436 SKETCH OF THE FLORA OF ALASKA, 



timber, and the pine and the Larch are sehlom seen — the latter, however, not ceas- 

 ing so soon as the former." — (L. c, p. 19.) 



Mertens completes the picture of the vegetation of Sitka with reports of the 

 species of aconite, aquilegia, claytonia, rnbiis, sasifraga, epilohiom, vaccinium, 

 niiraulus, orchids, and sedges, which add variety and beauty to the scene ; some 

 of them specifically the same as those growing on the eastern slope of America 

 and in the United States. He also notes a grass (Poa) growing two or three 

 feet high ; " various ferns, which arc, however, types of those which prevail in 

 Russia, grow in great luxuriance." 



From Chamisso (in Hooker's Botanical Miscellanj^, vol. i, p. 317,) we learn 

 that on the peninsula of Alaska (Alaska proper) a few trees are found; but on 

 the island of Ounalashka, which has a more Arctic oceanic climate, the scene is 

 clianged; for "a few miserable firs, originally brought from Sitka and planted 

 at Ounalashka, may still be seen, most of them decayed, and the others seem 

 scarcely likely to live." 



"At Ounalashka, under the same latitude as Lubeck, the willows scarcely grow 

 higher than the luxuriant grass and herbs of the moist grounds. As soon as 

 we ascend the inferior hills a completely Alpine vegetation appears ; even on 

 tlie least elevated regions of the jnountains are some Vaccinia., resembling V. 

 Mi/rtiUus, which scarcely rise al)0ve the ground. Besides the brilliant verdure 

 (due to a moist atmosphere) which here adorns the grass and enlivens the rocks, 

 llie lustre of the fresh unsullied snow and of some social plants l)estow on this 

 dreary country a rarity and beauty of line which are quite delightful. Lupinns 

 Nootkatensis, Mimulus luteiis, Epilohium angustifolinm and latifolium, Bliododcn- 

 dron KaintscJiaticum, etc., are among the most conspicuous. The fresh green 

 of the turf even reminded us of the valley of Ursera. 



^' The vegetation here appears to have nothing further in common Avith that of 

 St. Peter and St. Paul than as respects its Alpine flora and the coast plants of these 

 northern shores. Besides such species as are likewise found more north we have 

 only Lilium (FritHlaria) Kamtschaticum and the Uvularia amplcxifolia (Strcp- 

 topus) common to both places, while on the contrary we found more Kamtschat- 

 kan species of plants on the American coast north of Behring's strait, which we 

 missed at Ounalashka. It is the flora of the northwest coast of America which 

 descends to the base of the hills of this island, where it unites with the Arctic 

 flora. As examples of this we may cite liuhiis spcctaljilis, Lupinns Nootliatcnsis, 

 (which may also be found, though dwarfish, on the hills.) EpiJobimu Jidcuni, 

 Ilinudas lateiis, Clai/tonia UnalascMens is and Sibirica may also be reckoned here. 

 Sanguisorha Canadensis, Litliospermum angustifoliinn belong to the common 

 flora of America. Many species of grasses thrive in the low lands, with some 

 UmbcIIafce, such as Angelica, Heracleum, etc. A dozen Cariccs, scarcely forming 

 a larger proportion of the vegetation than in the north of Germany, some Script 

 and Eriopiliora, accompany them, with a iGW' Juncim the proportion of about one 

 to two. The OrchidacccB form a group of some importance, both because of the 

 number of the species and the beauty of the individuals. They prevail both in 

 the valleys and on the hills, and we encounter eleven kinds, among them a beau- 

 tiful Cypripedium. Higher north we did not observe a single species of the 

 family. Of the ferns we found about eight species; nearest the pole there is but 

 one Filix, and of this we saw but a single specimen. In Ounalaslika there are 

 some Lycopodia; in the more Arctic regions but one. We found in the lakes 

 many water plants, Potamogefon, Sparganiuin, Banuncidus oquntilis ; in the 

 higher latitudes we observed only the two species of Hipipnris and the connnon 

 CallitricheP (L. c. pp. 317, 318.) 



[I can now enumerate l»ut ten species of orchids. Some are also found north 

 of Ounalashka. The remark concerning the ferns needs the qualification of at 

 least one, and perhaps of two, more species. — J. T. R.j 



