156 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb. 



The whole valley is densely drifted with heavy sand 

 and clay deposits, obliterating the underlying crystalline rocks. 



Getting in the field at the end of July, we are at first 

 impressed by the local abundance of Habenaria clavellata (Michx.) 

 Spreng., an orchid very little known in this province. Evidently 

 it is the leading Habenaria, thriving in everv mossy corner. 

 On the scant}^ sandy covering of the rocky slopes, it is interesting 

 to note a peculiar grass, Danthonia compressa Aust., the range 

 of which as given in Gray's Manual, "Maine to New York and 

 southward" should be thus considerably extended. 



Kneeling to drink from a drying spring we come by a tiny 

 Sparganium which tvirns out to be Sparganium acaule (Beeby) 

 Rydb., a critical species we will meet under various puzzling 

 forms later in the season, in the Temiscouata region. The 

 ponds swarm with Sagittaria latifolia Willd., and Calla palustris 

 L., while Carex trisperma Dewey is a common sedge in sphag- 

 num swamps. Characteristic enough of the open-ground 

 flora are Galhim asprellum Michx., Comandra livida Richards, 

 Veronica officinalis L., and Hieracium scabruni Michx. 



We notice with considerable displeasure very extensive 

 patches, where the hirsute rosettes of Hieracium Pilosella L., 

 check all other vegetation. We have elsewhere C) drawn atten- 

 tion to this dangerous invader from the Maritime Provinces 

 which spreads with alarming rapidity. 



Going down the river to "Chute k Panet," where an im- 

 portant pulpmill dams the waters, we make a find of more than 

 ordinary interest. Aster linariifolius L. was of doubtful record 

 in Quebec, its supposed northern limit being latitude 45 degrees. 

 It was therefore a surprise to see that beautiful blue-rayed 

 Aster covering the exposed gneissic rocks in the river, just below 

 the dam. But the plant, though belonging undoubtedly to 

 A. linariifolius L., differed from the typical form in its less rigid 

 leaves and shorter oblong-linear, mostly round-tipped, ascending 

 leaves, and in having the oblong-linear obtuse bracts of the 

 involucre more hebaceous. It then proves to be a well-pro- 

 nounced geographic variety, which through the courtesy of 

 Professor M. L. Fernald, of the Gray Herbarium, now stands 

 thus: 0. 



Aster linariifolius L., var. Victorinii Fernald (nov. var.) 

 Humilis 1-1.6 dm. altus; foliis adscentidibus vel patentibus 

 confertis viridibus oblongo-linearibus, longioribus 1.3-1.8 cm. 

 longis 2-4 m.m. latis, apice rotundatis vel obtusis, Qjiehep:^ 



(^) Naturaliste Canadien, XL : 86 

 (») Rhodora, XVI : 192 





