JOSSELYN BOTANICAL SOCIETY 



I I 



Ranunculus Purshii, a little buttercup with round, float- 

 ing leaves and tiny, golden-yellow flowers, was found in 1909 

 about springs at New Limerick, the first time it has been 

 known in New England. 



Many other plants with more technical points of distinc- 

 tion were shown, and the fact pointed out that since few 

 workers are bringing to light so much that has been un- 

 known, a larger organization of workers would secure tre- 

 mendous results. 



The Boreal Flora of the Washington County Coast. 



Mr. Clarence H. Knowi/ton. 



Mr. Knowlton's talk may be summarized as follows : 

 Washington County, near the coast, is largely covered with 

 the so-called Canadian forest, in which firs, arbor vitce, and 

 the spruces predominate. This same kind of forest is found 

 in the western part of the state, mainly on the higher hills and 

 mountains, and in cold swamps. Here it is found at sea- 

 level, with all the accompanying herbaceous plants. But 

 there is by the coast a considerable number of coastal and 

 salt-marsh species, much more boreal than the forest. Mer- 

 tensia mariiima (L,.) S. F. Gray, Elymus arenarius L,., Carex 

 ?w?-(zgica Willd., and Iris setosa Pall., var. canadensis Foster, 

 are characteristic species, many of which are found on the 

 northern shores of both continents. Truly arctic in charac- 

 ter are many of the peat-bog plants, among which are Em- 

 pctrum nigrum L., and Rubus chamccmorus L,., found else- 

 where in Maine only on the higher mountains, above timber 

 line. 



This extreme boreal flora is near the coast only. The 

 cold winds and fogs from the Labrador current outside neu- 

 tralize the summer sunshine, and produce arctic and sub- 

 artic conditions at latitude 44-45 . 



