112 H. G. SIMMONS. [sec. ARCT. EXP. PRAM 



I seen specimens from the Franklin expeditions, nor of Kane's plant, 

 but they must certainly be referred to this species. 



Lastly Davis, 1. c, p. 489, has a var. Sabinei of B. pygmaeus, 

 which is, however, only recorded from Montana. The description: "Flowers 

 larger than the type ; sepals hairy", agrees indeed with R. Sabinei, but 

 is all too scanty for deciding if really that specimens is meant. It is, 

 however, not improbable, as I have seen species of B. Sabinei (cal- 

 led R. glacialis!) from "Sequoia region, Alpine County, Carson Spur, 

 8500 f., 1893, Geo. Hanson" in the Kew herbarium. 



The true R. Sabinei, however, is no form of B. pygmaeus, or of 

 B. nivalis either. It is sufficiently different in characters from both, 

 and further, it has in Ellesmereland, its own range, where no B. 

 pygmaeus is found. Its habitat also is different from that of the latter 

 species. According to Ellesmereland specimens, of which I have a rather 

 good material, the description may be formed as follows: 



B. Sabinei: humilis, tempore florendi 1 — 3 cm. altus, 1 ( — 3) florus; 

 folia radicalia 3 — 5, longe petiolata, triloba, lobis lateratibus bifidis, longe 

 ciliata, vaginis albis instructa; folia cauHna sessilia vel brevissime petiolata, 

 vaginantia, profunde tripartita, lobis lanceolatis obtusis; pedunculus cum 

 sepalis pilis albis hirsutus, sepala violascentia, petala pallide flava; flores 

 quam in B.nivali multo minores; petala sepala paulo superantia; torus 

 per anthesin cum carpellis rotundatus, postea elongatus, capitulum fructuum 

 fere cylindraceum. 



B. Sabinei is a small, low plant, simple or somewhat caespitose ; 

 the few basal leaves (generally 3 — 5) lie prostrate outspread on the 

 ground and surround the flower, when it first opens; later, the petioles 

 are stretched as well as the stem, which will then reach considerably 

 over the leaves. The lamina of the basal leaves is cuneate at the 

 bases, 3-cleft, often having the lateral lobes more or less deeply incised; 

 the middle segment, as is often also the inner, larger part of the lateral 

 ones, broad lanceolate; all are obtuse. Basal leaves with broad white 

 sheaths. Stem leaves (the lowest included) sessile or very short petiolale, 

 with a very short, but broad, white sheath, deeply 3-cleft, with lanceolate, 

 obtuse segments. Petioles and margins of the leaves with sparse, long 

 hairs. Stem at the beginning of the flowering only 1 — 2 cm. long, 

 afterwards growing to 10 cm. in the fruiting stage, feebly striate, in 

 the lower part sparsely hairy like the petioles. Peduncle densely hairy. 

 The whole stalk at the ripening of the fruit stiffly erect, not assurgent 

 as in B. nivalis, nor arched as in B. pygmaeus. The flowers are con- 

 siderably larger than in the latter species — almost as large as in a 



