140 H. G. SIMMONS. [sec. arct. exp. fram 



doubtful; the figure quoted by Wahlenberg (Riedgriis. N. 90 (p. 106) 

 T. 284Y, N. 82) depicts C. atrofiisca with scales thai are only little 

 more than half as long as the uh'icles, and this cannot be a casual 

 error, as it is twice repeated. In spite of the resemblance which the 

 figure shows in other points to C. ushilata, I think this is enough to 

 prevent the adoption of the name of Schkuhr. Moreover there is also 

 said in the description: "fast zur Hiilfte kiirzeren Schuppen als die 

 Kapsein". The author further says that he has got his specimen among 

 C. atrata "ohne Anzeige des Vaterlandes" and lastly he records it from 

 Iceland, where C. ustulata does not grow. Later Schkuhr himself in 

 Bot. Handb., 4, p. 221, accepted the name C. ustulata, Wahlenb., with 

 his own name atrofusca as a synonym, but here also it is recorded 

 from Iceland. Even if there should exist original specimens to show 

 that C. ustulata has been understood by Schkuhr under his C. atro- 

 fusca, it can hardly have had reference to that plant alone, but some 

 other must have been included, and it is, partly at least, that other 

 plant which has been described and figured. Consequently the name 

 of Wahlenberg alone is available. 



This sedge, which has a rather remarkable sporadic distribution in 

 arctic countries, was one of the rarest in Ellesmereland. Nevertheless 

 I think it quite impossible that I could have overlooked it in other 

 places as it immediately catches the eye, where it stands in the swamps 

 with its sooty black, long-pedunculate and early drooping spikes. Still 

 in fiower July 26, 1900. 



Occurrence. Grinnell Land, Discovery Harbour (?). Greely, Rep. 

 2, p. 15, has in his list a "Carex atrata, Linn.; or ustulata, Wahl." 

 about which he says: "From 600 to 1200 feet (183 to 366 m.) altitude, 

 in marshy or damp loamy soil; specimens from 1 to 6 inches (25 to 

 152 mm.) high". Of course it is rather difficult to form an opinion 

 about a plant so curiously designed, but still I think it more probably 

 that it really is C. ustulata, which is found in several arctic american 

 localities, than C. atrata, L., of which no specimens from arctic America 

 were to be found in the London collections. Hayes Sound region: "De- 

 serted Village" Hart (one individual together with C. misandra). South 

 coast, Harbour Fjord: Big Valley (2343), Barren Valley (2396). 



Distribution: East Greenland (only at Hurry Inlet, 71°, Dusen, 

 1901), West Greenland (Proven, 72°20^ Hart, 1875 (sub C. fuliginosa), 

 Karajak Fjord, 70° 25', Van Hoffen, 1897); Arctic American Archi- 

 pelago (Port Bowen, Jas. Ross ; Igloolik, Parry's sec. voy. ; Cambridge 

 Bay, Andersson; these are all the specimens seen in the Nat. Hist. 



