THE FLOWERS OF KOLGUEV 413 



APETALii 



POLYGONE/E 



Rumex domesticus Hartm. Dock. 



This dock was pretty generally distributed ; but in single plants, not 

 in clumps or masses. 



R. Acetosa L. Sorrel. 



The common sorrel was abundant, growing finest by the sides of the 

 streams. But even here it was of a much reduced character. We 

 found this, until the cloudberry ripened, a very useful form of vegetable 

 food, as we had no other, and it was often difficult to find a leaf more 

 than an inch long. It never seemed to me to be nearly so acid as in 

 England. 



Oxyria reniformis Hook. 



This unpretending little plant was exceedingly common on the dry 

 mud-banks at the sides of the creeks. By the end of August the flower 

 had given place to seed ; and the plant was then more noticeable and 

 very beautiful, as each seed was surrounded by a broad thin scale, 

 varying in colour from yellow to crimson. 



Polygonum viviparum L. 



This in Kolguev was a very insignificant little plant seldom more 

 than three inches high. Only the flowers at the extreme tip of the 

 flower-head were developed. The place of the lower ones was taken 

 by little brownish bulbs. 



BETULACE^ 



Betula nana L. Dwarf Birch. 



This creeping birch was widely spread on all the higher stony or 

 sandy ground. Wherever a wide patch appeared in the distance 

 coloured in brightest emerald, it was found on a nearer view to be 

 covered with this plant. 



