/

NOAA TR NMFS CIRC-384

NOAA Technical Report NMFS CIRC-384

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Marine Flora and Fauna of
the Northeastern United States.
Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe

EDWIN T. MOUL

M1E

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SEATTLE, WA
September 1973

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NOAA TECHNICAL REPORTS

National Marine Fisheries Service, Circulars

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The NOAA Technical Report NMFS CIRC series continues a series that has been in existence since 1941. The
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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
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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. Synopsis of biological data on the chum salmon,
Oncorhyyichus 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. )
1970, iii + 152 pp., 72 figs., 47 tables.

March

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 +
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 + 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 alutus. By Richard L. Major and
Herbert H. Shippen. December 1970, iii + 38
pp., 31 figs., 11 tables.

Continued on inside back cover.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Frederick B. Dent, Secretary

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Robert M. White, Administrator

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Robert W. Schoning, Director

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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

SEATTLE, WA
September 1973

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 65 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 animals 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

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MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE NORTHEASTERN

UNITED STATES.
Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe

EDWIN T. MOUL1

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

1 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 key
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.
bract 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.
filiform threadlike.
glume a chafflike bract at the base of the spik-

let in grasses.
imbricated overlapping.
involute rolled inward.

leaf shapes and margins 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.
pubescent 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.
rugose wrinkled.
scabrous rough to the touch.
scape a naked flower stem rising from the

ground.
sepal 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.
whorl three or more leaves in a circle around

the stem (at the node).

LEAF SHAPES

i.

2.
3.

linear

lanceolate

oblanceolate

4. spatulate

5. oblong

6. ovate

8

7. obovate

8. deltoid

9. hastate

10

10. cordate

II

11. palmately compound

12

12. pinnately compound

LEAF MARGINS

1. entire

2. dentate

5.

3. serrate

4. sinuate
pinnate

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.

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 (1) 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 rigida,

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)

4 (2) Compound leaves (three or more leaflets to a blade) (see Fig. 4, 5),

5 (-4) Palmately compound or trifoliate leaves (see Fig. 3, 4)

5 (-4) Pinnately compound leaves (see Fig. 5)

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 eaves ; fruit berrylike, yellow to

white Rhus radicans,

Poison Ivy

Figure 3.

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)

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

Figure 6. — Fruit and leaf X %

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 10

9 (if) Shrubs and trees on dunes, many not restricted to maritime habitat; leaves

not fleshy and thick to touch; flowers variable in color 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 XL

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 XL

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 XI

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 XL

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 XL

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) Amelanchier 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; with
shiny resinous dots, black berrylike drupe with-
out a bloom Gaylnssacia baccata,

Black Huckleberry

Figure 23. — Stem and leaves XL

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 XI-

12

24 (1) 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 Manual 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

€ (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 (24) 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 Blite

Figure 30. — Stem and leaves X2.

B (30) Erect plants, seeds 1.2-1.5 mm broad.
Sea Blite

,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.
Salicornia, 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

I I

I

I

r

111,1!

Iff i '

I

i I id n

m /

i lute

/ !' I' U

a

i 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

4

V b

B (A) Scale at the nodes blunt, inconspicuous
when dried; joints of the flowering spike
longer than thick S. europaea

Figure 33.— (a) Habit sketch;
(b) stem, branches,
and scale
leaves XI-

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 XL

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 XlYa.

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 (3Jf) 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'/2.

18

34 (31) Leaves not in a rosette; variable shaped leaves on erect stems 35

35 (34) Leaves not entire

35 (3 A) 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 Pluchea 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

Figure 41. — Stem with leaf
and basal leaf X Vs ■

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 XL

Another species of the genus present in the area is an an-
nual; it has smaller (purple) flowers than A. tenuifolius.

.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

Figure 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 (41) 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 (41) 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 poly goni folia,

Seaside Spurge

Figure 45. — Stem and leaf nodes X2.

43 (41 ) Erect plants with a square stem

43 (41) Erect plants with a terete or flattish stem.

44
47

21

44 (43) 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 Xl%

44 (43) Leaves lanceolate 45

45 (44) 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 (M) 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 (45) 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,

Bugle weed (look for other species)

Figure 49. — Leaf XL

22

47 (A3) 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

Deptford Pink

armeria,

Figure 50. — Stem and clasping
leaves XI-

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 (A7) 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)

Figure 52. — Stems
and leaves X2.

23

49 (40) Plants with compound leaves 50

49 (40) 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 (49) Plants with pinnately compound leaves 51

50 (49) 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

Ligusticum scothicum,

Scotch Lovage

Figure 56.— Leaf X%-

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 (49) Plants twining or creeping over the
substrate or on other plants; leaves
cordate or deltoid-ovate, long peti-
oled; large funnel-shaped flowers,
white to roseate; plants of beaches

and waste places Convolvulus sepium,

Hedge Bindweed or Wild Morning
Glory

Figure 58.— Leaf XL

54 (A9) Plants not creeping 55

55 (54) 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 XL

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 XYz.

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 XV2.

