INTRODUCTION. 21 



character. 1 On its coast, enveloped in cold fogs and 

 washed by waters chilled by the arctic currrent, it is 

 no wonder that arctic plants like Montia fontana and 

 Stellaria humifusa should find a congenial home. More- 

 over, this character of the flora is shown by the fact that, 

 with one exception, Lycopodium Selago, the mountain 

 plants descend to the sea level. Neither on the one hand 

 is the altitude of the mountain summits sufficient to 

 develop an alpine flora, nor on the other hand is the 

 warmth and general character of the lowlands sufficient 

 to bring many of the plants of the middle temperate region 

 thus far up the coast of Maine. The flora, then, may be 

 said to be essentially Canadian, having close relations 

 with the very similar flora of New Brunswick. It also 

 shows, apart from its maritime character, many points of 

 resemblance to the general flora of the White Mountain 

 region. It is in its special problems, however, that 

 plant distribution becomes of great interest at Mt. Desert, 

 and it may be well, therefore, to consider a few cases by 

 way of illustration. 



The return of vegetable life after the glacial period 

 must have taken place along somewhat more contracted 

 lines than are shown to-day. Mt. Desert was then, as 

 now, isolated from the mainland, but was without doubt 

 in a state of greater submergence. It is therefore natural 

 that there should exist in abundance on the mainland 

 many plants that are not found at all on the Island, or 

 are found there only very rarely. The water on the 

 north of the Island is not of great extent or depth at 

 present, yet it appears that some plants, especially those 

 with seeds not easily transported by ordinary means, have 



1 About two hundred and thirty of the flowering plants of Mt. Desert 

 are common to the arctic flora. 



