﻿The Flora of Neivfoundland. • 9 



heavier vegetation, showing not only a milder climate 

 but a deeper soil, and plants of the same species were in 

 several eases found to be in a more advanced state than 

 at the more southern stations on the coast. 



In the Exploits Valley, so far as seen, there is an alter- 

 nation of woodland and moist moors. The forests are 

 chiefly of fir and spruce, with a moderate mixture of 

 white pine and paper birch, most of the trees being of 

 moderate or small size. This region proved to have a 

 flora almost identical with that of Northern New England ; 

 indeed the only plants which suggested a more boreal 

 climate were the attractive little Betula nana, var. flabelli- 

 folia, and Thalictrum alpimim. The question which at 

 once presents itself is, why such a region is entirely 

 unused when portions of Canada of much higher latitude 

 and similar native flora have been successfully cultivated. 

 Erom a botanical standpoint the vegetation presented 

 but little novelty, perhaps the most interesting finds 

 being the terrestrial state of Subularia aquatica, Litorella 

 laciistris, and Carex iniliaris, with its var. (?) aurea, which, 

 as now secured in mature fruit, appears specifically dis- 

 tinct. 



The remainder of the time upon the island was divided 

 between Whitbourne, Holyrood, Placentia, and Salmonier, 

 in different parts of the peninsula Avalon, each place 

 possessing a certain individuality of vegetation. In a 

 small sphagnum bog near Holyrood a rare and poorly 

 MYidiQV^toodi Bartonia {Centaurella Moseri, Steud. & Hochst., 

 at least in part) was found. Few phsenogams could be 

 more inconspicuous than this, with its naked filiform 

 stem, and one to five small pinkish-white flowers, just the 

 colour of the surrounding sphagnum. It required nearly 

 an hour's searching upon hands and knees to secure the 

 desired sixty or eighty plants. 



The maritime vegetation of the eastern part of the 

 island appears to be very scanty. Although a consider- 