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 palustris,

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
(rarely pink) in flat topped crowd-
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

Figure 69.— Leaf XV2.

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 artemisii folia,

Ragweed

Figure 72.— Leaf XL

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 cliffs

Smilax rotundifolia,

Common Greenbriar (other species may be
found)

Figure 73. — Stem and leaf

xy2.

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 XYz

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.

Solatium 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 XL

73 (69) Leaves not parallel veined 74

32

74 (73) Leaves showing irregular serrations or slight undulating border, or even slight-
ly pinnatifid (pinnately cleft) 75

74 (73) Leaves entire 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

Figure 78.— Leaf X%.

75 (7A) Leaves not as above 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 obtusifolium,

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 p innately toothed;
flowers a daisy; plants of sea
cliffs 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

Figure 82. — Siliques and leaf XI

79 (7Jt) Plants with conspicuous stipules at each node in form of a sheath (ocreae) sub-
tending the leaf

79 (7 A) 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. obtusa,
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 XI-

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 Hudsonia zone (also sandy

roadsides) Chrysopsis falcata,

Golden Aster

Figure 88. — Stem and leaves XL

Figure 89. — Stem and leaves XL

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.

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 91.— Ligule X10

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 XVa-

Distichlis spicata, Spike Grass

Grass of the Spartina patens zone, sometimes
in pure stands. Leaves 2-3 mm wide and a
compact, subcylindrical panicle of flowers, dis-
tinct from the Spartina 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.

Elymus 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.

III. 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

I. 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 Cyperus may occur in the dunes or at the edge of dunes,
fication should be made by the use of one of the manuals (Fernald, 1950;
and Cronquist, 1963) or referred to a botanical taxonomist.

Identi-
Gleason

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.

Figure 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 borne 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

Ho.

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 parvula

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 stiff, 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 XL

42

Juncus balticus

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
leaves X Ho.

a

II. Dunes

Juncus 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 J. 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.)

Salsola kali L., Saltwort

Fig. 29. Southern Labrador to Georgia.
Variety caroliniana (Walt.) Nutt. also
occurs Massachusetts to Florida.

Artemisia stelleriana Bess., Dusty
Miller, Silver King
Fig. 69. Gulf of St. Lawrence to Vir-
ginia.

Lathy rus japonicus 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. hastata (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.
Glaucium 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.
Convolvulus 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.

Parthenocissus quinque folia (L.) Planch.,
Virginia Creeper or Woodbine
Fig*. 4. Southeastern Maine to Florida
and Texas.

Polygonella articulata (L.) Meisn.,
Jointweed
Fig. 84. Maine to North Carolina.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia 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.

Scleranthus 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.

Molluga 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.

Rumex 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.

Bromus tectorum L., Cheat

Fig. 101. Southern Quebec to Virginia.

Elymus virginicus L. var. halophilus
(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).

Dune
front

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 ui 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. ericoides 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:

Prunus 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.
Quercus ilicifolia Mang., Scrub or
Holly Oak
Fig. 12. Maine to North Carolina.
The oak of the pine barrens of New
Jersey. Zones IV, VI.
Juniperus virginiana L., Red
Cedar, Juniper
Fig. 2. Southeastern New England
to Florida and Texas. Zones III,
IV, 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 IV, VI.

3. 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.

4. 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.
Smilacina 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.
Juncus 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.
Rumex 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.
Parthenocissus quinque folia (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 purpureus (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.
Prunus 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:

Panicam virgatum L., Switch
Grass
Fig. 100. Maine to Florida and
Mississippi. P. longifolium
grows in the same habitat, more
southerly in distribution, occurs
in southeastern Massachusetts.
Zone VI.
Polygon ella 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. humifusa Nutt.
from New Jersey to Florida.
0. biennis may also occur, as it
is widely distributed.

Ambrosia artemisii folium 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
VI-.
Lycopus rubellus 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.
Pteridium aquilinum (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.
Gnaphalium obtusifolium L.,
Cudweed, Common Ever-
lasting
Fig. 80. Prince Edward Island
to Florida and Texas. Zone VI.

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 purpurascens (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 tenuifolia 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 rotundi folia 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., Hardhack,
Steeplebush
Fig. 25. Prince Edward Island to
North Carolina. S. alba and S. lat-
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.
Primus maritima 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.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.)
Planch., Virginia Creeper,
Woodbine
Fig. 4. Southeastern Maine to
Florida and Texas.
Rosa rugosa 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 pensylvanica 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 Uniola
paniculata from Virginia south.
Festuca rubra L., Red Fescue
Grass
Fig. 91. Greenland, Labrador to
North Carolina. Many varieties.
Deschampia flexuosa (L.) Trim,
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

Lathy rus 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 radicata 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 stelleriana 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 VI.

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 II. Lower Border. Edge of the marsh, also along creeks and ditches;

normal tides flood the area twice a day; few species present.

Spartina alternijlora 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. Juncns gerardi zone.
Zone VI. Transition. (Upper Border). Area subjected to storm tides

only; upland vegetation taking 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.

