372 
W. West and G. S. West. 
sheltered side of the rocks, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi , 
and Empetrum nigrum occurred in about equal proportions. In a 
few places Arctostaphylos alpina was very abundant. 
A few of the more stunted specimens of Betula nana were 
attacked by a species of Rhytisma, and as no species of this genus 
has previously been observed on the leaves of the dwarf birch, it is 
probable that the fungus is as yet undescribed (Fig. 31). 
In the more open places Festuca rubra and Car ex rigida were 
everywhere present. Most specimens of the latter in this area 
were attacked by Ustilago Caricis, a fungus which so far as we can 
ascertain, has not previously been recorded as attacking Carex 
rigida. Kobresia bipartita was also a constituent of the turf in many 
places. 
Among the lichens were patches of Nephromium arcticum and 
occasionally Cladonia degenerans. On the rocks were Cetraria 
aculeata, Lecidea geographica, Lecanora tartarea (scarce), Parmelia 
saxatilis, Gyrophora proboscidea, G. hyperborea, G. cylindrica, G. 
arctica, and G. polyrliiza. 
Near the sides of the old road to Hjerkin, and in some of the 
more open spaces, were patches of dense turf consisting of Poa 
alpina , Poa glauca, Festucarubra , Trisetumsubspicatum, jfuncustrifidns 
and Carex incurva. In this turf were numerous specimens of a 
species of Russula, very similar to, if not identical with, Russula 
emetica. The fruit-bodies showed a very striking adaptation to the 
exposed conditions under which they existed. The turf was very 
dense and the top of the pileus of the Russula never reached 
so high as the short grass-leaves 
amongst which the fructifica¬ 
tion was growing. Moreover, 
the edge of the pileus was in¬ 
variably incurved in the manner 
shown in Fig. 32. This agaric 
thus presented a somewhat 
peculiar appearance, each indi¬ 
vidual looking like a large red 
button sunk in the dense mat 
of turf, which grew in such a compact manner around the pileus 
that the gills would never be exposed to the excessive wind. 
Towards the Goveli lake, and round about the stream which 
issues from this sheet of water, was a boggy area [b x , b 1 on the 
chart] with an abundance of Amblystegium trifarium, and A. 
Fig. 32. Diagrammatic section to show 
the relation of the fruit-body of Russula 
sp. with the surrounding turf, in very 
exposed situations at about 3,200 feet. 
