SECTION IV. 1883. [1275 ] TRANS. Roy. Soc. CANADA. 
III.— Notes on the Flora of the Gaspé Peninsula. 
By JOHN Macoun, AM. F.LS. 
(Read May 23, 1883.) 
During the latter part of July and the whole month of August of the year 1882, I was 
making botanical investigations along the Gaspé coast and some distance inland. After 
the middle of August, I ascended the River Ste. Anne des Monts, about thirty miles, to the 
base of Mount Albert, one of the highest of the Notre Dame or Shickshock Mountains, 
which attains an altitude of about 4,000 feet and where the snow lies occasionally from 
one year to another. Large quantities of snow still lay on sheltered slopes with a northern 
exposure when I left the summit on the 27th August and, as cool weather set in after that, 
I believe part of the snow did not melt last year. 
The vicinity of Gaspé Basin was the first point visited but, from its sheltered situa- 
tion, very few northern plants were detected. In a small marsh near the wharf, I picked 
up Blysmus rufus, Link, which has only been lately detected on our coasts, but which I 
found quite common along the Gulf coast of the peninsula, andin company withit Plantago 
decipiens, Barneoud, which was formerly considered a form of P. Maritima, Linn. In the 
meadow behind the village, amongst many other species, I collected specimens of Juncus 
filiformis, Juncus Balticus, Carex maritima, Carex atrata, Carex salina and Carex limula. 
Amongst the grass Rhinanthus Crista-Galli, Poterium Canadense, Silene inflata, Vicia Cracca and 
many others were observed, and along the borders of the woods Pyrola minor, Vaccinium 
Vitis-Idea, Alnus viridis and Lolidago thyrsoidea. Along the cliffs bordering on the sea were 
Epilobium origanifolium, Draba arabasans, D. incana, Sagina procumbens, and numerous 
seaside or common forest species. Altogether 207 species of flowering plants were noted 
in the two days spent here, but they were chiefly the usual forest species of Quebec. 
Crossing the basin to the north side to what is locally termed the “ Peninsula,” I was 
pleased to find Iris caurica, which I afterwards found to be abundant along the whole 
Gulf coast of Gaspé. It is rather remarkable that it seems to always grow within the 
reach of the spray during high tides, as in no single instance was it noticed fifty yards 
from the beach. Here too was Pofentilla tridentata which seems at home both on the sea 
shore and on the mountain top. While it grew in warm sand at the sea shore, on Mount 
Albert it seemed to prefer the most exposed point with a northern aspect. 
On the road leading from the “ Peninsula” to L’Anse a Vallon, I picked up, amongst 
other very interesting things, Carex Knierskernii, which I had found thirteen years 
before at Kakabeka Falls, thirty miles west of Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. In a deep rocky 
chasm which crossed the road at the bottom of which flowed a brawling brook, I obtained 
Asplenium viride, Woodsia glabella, Pellea gracilis, Conioselinum Canadense, Microstylis mono- 
phyllus, Streptopus amplexifolius, Anodus Downianus and Zygodon Lapponicus. 
Near Cape Rosier many species were obtained which were afterwards found to be 
abundant along the whole coast. On the rocks Draba arabasans, Plantago maritima, 
