46, 51
Lechea
maritima 35, 46
Lepidium
virginicum 34, 47
Ligusticum
scothicum 25, 44
Limonnim
carolmianum 27, 48, 52
nashii 27, 48, 52
Linaria
canadensis 36, 45, 46, 51
Lobelia
cardinalis 33, 53
Liipinus
perennis 25, 51
Lycopodium
inundatum 49
Lycoptis
rubellus 22, 48
Lyth7~um
salicaria 22, 49, 53
Molluga
verticillata 21, 45
Myrica
pensylvanica 10, 45, 46, 50
Nyssa
sylvatica 9, 47
Oenothera
biennis 44, 48
humifnsa 33, 44, 48
parviflora 33, 44, 48
V. oakesiana 44, 48
Onoclea
sensibilis 50
Panicum
longifolium 48, 52
virgatum 40, 48, 52
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia 5, 45, 47, 50
Phragmites
communis 39, 49, 52
Pintis
rigiaa 4, 47, 50
Plantago
juncoidec 18, 52
oliganthos 18, 52
Pluchea
camphorata 49, 52
purpurascens 19, 49, 52
V. succulenta 19, 49, 52
Pogonia
ophioglossoides 49
Polygala
polygama 35, 48, 51
V. obtusa 35, 48, 51
Polygonella
articulata 35, 45, 48
Polygonum
glauciim 34, 44
Polytrichum
commune 47, 49
piliferum 47
Populiis
tremuloides 8, 48
Potaynogeton
pectinatus 14, 51
Potentilla
egedei 24, 53
V. groenkmdica 24, 53
Prunus
maritima 9, 46, 50
serotina 9, 47, 50
virginiana 9
Pteridium
aquilinum 20, 48
Ptilimnium
capillaceum 29, 49, 52
Querctis
ilicifolia 8, 46
Rh^is
copallina 5, 47, 50
radican^ 5, 46, 50
Rosa
Carolina 48, 50
palustris 6, 48, 50
rugosa 6, 46, 50
56
Rumex acetosella 27, 45, 47, 51
Ruppia
maritima 14, 51
Salicomia
bigelovii 17, 52
europaea 17, 52
virginica 17, 52, 53
Salsoli
kali 16, 44, 49
V. caroUniana 16, 44, 49
Sassafras
albidum 7, 47, 50
Scripus
americanus 41, 53
olneyi 53
pahidosus 41, 53
V. atlanticus 41, 53
torreyi 41, 53
Scleranthus
annuus 23, 45
SmUacina
stellata 32, 47
Smilax
rotundifolia 31, 50
Solanum
dulcamara 32, 45
nigrum 32, 45
Solidago
graminifolia 36, 49
sempervirens 20, 44, 46, 50, 52
tenuifolia 36, 49
Sonchus oleraceus 30, 45
Spartina
altemifhra 38, 51, 53
patens 37, 38, 39, 45, 48, 51
pectinata 38, 53
Spergidaria
canadensis 49, 52
diandra 49, 52
marina 23, 48, 52
rubra 23
Sphagnum spp 47, 49
palnstre 49
Spiraea
alba 12, 48, 49
latifolia 12, 48, 49
tomentosa 12, 48, 49
Suaeda
linearis 16, 45, 52
maritima 16, 45, 52
Teticrium
canadense 22
Triglochin maritima 26, 53
Uniola paniculata 46, 50
Usnea
barbata 47
Vaccinium
macrocarpon 49
oxycoccus 49
Viola
lanceolata 49
Xanthium
echinatum 19, 44, 46
Zostera
marina 13, 51
INDEX TO COMMON NAMES AND HABITATS
Acid bogs (dune hollows) 49
Alkali Grass 52
American Holly 8, 47
Arrow-Grass 26, 53
Bayberry 10, 45, 46, 50
Bayonet Grass 41
Beach Heather 10, 46
Beach Pea 24, 44, 46, 51
Beach Plum 9, 46, 50
Beach Grass 37, 45
Beaches 40, 44
Bearberry 11, 50
Bittersweet 32, 45
Black Cherry 9, 47, 50
Black Grass 42, 52
Black Huckleberry 12, 50
Black Nightshade 32, 45
Bladder Wrack 53
Bog Club-Moss 49
Bracken Fern 20, 48
Bugleweed 22, 48
Canadian Rush 47
Cardinal Flower 33, 53
Carpet Weed 21, 45
57
Cat's Ear 27, 51
Cheat 40, 45
Choke Cherry 9
Cocklebur 19, 44, 46
Common Everlasting 33, 48
Common Greenbriar 31, 50
Common Hairgrass 37, 47, 50
Common Sow Thistle 30, 45
Cranberry 49
Cudweed 33, 48
Deptford Pink 23
Dune Grass 37, 50
Dune Heather 28
