400 LABRADOR 



bronzed dust, or a short, thick fuzz, or tomentum, to a felted 

 growth of longer hairs (most Ericaceae and Salices, Draba, 

 some Potentillas, Cerastium, Dryas, Papaver, Antennaria, 

 and many others. 



7. Development of a tendency to grow a thick rosette 

 of leaves at the base (Arabis, Draba, Antennaria, Lychnis, 

 Pinguicula, many saxifrages), or to mass themselves in 

 close, thick clumps or cushions (Diapensia, Silene, Sedum, 

 saxifrages). These tendencies are similar to the one al- 

 ready mentioned of crowding the leaves closely together 

 on the stem. They may develop in species which in more 

 favourable locations grow apart from one another, and 

 have their leaves more evenly distributed along the stem. 



8. An occasional tendency, in case of difficulty in absorb- 

 ing nutriment from the soil, to develop devices for trapping 

 and absorbing insects. Insects are not numerous in Lab- 

 rador, with the exception of mosquitoes and flies, but a few 

 plants there are partially carnivorous (Drosera, Pinguicula, 

 Sarracenia). They appear to be confined almost wholly 

 to the marshes of the more southerly part of the country. 



9. While physiological dryness is extremely unfavourable 

 to vegetable growth, and necessitates special devices for the 

 absorption and conservation of moisture, it is, on the other 

 hand, very favourable to the reproductive functions. Ac- 

 cordingly, the number of flowers is large, and appears the 

 larger on account of the crowding of all varieties into one 

 short season, and by contrast with the lack of luxuriance 

 in vegetative shoots and foliage. Many of the flowers are 

 large and brilliant in colouring, and nowhere is there any 

 lack of them in abundance, unless in situations most severely 

 open to the winds or destitute of soil. 



