H. G. SIMMONS. [sec. arct. exp. fram 



Fyrolaceae. 



Pyrola rotundifolia, L. 

 var. grandiffpra, [Rati.) Dc. 



P. grandiflora, Radius, Diss. Pyrola, 1821; Lakge, Consp. Fl. Groenl.; Nathoest, 

 N. W. Gronl. ; Simmons, Pre). Rep. et Bot. Arb.; Kjellman, in Vegaexp.; 

 P. rotundifolia var. pumila, Hornemann, Dansk Oec. Plantel. I, 1821; 

 Hooker, Fl. Bor. Amer. ; Britton & Brown, 111. Fl ; Ledebour, Fl. Ross.; 

 P. groenlandica, Hornemann, 1. c. II; P. rotundifolia var. grandiflora, 

 Decandolle, Prodi-., VII; Rosenvinge, Nye Bidr.; Krudse, List E- Greenl. ; 

 P. cMorantha, Durand, PI. Kan.; Hayes, Op. Pol. Sea; el alii, non Swartz. 

 Fig. Radius, 1. c, T. 3, fig. 2; Fl. Dan., T. 1817. 



The plant in question was 1821 described indepedently from two 

 quarters, viz., by Hornemann (1. c, I, p. 463) as P. rotundifolia pumila, 

 and by Radius (I. c, p. 27) as P. grandiflora. Hornemann 1837 

 (1. c. II, p. 180) altered his name to P. groenlandica. The latter name 

 can under no circumstances be used, and I cannot decide which of the 

 other two has priority. I have preferred the name of Radius chiefly 

 because it is the name most commonly used by later authors, and 

 also because it is followed by a rather good figure. To uphold it as a 

 species seems, however, not to be justified, how ever well defined it 

 seems indeed in high latitudes, for already in the southern part of 

 Greenland forms appear, that link it together with P. rotundifolia var. 

 arenaria, Koch, and therefore I have followed Decandolle (1. c, p. 

 773) and the later works about the Greenland flora. 



In its only locality in Ellesmereland, the plant grew in a densely, 

 vegetation-clad slope together with Salix arctica, Oxyria, Polygonum 

 viviparum, Saxifragae, etc., in an undergrowth of mosses. It was 

 more stunted than the Greenland specimens generally are, and July 

 26th, 1899, when it was collected, it had not yet opened its flowers, 

 even though numerous inflorescences were seen. As no old fruits were 

 found, it is probable, that such are only seldom developed, and conse- 

 quently, it has little chance of spreading further than it can reach with 

 its creeping rhizome. 



Occurrence. Only on the east coast, and there restricted to a 

 small patch in the slope from the plateau of Cape Rutherford down to 

 the great lake on the "Rutherfordeide" (1133). 



Distribution: East and West Greenland, Arctic American 

 Archipelago, Arctic America, Labrador, Alaska, Northern Siberia and 



