NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

PLANTS OF THE OCEAN FRONT

In view of the uniformity of conditions which prevail along a narrow strip of land just beyond the reach of the highest tides, it is not surprising to find that many of our seaside plants have an extensive distribution. Sea Lovage (Ligusticum scoticum), Beach Pea (Lathyrus maritimus), and Seaside Plantain (Plantago maritima) are plants of northern distribution on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as on the northern coasts of Europe and Asia. The Sea Lavender (Limonium carolinianum) is found very close to the restless ocean from Labrador to Florida and Texas while the Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) grows still farther south into Mexico and is found on the Bermuda coast.

All the above are common plants along the Mt. Desert Island shoreline. In August the Seaside Goldenrod with its large panicles of closely-clustered golden flowers presents a lovely contrast to the blue of the sea and to the color of the rocks into whose crevices it sends its roots. The remaining above-mentioned plants display their blooms earlier in the summer, although some will continue to flower into September. The natives know the Seaside Plantain by the name "Goose Tongue" and they make use of the thick crisp salty leaves for greens.

- Margaret Stupka