64 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



C. vulgatum, L., var. grandiflorum, Ledeb., in Flora Rossica. Norton Sound. 

 C. vulgatum, L., var. behringianum, Ledeb., in Flora Rossica. Norton Sound. 

 (Sagina linncei, Prest., Obtained from the high hill-tops of Atkha Islaud ; not common. T.) 



LINACEiE. 



Linum perenne, L., Fort Yukon. 



G-ERANIACE.33. 



Geranium eriantlmm, D C, Sitka and Unalashka. ( Rare at Saint Michael's; abundant through- 

 out the Aleutian Islands. Flowers pale blue. T.) 



LEGUMINOSJE. 



Lupinus perennis, L., Kotzebue Sound. 



L.noofkatensis, Donn. Unalashka, Fort Yukon. (This plant is very abundant throughout the 

 entire coast line of Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands. It attains a height according to 

 locality, the more northern plants are of small size while on the Aleutian Islands it frequently 

 attains a height of 4 feet. The flowers are pale blue to nearly white, formiug a raceme of nearly a 

 foot in length. The root is very large; and, in rich soil, becomes over 15 inches in length by 2 or 3 

 inches in diameter and of spindle-shape. This plant is called zholtia Wren or " yellow-root," by the 

 Russian-speaking people. About the middle of October the Aleuts dig great quantities of these 

 roots for food. The roots are carefully scraped until the skin is removed, the interior possessing a 

 slightly bitter but farinaceous taste and is eaten either raw or else boiled. When eaten in excess 

 it is apt to produce disagreeable effects, and if oily food is not also eaten soon after the presence 

 of so much woody fiber in the stomach and intestines, is likely to produce fatal inflammation. The 

 roots are frequently the only food that the hunters can obtain during long-continued storms. Sev- 

 eral such instances have occurred to my own knowledge. I am not aware that the natives of the 

 mainland make use of this plant for food. A remark concerning the spread of this plant may not 

 be out of place. Near the grave-yard of Iliuliuk village on Unalashka Island in 1878, but few stalks 

 of this plant were to be seen; in 1881 the area was covered with a mass of vigorous stalks and were 

 frequently referred to by others who had noticed their rapid growth. The cattle formerly collected 

 there when they had eaten sufficiently, and their droppings may have favored the increased growth 

 of these plants. T.) 



Trifolium repens, L., Sitka ; fide Dr. A. Kellogg. 



Astragalus frigiduSy Gray. Pliaca frigidus, L., Kotzebue Sound. 



A. alpinus, L., Kotzebue Sound to Point Barrow, Fort Yukon. 



A polaris, Benth., Rediscovered by Seemann at Eschscholtz Bay, in Kotzebue Sound, during 

 the voyage of the Herald. See J. D. Hooker, on Distribution of Arctic Plants. 



A. hypoglottis, L., Point Barrow and eastward, Fort Yukon. 



Oxytropis campestris, D O, including 0. borealis, D O. Kotzebue Sound. 



0. uralensis, L., Kotzebue Sound and west coast of Alaska. 



Vicia gigantea, Hook., v. americana, Muhl., Sitka, Arctic coast. 



Lathyrus maritimus, Bigel., Sitka, west coast of Alaska. (Grows abundantly throughout 

 the coast line of Alaska, south of Cape Lisburne, and including the entire chain of Aleutian 

 Islands. In some localities it becomes very luxuriant, the legumes bearing several seed of consid- 

 erable size. There is no use made -of this plant by the natives; neither is it eaten by the cattle or 

 sheep. T.) 



Hedysarum boreale, Nutt., Kotzebue Sound and Cape Lisburne. 



H. mackenzii, Richards., Yukon River, 50 miles west of Fort Yukon. Sweetish root, eaten by 

 the Indians. 



ROSACEA. 



Spiraea betulifolia, Pall., Kotzebue Sound. 



S. aruncus, L., Sitka. 



S. salicifolia, L., Point Barrow to Mackenzie River. 



8. pectinata, T. and G., Sitka and about Bering Straits. 



