19? 1887 The Arnold Arboretun Purchase June 1971 Section IV, 1887. [ 207 ] Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada. XVII. — Remarks on the Flora of the Northern Sliores of America, with Tabulated Observations made by Mr. F. F. P\ynk on the seasonal development of Plants at Cape Prince of Wales, Hudson' tStruii, during 1886. By George Lawson, Ph.D., LL.D. (Bead May 25, 1887.) The observations made by Mr. Payne on the progress of vegetation during the spring, summer and autumn of 1886, at Cape Prince of "Wales, Hudson Strait, cannot fail to be of interest and use to those who are desirous of definite knowledge respecting the climate of the Hudson Strait shores during the period of active plant growth. But a knowledge of our northern vegetation is not only of interest in enabling us to form a judgment as to the general character of the climate, or ascertain how far a given district is capable of producing cultivated crops or plants that are in any Avay useful in the economical sense ; there are other questions which, if more remote from immediate practical utility, are yet not of less interest from a scientific point of view, and every contribution of information, whether in form of observations or specimens, is of value. The floras of our northern shores gradually merge northwardly into the composite flora found within the Arctic circle, commonly called " the Arctic flora," the remarkable composition of which has given rise to speculation as to its origin. Sir Joseph Hooker accounts for it by assuming extensive changes of climate and of laud and sea, leading to a spread of Scandinavian species over the whole polar zone, and the subsequent introduction of Asiatic and American species, with which the Scandinavian are so largely associated in all the Arctic districts except those of Europe and Greenland. Some of the difficulties of this view are overcome, if we admit, with Darwin and Hooker, the great anticjuity of the ScandinaA'ian flora, and the hypothesis originated by Edward Forbes and extended by Charles Darwin, that previous to the Glacial Epoch, that flora was more uniformly distributM over the whole polar zone than now ; that during that period it was driven southward in every longitude, even across the tropics into the south temperate zone ; and that, on the succeeding warmth of the present epoch, the surviving species again spread northward, accompanied by aborigines of the countries which they had invaded during their southern migration, and leaving behind on the northward march stragglers of the Scandinavian flora that found permanent refuge in the mountains of the warmer zones. The discussion of such an hypothesis necessarily opens up questions of variation, adaptation, and survival, under changing conditions of climate and over large areas of the earth's surface. It will be seen, at once, how important it is to have our Northern American species carefully collocated with those of Northern Europe and Asia, especially such of them as belong, or are allied, to species of the true Scandinavian flora. It is not the discovery of new species on our northern shores that is the object most to be desired in the interest of science, for we have already a confusing plethora of names, but rather the collection of material to enable us to ascertain more accurately the relations to each LIBRARY AJOIOT.D NF.W YORK 208 LAWSON ON THE FLORA OF other of the species that have been already described, so that duplicate names may be eliminated, and onr nomenclature placed on such a basis that equivalent forms — whether species, so-callod subspecies, or varieties, or even less prouounced forms— may be com- pared together irom the several regions, as evidence of community of origin, or otherwise, or to indicate possible or probable sources of derivation. At an early period in the century preceding the present one, long before questions of origin had arisen, and long before it was thought of any consequence to mankind to ascertain the possibilities of productive culture on our northern coasts, Liunfeus's "' Tour in Lapland " and the " Flora Lappouica " had excited an interest in these little northern plants from the systematic botanist's point of view. And, while, subsequently, the Scandinavians themselves and the botanists of Russia, have been active in making known the A'egetation of the northern verges of Europe and Asia, so the northern shores of Ameriia and the Greenland coast have been visited by whaling vessels, whose officers have, season after season, carried specimens to British botanists ; but the principal bota- nical work on our shores has been accomplished by the numerous exploring expeditions sent out from time to time by England and the United States, whose collections have been elaborated in the most careful manner and the results systematised and published for general use. More recently, substantial work has been done at the meteorological stations for observation on Hudson Strait, and especially by Dr. Robert Bell, scientist and medical officer of the expedition to Hudson Bay in 1884, a list of whose botanical collections, identified by Prof. Macoun, has been published. Work still remains to be done by observers who have opportunity, and it may be thus summarised : — To collect and dry specimens in as many conditions or stages of growth as possible, carefully noting (1) dates of collection, (2) kinds of soil, whether sandy, loamy, clayey, peaty (these greatly affecting moisture and temperature). (3) distance from sea shore, elevation above sea-level, (4) surroundings of locality or particular spot where the i^lant is gathered, as regards protection from cold, or conditions of shelter favourable to prolonged humidity of atmosphere or to accumulation of warmth in time of sunshine. These particulars are specially mentioned, not only because they are intrinsically of special importance; but because we had scarcely any systematic observation of them, until the establishment of the stations of observation on Hudson Strait. It is to be hoped that what has been begun so well by the Hudson Strait observers, will be continued and developed by those who have opportunity, from time to time, to add to the information already acquired. These regions are so seldom visited in the ordinary course of travel, and the collection and preservation of specimens is attended with so many difficulties, that even the veriest scraps are welcome to the home botanist. How much more valu- able are specimens, carefully selected so as to show modifications of form, and thus serve to determine questions of specific identity or distinction, or those collected at different times during the seasons of sprouting or budding, leaf-development, flowering, ripening of seeds, and autumn withering, or fall of leaf or browning of evergreens, with dates care- fully recorded, so as to show the beginning, progress and ending of the annual growing period for vegetation. In the following tabulation of Mr. Payne's observations, the several columns after that containing the name of the species give : — THE NORTHERN SHORES OF AMERICA. 209 A. — Date of spring-buddiug iu case of shrubs, aud sprouting or appearance of new shoots from the rhizomes of herbaceous plants. B.— Date when plant was found in leaf, i.e., when leaves of the season were fairly developed. C. — When first found in flower. D. — "When specimens were found with ripe seeds. E. — Autumn withering of foliage, or defoliation. F. — Particulars as to the nature of the habitat of each species, or spot where found growing — especially with respect to proximity to, or distance from, the sea-shore, eleva- tion above sea-level, whether in exposed hilly situations, or sheltered, or protected amongst rocks or in w^ater-courses, etc. ; general character of soil, whether gravelly, sandy, compact, or peaty, and whether moist or dry, etc. Northern plants have a special tendency to assume luxuriant forms when grown in sheltered spots where the air is kept moist by waterfalls, rapid streams, or even rocky brooks. Corresponding observations of these several phenomena iu the same species of plants in any other locality or country -w ill enable a comparison to be made of its climate, so far as it affects vegetation, with that of Cape Prince of Wales. The variations of seasons in difterent years in the same locality may also be determined from such observations. The names of all the species were determined from a careful examination by myself of Mr. Payne's specimens. The condition of the plants, as to progress of seasonal growth at the several dates, as noted by Mr. Payne at the time, was also ratified iu each case by examination of the specimens. The abundant ripening of seeds is one of the features of Mr. Payne's collection, showing a marked difference from some of the collections taken to England by exploring expeditious. In less hospitable regions, although plants grow even luxuriantly, they are not known to ripen seeds sufficiently for germination. This has led to the belief that within the Arctic circle the permanent continuance of vegetation is dependent upon fertile seeds ripened farther south and transported to the belt of the Arctic flora. However this may be, it is interesting to note that in all the specimens from Cape Prince of Wales that were sufficiently advanced, the seeds were plump and perfect. Additional collections have been received, but too late to be included in this paper. The results of an examination of these, as well as the consideration of some general questions regarding the northern shore flora, must consequently be deferred. 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