THE FLORA OF SITKA, ALASKA 439 



has a tendency to be straggling, but the growth is very stout. 

 The diameter of a season's growth often equals one-half inch. 

 The racemes are long but the berries are rather scattered. In 

 size it compares quite favorably with the garden black currant 

 (Ribcs nigrum) and has that same aroma, but to a more marked 

 degree. The fruit is black, covered with a dense white bloom. 

 All parts of the plants contain glands. Under favorable con- 

 ditions it is very vigorous and the writer has found racemes 

 12 14 inches in length, while the leaves may reach an extreme 

 length and width of about eight inches, a leaf of this size hav- 

 ing been measured. 



The fruit of the wild plant is utilized to a considerable ex- 

 tent. This species is quite promising for use in plant breed- 

 ing. Crosses with Ribes nigrum show a vigorous growth the 

 first year, with no appreciable difference between reciprocal 

 crosses. 



Ribes laxiflorwm is a much more slender plant than R. brac- 

 teosum with a tendency for the canes to become prostrate and 

 take root. It has a fetid odor while the taste of the fruit is 

 rather sweetish and insipid. The clusters and berries are about 

 the same size as that of the common garden currant (Ribes 

 rubrum), but the fruit is black with whitish bloom and raised 

 glands. It is of little value. 



Of seven species of Rubus known to occur in Alaska five 

 are found in the vicinity of Sitka. These will be taken up in 

 order of their importance. 



The Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) (Plate XXVI) forms 

 dense jungles near the sea, along water courses, and in open 

 forests. The canes are perennial, often attaining a diameter 

 of one inch or more and a height of ten to twelve feet. Canes 

 one inch in diameter often show five or six annual rings. Flow- 

 ers are rose pink and come out very early. The fruit begins 

 to ripen by the middle of June and continues until August, 

 being at its height about July 1st. It is twice the size of ordi- 

 nary raspberries, and consists of rather large, soft drupelets. 

 The color varies from lemon yellow to dark red. It can be had 

 in large quantities and is utilized to some extent. The flavor 

 is different from that of any other berry. Crosses with the 

 red raspberry (R. strigosus) have proven almost entirely 

 sterile, as the pistils and stamens do not seem to develop 

 properly. 



