THE PLANT WOKLD 67 



NOTES ON THE FLORA ABOUT NOME CITY. 



By J. B, Flett. 



BOTANIZING at Nome City, Alaska, is quite different from what it 

 is geuerallj^ in the States. The first requisite is a pair of hip- 

 rubber boots with which one may " mush " the SAvales and slug- 

 gish streams which are so abundant on the tundra. The latter, which 

 has a width at Nome City of about five miles, is exceedingly rich in 

 mosses and lichens. There were many sedges and several species of 

 ^^dllow, some of which were only a few inches high; mixed with these 

 were a small birch and a spiraea. Near the numerous ponds are beau- 

 tiful patches of cotton-grass [Eriophorfnn). This grows very luxuri- 

 antly, and presents a beautifid sight as it waves to and fro in the wind. 

 The heath family has quite a number of representatives, most of the 

 species being different from ovirs. The genus Pedicidaris is represented 

 by several species, some of which are distinctly Ai'ctic. The shooting- 

 star {DodecatJieon) was seen along the streams in company with two 

 violets, a Parnossia, a Polemonimn and a Delphunum. There were two 

 little brambles {Eubiis), one of which bore a large edible berry, much 

 like our thimble-berry. 



The banks of the sluggish streams bore a very rich flora, including 

 a Calfha, a Clai/tonla, three members of the genus Saxlfraga, a small 

 gentian, and many others growing in the midst of the usually tall grass. 

 Among the moss and lichens grew a short rigid form of Lycopodium 

 Selago and Equisetum variegatum, the latter in very dense tufts. 



At the base of the foothills occurred a mixture of the plants be- 

 longing to the tundra and those seen chiefly on the hills and along the 

 rapid streams flowing from them. A few plants naturally belonged 

 here and were found nowhere else. This was true of the fern FUix 

 nionfava, a species of gentian, and the large forms of alder and willow. 

 Fqulsetum sylvaticum flourished in the shade of these in the grassy 

 places. Both alders and ^\illows were much bent, forming thickets 

 through which it was very difficult to penetrate. The severe storms 

 and snows of winter had caused them to assume such a position. In 

 these thickets grew a large Delphinium, several Polygonums, violets, 

 buttercups and forget-me-nots, the latter very numerous. A beautifiil 

 Iris found a congenial home in the shade. The monocotyledonous 

 l)lants, with the exception of the sedges and grasses, had few represen- 

 tatives. The only ones which I can recall are the Iris above referred 

 to, a Zygadenus, an Allium, and a minute Tojieldia. Potent ilia fruticosa 

 and several other species of related genera grew in abundance, cover- 

 ing the ground with yellow, thus presenting a beautiful contrast to 

 other flowers white, purple and pink in color. 



