THE WILLOWS OF ALASKA 327 



very sparingly denticulate toward the base, smooth on both sides at 

 maturity, but usually with some long soft appressed hairs on the mar- 

 gins and lower surface when young. Sometimes, however, the leaf- 

 blades are almost orbicular with a scarcely tapering base, sometimes 

 the apex is acute, sometimes retuse, and in robust specimens they may 

 reach a length of 7.5cm., often then developing ovate-lanceolate entire 

 stipules. It is the only prostrate willow of Alaska, except chamissonis^ 

 that produces stipules, and in that species the stipvdes are glandular- 

 serrate. Occasionally the upper surface of the leaves bears some cob- 

 webby hairs, even till maturity. A conspicuous feature of the plant 

 when growing is the long, erect, stout, hairy catkins standing above 

 the leaves, which look like little cat tails. The catkin scales are 

 usually black, obtuse, and long-hairy, the ovaries densely white-woolly, 

 becoming more thinly tomentose as thev expand and mature, and the 

 styles are commonly i to 3 mm. in length. The plant is an arctic- 

 alpine species occurring near timber line, or in cold situations at 

 lower elevations, along the southern coast of Alaska from Juneau west- 

 ward to the Siberian coast, and northward to the coast of the Arctic 

 Ocean. The original specimens of arctica were collected by Sujef 

 in Siberia along the Gulf of Obi, of diplodictya on St. Lawrence 

 Island, Bering Sea, and of crassijulis in St. Lawrence Bay, Siberia. 



A large number of specimens have been examined, as follows : 

 Jtmeau. — Above Silver Bow Basin, Grace E. Cooley, 1891. 



White Pass. — Near the summit, altitude about 3000 feet, Coville 

 and Kearney (No. 518), Trelease and Saunders (No. 3399), R. S 

 Williams, 1S99, F. A. Walpole, 1900 (Nos. 1104, 1109, 1348, 1378) 



Glacier Bay. — At various points, Coville and Kearney (Nos. 631 

 in part, 635, 655), Trelease and Saunders (Nos. 3400, 3401, 3401a 

 3403 to 3405, 3407 to 3409, 3433, in part), Brewer and Coe (Nos 

 37, 41), Kincaid, Walter H. Evans, 1897 (No. 157). Most of these 

 specimens were collected on the cold glacial gravels near sea level, the 

 timber line belt being deeply covered with snow at the time of our 

 visit. 



Takutat Bay. — At various localities, Coville and Kearney (Nos. 

 looi to 1003, 1013, 1040, 1076, 10S3, 1099, 1 140), Trelease and 

 Saunders (Nos. 3410, 341 1, 3414, 3441? 3472), Frederick Funston, 

 1893 (No. 117). Most of these specimens were collected on glacial 

 gravels near sea level. 



Prince Willia?n Sound. — At several localities, Coville and Kearney 

 (Nos. 1195, 1371, 1363), Trelease and Saunders (Nos. 3416 to 3418). 

 Some of these grew at sea level, others at 3500 feet elevation. 



