434 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



MUSKEG FLORA. 

 (PLATE XXI I.) 



The term Muskeg, as here used, includes the formations 

 variously called peat bogs, marsh and tundra. The last name, 

 however, should uot be used, as the Muskeg is quite different 

 from the true Tundra which surrounds the Arctic Ocean. 



This formation consists of peat covered by a layer of moss, 

 mostly Sphagnum. The layer of living and dead, but still 

 undecomposed moss is often a foot in thickness. The depth 

 of the peat varies from a few inches to many feet. On the 

 Muskeg north of the town of Sitka, a hole twelve feet in depth 

 failed to reach the bottom. Scattered about are pools, the 

 surface areas of which vary from a few square feet to several 

 square rods. These pools are generally shallow, but their bot- 

 toms are exceedingly soft. In walking over even the firmer 

 portions of the formations one mires a few inches. 



Conspicuous features also include the tree growth and small 

 stumps. Except along the edges and the water courses these 

 trees seldom exceed five or six feet in height and are old and 

 decrepit looking. Finns contorta is the most abundant but 

 Tsuga hcterophylla is common and Chumaccyparis nootkatensis 

 is occasional. There is a tendency for the formation to be 

 built up around the base of these trees and especially around 

 the stumps. This gives rise to slight elevations on which such 

 forest species as Cornus canadensis, Menzeisia ferruginea, 

 h'uhiis pedatus, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea are generally found. 



The most abundant and characteristic plant of the Muskeg 

 other than mosses is the Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum). It 

 occurs from sea level to well above timber line. The Ericaceae 

 are well represented. Andromeda polifolia, Kalmia glauca, 

 Ledum groenlahdicum, Vaccinium Oxycoccus and Vaccinium 

 uliginosum are common at the lower altitudes and Chamaecystis 

 procumbens occurs locally. Buous chamaemorus is one of the 

 commonest species as is also the interesting little sundew, Drosera 

 rotundi folia. A few species of sedges (Carex spp.) are found 

 growing on the Muskeg, but the majority of species prefer the 

 wet soil along the banks of streams or lakes. The cotton grass 

 (Eriophorum polystachyon) is very conspicuous when in fruit. 