Dunes 37, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47
Dusty Miller 30, 44, 46. 51
Dwarf Saltwort 52
Dwarf Sumac 5, 47, 50
Earth Stars 47
Eel Grass 13, 51
Evening-Primrose 33
Evening-Primrose, Small Flowering ... 44, 48
False Solomon's Seal 32, 47
Fragrant Sedge 49
Fresh Water Cord Grass 38, 53
Glassworts 17
Golden Aster 36, 47
Goldenrod 36, 49
Grass Leaved Goldenrod 36
Grass Pink 49
Grasses 15, 37-40, 50, 51, 52
Gray's Sedge 40, 47
Groundsel Tree 7, 46, 53
Habitat list 44
Hairy Cap Moss 47, 49
Hardhack 12, 48, 49
Hawkweed 27, 51
Hedge Bindweed 26
High Tide Bush 7, 53
Holly Oak 8, 46
Horn Poppy 44
Jimson Weed 32, 45
Jointweed 35, 45, 48
Juniper 46, 50
Knawel 23, 45
Lamb's Quarters 31, 44
Lance-Leaved Violet 49
Lichens 47
Marram Grass 37, 45, 50
Marsh Aster 52
Marsh Elder 7, 53
Marsh Mallow 11, 28
Marsh Rose 50
Meadowsweet 12, 48
Milkwort 35, 48, 51
Mock Bishop's Weed 29, 49, 52
Moss 47
Nightshade 32, 45
Old Field Toadflax 45, 46, 51
Old Man's Beard 47
Orach 18, 44, 52
Ox-Eye Daisy 34, 48, 51
Peat Moss 47, 49
Peppergrass 34, 47
Perennial Glasswort 52
Pigweed 44
Pitch Pine 4, 47, 50
Pogonia Orchid 49
Poison Ivy 5, 46, 50
Poverty Grass 10, 28, 46
Protected areas 46
Quaking Aspen 8, 48
Ragweed 31, 45, 48
Rattlesnake Weed 27, 51
Red Cedar 4, 46, 50
Red Fescue Grass 37, 46, 50, 52
Redtop Grass 39, 50, 52
Reed Grass 39, 49, 52
Round-Leaved Sundew 49
Rushes 15, 41-43, 51, 52
Sago Pond Weed 14, 51
Salt Marsh Aster 20
Salt Marsh Cord Grass 38, 51
Salt Marsh Fleabane 19, 49, 52
Salt Marsh Hay 38, 45, 48, 51
Salt-Spray Rose 6, 46, 50
Saltwort 16, 44, 49
Samphire 17, 52
Sand Orach 18
Sand Spurrey 23, 48, 52
Sandwort 18
Sassafras 7, 47, 50
Scrub Oak 8, 46
Scotch Lovage 25, 44
Seabeach Knotweed 34, 44
Seabeach Orach 44, 46, 48
Sea Blite 16, 45, 52
Sea Burdock 44, 46
Sea Lavender 27, 48, 52
Sea Myrtle 7, 46, 53
Sea Purslane 44
Sea Cliffs 50
Sea Poppy 30, 44
Sea Rocket 19, 44
Seaside Gerardia 22, 48
58
Seaside Goldenrod 20, 44, 46, 50, 52
Seaside Pinweed 35, 46
Seaside Plantain 18, 52
Seaside Spurge 21, 44, 46
Sedge 15, 49, 53
Sensitive Fern 50
Shadbush 9, 47, 53
Sheep Sorrel 27, 45, 47, 51
Shining Sumac 47, 50
Silver King 30, 44, 46, 51
Silver Weed 24, 53
Small Flowering Evening-Primrose ... 44, 48
Sour Gum 9, 47
Sphagnum 47, 49
Spike Grass 39, 52
Spike Rush 42
Spiked Loosestrife 22, 49, 53
Steeplebush 12, 48, 49
Swamp Rose 6, 48, 50
Swamp Rose Mallow 53
Sweet Fern 11, 50
Switch Grass 40, 48, 52
Terrill Grass 39, 45, 53
Three-Square Rush 41, 53
Tidal marshes 38, 41-43, 51, 53
Toadflax 36
Torrey's Rush 41, 47. 53
Transition zones 47-49, 53
Uplands 47-48
Virginia Creeper 5, 45, 47, 50
Widgeon Grass 14, 51
Wild Indigo 25, 51
Wild Lupine 25, 51
Wild Morning-Glory 26, 44
Woodbine 5, 45, 50
Wood Sage 22
Wormwood 29, 46
Yarrow 29, 45
59
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Preparation of the "Marine Flora and Fanna of the" Northeastern United States" is being coordinated by the following Board:
Coordinator: Melbourne R. Carriker, Systematics- Ecology Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass. Advisers: Marie B. Abbott, Systematics-Ecology Program.
