Contributions to the morphology, synonymy, and geographical distribution of arctic plants / by Theo. Holm.

  • Holm, Theodor (Herman Theodor), 1854-1932.
Date:
1922
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Contributions to the morphology, synonymy, and geographical distribution of arctic plants / by Theo. Holm. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PAPILIONACEAE. Lupinus nootkatensis Bonn var. Kjellmanii Ostf. The species is perennial with a deep, strong primary tap-root bearing a large rosette of leaves surrounding a tall flower-bearing stem, the tallest specimen measuring about 24 cm. in height, the flowering raceme itself about 8 cm. In fruiting specimens the large legumes are densely villous, and about 5 cm. in length. Astragalus [Tourn.] L. The two species of Astragalus show a very different habit. In A. alpinus the primary root persists but it is very slender; the aerial shoots are quite long but very slender, prostrate, and profusely branched, bearing several leaves and a terminal, long-pedunculate inflorescence. Some few secondary roots develop from the nodes, and tubercles were found on some of the lateral roots. In A. aboriginorum, on the other hand, there is a very strong and thick, primary root, often branched and crowned with numerous, compact clusters of persisting internodes with scale-like leaves, supporting leafy shoots and flower¬ bearing stems; root-shoots abound. As may be seen from the figure (Part A, Plate X), the arctic specimen of A. aboriginorum differs in several respects from the prairie plant described and figured by Hooker (FI. bor. Am.), but Mr. Marcus Jones, to whom specimens were sent for identification, kindly informed me that the arctic material repre¬ sented the typical plant. With regard to the systematic position of this species Hooker (l.c.) states that the perfect fruit which was unknown to Dr. Richardson has now been seen in abundance, and proves the species to be a Phaca, rather than an Astragalus. \ Phaca frigida L. In specimens from Bernard harbour, collected in the month of August, the racemes with fruit, not fully matured, measure 15 cm. including the peduncle, while in bloom the stem above ground measures only about 8 cm. in height. The primary root is long and slender and the capillary, lateral roots bear tuber¬ cles. As in the plant from Nova Zembla, which I have described and figured (Dijmphna Expedition l.c.), the aerial shoots develop from the axils of scale-like leaves borne upon persisting basal internodes; thus a pseudo-rhizome is also possessed by this plant. Oxytropis Roaldi Ostf. Having been published in Christiania,^ and perhaps not being readily accessible to the reader, I herewith insert the diagnosis as written by Mr. Osten- feld; it reads as follows: “Scapigera, usque 20 cm. alta, multiceps; stipulae alte petiolares, albae, membranaceae, longe ciliatae, pars libera uninervis, e basi dilatata linearis; foliola 7-8-juga, lancelato-ovata, adpresso niveo-pilosa; scapi foliis longiores pilis subadpressis vel subpatulis instructi; inflorescentia subcapitata, 5-10- flora; bracteae lineari-lanceolatae, calycem subaequilongae; calyx tubuloso- campanulata, dentibus triangularibus tubo triplo brevioribus, pube nigra pilisque longioribus albis instructa; corolla calyci dimidio longior, violaceo- purpurea; legumen (altum) ovato-oblongum, recte, acuminatum, membranaceo- chartaceum, ca. 12 mm. longum, uniloculare vel partim semi-loculare, pube breve griseo, calycem subduplo superans. Herschel Island.’^ 1 Vascular plants collected in arctic North America (King William Land, King Point and Herschel Island) by Gjda Expedition 1904-1906. Vidensk. Selsk. Skrift. Christiania, 1910.