2 ALASKA BOTANY 



the latter genus could scarcely have been named ; and of Prof. 

 A. W. Evans and Miss Clara E. Cummings, who contributed 

 the chapters on Liverworts and Lichens, respectively. From the 

 first Professor Saunders devoted his attention almost exclusively 

 to the algge, and his chapter contains numerous references to the 

 assistance of special authorities on some of the included groups. 

 In the preparation of my own chapter on the Pteridophytes I 

 have received the benefit of similar criticism and suggestion, 

 which is duly acknowledged. 



The present volume, therefore, represents not only the aggre- 

 gate information on flowerless plants obtained by the Expedition 

 as a whole, but the added knowledge of what has been learned 

 of these plants by others — a knowledge which only experts 

 could contribute ; and I am sure that I am warranted in express- 

 ing to all of the collectors, and to the contributors to the vol- 

 ume, not only my personal gratitude, but that of Mr. Harriman 

 and the editor of the publications of the Expedition, Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam. 



The plants that first catch the eye in a region seen for the 

 first time are usually flowers and trees ; still the ferns and their 

 allies do not occupy a greatly subordinate position in the general 

 impression produced by the flora, and, in proportion as either of 

 these more conspicuous elements fails in any region, the flower- 

 less plants in one or another of their groups assume accentuated 

 prominence. 



The coast region of Alaska is marked in the southern district 

 by the grandeur of its forests, reaching to approximately the 

 middle of Kadiak Island and the corresponding part of the 

 adjacent peninsula ; and, in common with other regions of high 

 latitude or altitude, by the brilliancy of its flowers beyond the 

 forest area. The smaller and more brightly colored plants are 

 usually overtopped and suppressed, except on the mountains, 

 where toward and above the timber line the usual alpine condi- 

 tions are reached. And 3^et, a second glance at even the forest 

 region reveals a wealth of cryptogamic vegetation, which gives 

 to the flora a character it would lack were this element removed. 

 No small part of the charm of the brilliantly colored mountain 

 tops and prairies is due to the setting of their flowers in beds of 



