THE FLORA OF SITKA, ALASKA 429 



wettest with 11.64 inches. The absolute minimum precipita- 

 lion recorded at Sitka is .45 inches for July and the absolute 

 maximum is 25.52 inches for September. 



The average temperature is about 44 F. with only 23° dif- 

 ference between the averages for January and July. The av- 

 erage for the former is between 32° and 33° F., while for the 

 latter month it is between 55° and 56° F. The absolute mini- 

 mum ever recorded is — 4° F., while the maximum is 87° F. 

 There is but little sunshine. There may be weeks at a time 

 when the sun shines every day, and again there may be weeks 

 at a time when the sun is not seen at all. The actual sunshine 

 for the year is probably not s more than one-fourth the possible 

 amount. During the growing season, the days are long. Near 

 the summer solstice they are nearly eighteen hours long, the 

 sun dipping only about 9 1 /2° below the horizon. Twilights 

 are long. 



HISTORICAL. 



Sitka having been the Russian capital, as well as the American 

 capital until 1906, it is but natural that more or less collecting 

 of botanical material should have been done in the vicinity. The 

 writer has not had the opportunity to examine into this phase 

 of the subject, but a few facts have been gleaned incidentally. 

 It appears that Henry Mertens of Lriitke's expedition and H. 

 G. Bongard 1 in 1832 described a number of species of plants 

 from Sitka, C. B. Trinius describing the grasses. A. Kellogg 

 visited Sitka in 1867. 



Since the American occupation a number of collectors, in- 

 cluding A. S. Hitchcock, H. C. Cowles and others, have visited 

 Sitka, including the Harriman Alaska Expedition in 1899. Co- 

 ville, Trelease and Saunders were of this expedition. The 

 specimens in the Experiment Station herbarium were collected 

 by C. V. Piper, W. H. Evans and C. C. Georgeson. A number 

 of other collectors have been in the vicinity but the writer does 

 not, at present, have definite information concerning them. 



The following list of type species is incomplete. It is largely 

 gleaned from Professor Piper's work, which includes only such 

 species as are found in the state of "Washington. 



