114 . H. G. SIMMONS. [sec. ARCT. EXP. FRAM 



4230), Gallows Point (3787), Ptarmigan Gorge (3334). West coast : Lands 

 End (2849). 



Distribution: Norlii-Western Greenland, Arctic American Archipel- 

 ago, Arctic shores of America between Coppermine and Mackenzie Rivers, 

 Rocky Mountains. 



Ranunculus pygmaeus, Wahlenb, 



-B. py(jmaeus, Wahlenberg, FI. Lapp., 1812; Lange, Consp. Fl. Groenl.; Krllse, List 

 E. Greenl.; Nathohst, N. W. Grcinl. ; Simmons, Pre). Rep et Bot. Arb.; 

 Hooker, Fl. Bor. Amer. ; Macoun, PI. Pribilof; Kjellman, in Vegaexp.; Ledebour, 

 Fl. Ross. ; Feilden, Fl. pi. Nov. Zeml. ; Andersson & Hesselman, Spetsb. 

 kailv. ; Kruuse, Jan May. B. nivalis /?, Linnaeus, Sp. plant. 

 Fig. Linnaeus, Fl. Lapp., T. 3, fig. 3; Wahlenberg, 1. c, T. 8, fig. 1.; 

 Sv. Bot., T. 748; Fl. Dan., T. 144. 



As already mentioned, there is a considerable resemblance between 

 this species and the last mentioned one, I have seen pygmaeus- 

 specimens from Spitsbergen and Novaja Semlja, for instance, that were 

 rather like R. Sdbinei in habit, but on closer examination, the charac- 

 ters of that plant were lacking. It may also be possible, that in places 

 where R. pygmaeus and R. nivalis grow together and hybridize, some 

 forms of the hybrid have been taken for the former species. The 

 figure (1605) in Britton & Brown, 111. Fl. II, p. 76, as also their 

 description, differs from the european and arctic R. pygmaeus in re- 

 cording the petals as being longer than the sepals. Perhaps it is 

 schematic, not made from one specimen, but it may also be that the 

 american (not the arctic) R. pygmaeus is somewhat different from the 

 european form, as is the case with rather many american species. In 

 my specimens, as in all others that I have seen, the petals are, at most, 

 of the length of the sepals, generally shorter. 



R. pygmaeus grows in wet places among moss, somewhat caespitose. 

 I have not noted when the flowers first appeared, but flowers were 

 found until the autumn, together with the ripe fruits. 



Occurrence. Only found on the East coast, along the ponds on 

 the north side of Fram Harbour (452, 1097, 1410) and at Cape Faraday 

 (Wethertll). 



Distribution: East and West Greenland (not found elsewhere 

 in the Arctic American Archipelago), Arctic America, Labrador, Rocky 

 Mountains, Alaska, Unalaschka, Pribilof Islands, St. Lawrence Island, 

 Arctic Siberia, Arctic Russia, Novaja Semlja, Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, 

 Northern Scandinavia, central European mountains, Iceland. 