Ruppia maritima L., Widgeon Grass
Fig. 28. Zones I, 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 alternijlora 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.

Juncus 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 Trim, 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
Blite
Fig. 30. Quebec to Virginia. Zones II,
III, rarely V.

Suaeda linearis (Ell.) Moq., Sea Blite
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.

Salicornia bigelovii Torr., Dwarf
Saltwort
Fig. 32. Southern Maine to South Car-
olina. Zones II, III. Bare areas.

Aster tenuifolius L., Marsh Aster
Fig. 42. New Hampshire to Florida and
Mississippi. Zones II, III. (Aster sub-
ulatus 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.

Spergularia marina (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

Triglochin 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 frutescens 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
alterni flora 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 paludosus Nels. var. atlanticus
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.

Ly thrum 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 balticus 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 general 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

Achillea

millefolium 29, 44

Agrostis

alba 39, 50, 52

v. palustris 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. robusta 18, 44

Artemisia

caudata 29, 46

stelleriana 30, 31, 44, 46, 51

Ascophyllum

nodosum 53

f . scorpioides 53

Aster

subulatus 20, 52

tenuifolius 20, 52

Atriplex

arenaria 18, 44, 46, 48

patula 18, 44, 52

v. hastata 18, 44, 52

Aulacomnium

palustre 47

Baccharis

halimifolia 7, 46, 53

Baptisia

tinctoria 25, 51

Bromus

tectorum 40, 45

Cakile

edentula 19, 44

Calopogon

pulchellus 49

Ceratodon

purpureus 47

Chenopodium

album 31, 44

Chrysanthemum

leucanthemum 34, 48, 51

Chrysopsis

falcata 36, 47

Cladonia spp 47

Comptonia

peregrina

Convolvulus

sepium

Cyperaceae

Cyperus spp

grayii

odoratus

rivularis

Datura

stramonium

Deschampia

flexuosa 37,

Dianthus

armeria

Distichlis

spicata

Drosera

intermedia

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

Glaucium

flavum

Gnaphalium

obtusifolium

Gramineae

Hibiscus

moscheutos

palustris 11,

Hieracium

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

frutescens 7, 53

v. oraria 7, 53

Juncaceae 15, 42

J uncus spp 43

balticus 43, 53

canadensis 43, 47

gerardi 37, 42, 43, 52

greenei 43, 47

roemerianus 52

Juniperus

virginiana 4, 46, 50

Lathyrus

japonicus 24, 44, 46, 51

Lechea

maritima 35, 46

Lepidium

virginicum 34, 47

Ligusticum

scothicum 25, 44

Limonium

carolinianum 27, 48, 52

nashii 27, 48, 52

Linaria

canadensis 36, 45, 46, 51

Lobelia

cardinalis 33, 53

Lupinus

perennis 25, 51

Lycopodium

inundatum 49

Lycopus

rubellus 22, 48

Lythrum

salicaria 22, 49, 53

Molluga

verticillata 21, 45

Myrica

pensylvanica 10, 45, 46, 50

Nyssa

sylvatica 9, 47

Oenothera

biennis 44, 48

humifusa 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

Pinus

rigiaa 4, 47, 50

Plantago

juncoideo 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

glaucum 34, 44

Polytrichum

commune 47, 49

piliferum 47

Populus

tremuloides 8, 48

Potamogeton

pectinatus 14, 51

Potentilla

egedei 24, 53

v. groenlandica 24, 53

Prunus

maritima 9, 46, 50

serotina 9, 47, 50

virginiana 9

Pteridium

aquilinum 20, 48

Ptilimnium

capillaceum 29, 49, 52

Quercus

ilicifolia 8, 46

Rhus

copallina 5, 47, 50

radicans 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

Salicornia

bigelovii 17, 52

europaea 17, 52

virginica 17, 52, 53

Salsoli

kali 16, 44, 49

v. caroliniana 16, 44, 49

Sassafras

albidum 7, 47, 50

Scripus

americanus 41, 53

olneyi 53

paludosus 41, 53

v. atlanticus 41, 53

torreyi 41, 53

Scleranthus

annuus 23, 45

Smilacina

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

alterniflora 38, 51, 53

patens 37, 38, 39, 45, 48, 51

pectinata 38, 53

Spergularia

canadensis . 49, 52

diandra 49, 52

marina 23, 48, 52

rubra 23

Sphagnum spp 47, 49

palustre 49

Spiraea

alba 12, 48, 49

Mifolia 12, 48, 49

tomentosa 12, 48, 49

Suaeda

linearis 16, 45, 52

maritima 16, 45, 52

Teucrium

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 Fauna 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 Biological 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 0. 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

349. Use of abstracts and summaries as communica-
tion devices in technical articles. By F. 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 + 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'.

361. Regional and other related aspects of shellfish
consumption — some preliminary findings from
the 1969 Consumer Panel Survey. By Morton
M. Miller and Darrel A. Nash. June 1971, iv +
18 pp., 19 figs., 3 tables, 10 apps.

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