Arthur G. Humes, Boston University Ma- rine Program, and Systematics-Ecology Program.
Wesley N. Tiffney, Department of Biology, Boston University, and Systematics- Ecology Program.
Ruth D. Turner, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, and Syste- matics-Ecology Program.
Roland L. Wigley, National Marine Fish- eries Service, Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass.
Robert T. Wilce, Department of Botany, University of Massachusetts, and Syste- matics-Ecology Program.
The Board established the format for the "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States," invites systematists to collaborate in the preparation of manuals, reviews manuscripts, and advises the Scientific Editor of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Ruth von Arx of the Systematics-Ecology Program, Marine Biolo^cal Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., drew most of the illustrations. Because of a terminal illness, she was unable to draw additional illustrations required during revision of the manual; Susan P. Heller kindly prepared Figures 5 fruit, 26a, 27a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 37a, 54, 59, 74a. and 102. Many biologists and students of- fered suggestions for revision of the preliminary draft of the manual. Eva S. Montiero typed the manuscript.
Between 1962 and 1967 Edwin T. Moul's research on the manual was supported in part by a grant to the Systematics-Ecology Program from the Ford Founda- tion; between 1967 and 1971, in part by grants GB-7378, GB-8264, GB-13,250, and GB-24,832 from the National Science Foundation to the Systematics-Ecology Pro- gram.
COORDINATOR'S COMMENTS
Publication of the "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States" is most timely in view of the growing universal emphasis on environmental work and the urgent need for more precise and complete iden- tification of coastal organisms than has been available. It is mandatory, wherever possible, that organisms be identified accurately to species. Accurate scientific names unlock the great quantities of biological infor- mation stored in libraries, obviate duplication of research already done, and make possible prediction of attributes of organisms that have been inadequately studied.
Dr. Edwin T. Moul began his study of the flora of
New England in the summer of 1947 when he started teaching in the marine botany course of the Marine Bi- ological Laboratory. In 1950 he prepared an unpub- lished report on the vascular flora of Great Pond, and in 1962, in association with the Systematics-Ecology Pro- gram, he commenced the field studies and syntheses which resulted in this manual.
Manuals are available for purchase from the Super- intendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Of- fice, Washington, D.C. 20402. The manuals so far pub- lished in the series and their cost per copy are listed below.
COOK, DAVID G., and RALPH O. BRINKHURST. Marine flora and fauna of the
Northeastern United States. Annelida : Oligochaeta $0.35
BORROR, ARTHUR C. Marine flora and fauna of the Northeastern United States.
Protozoa : Ciliophora $0.65
MOUL, EDWIN T. Marine flora and fauna of the Northeastern United States. Higher
plants of the marine fringe $0.65
60
MBL WHOI Library - Serials
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349. Use of abstracts and summaries as communica- tion devices in technical articles. By P. Bruce Sanford. February 1971, iii + 11 pp., 1 fig.
350. Research in fiscal year 1969 at the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Beaufort, N.C. By the Laboratory staff. No- vember 1970, ii + 49 pp., 21 figs., 17 tables.
351. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base, Pascagoula, Mississippi, July 1, 1967 to June 30, 1969. By Harvey R. Bullis, Jr., and John R. Thompson. November 1970, iv + 29 pp., 29 figs., 1 table.
352. Upstream passage of anadromous fish through
navigation locks and use of the stream for spawn- ing and nursery habitat, Cape Fear River N C 1962-66. By Paul R. Nichols and Darrell e! Louder. October 1970, iv -f 12 pp., 9 figs., 4 tables.
356. Floating laboratory for study of aquatic organ- isms and their environment. By George R. Snyder, Theodore H. Blahm, and Robert J. Mc- Connell. May 1971, iii + 16 pp., 11 figs".
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