Notes on the alpine flora of the St Elias Mountains

Murray, David

Several floristic novelties collected between 1965 and 1969 are reported from the vicinity of the Kaskawulsh Glacier-Slims River drainage. Rumex graminifolius is described growing on ash deposits; it had previously been known in coastal Alaska from the northernmost Arctic south to the Alaska Peninsula growing in sandy places in tundra. Stellaria umbellata is described from near the terminus of the Kaskawulsh Glacier; this extended the known range of this species from Alaska south into the Yukon. Papaver alboroseum was collected from the vicinity of Sheep Glacier; it had previously been known principally from eastern Asia, and from near Seward and from the Portage Glacier area. Aphragmus eschscholtzianus was found near Outpost Mountain; this was the first collection from the Alaska Range. Braya purpurascens was collected between Sheep Creek and Bullion Creek at the south end of Kluane Lake; this was the first report for the Yukon. Draba bellii was found in the mountains between Sheep and Bulhorn creeks at altitudes up to 2100 m and others are reported from 2800 m on King Peak; the latter was the highest point at so northern a latitude from which a vascular plant had been collected. Draba macounii is described from areas above 1800 m. Draba ruaxes was found on dry scree slopes at high elevations; it was known previously from only a few spots ranging from Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. Smelowskia calycina was found at 1800 m near Russell Glacier; it was previously known only from the Arctic. Oxytropis arctica was collected at 1800 m on Observation Mountain; this is a southern extension of an arctic plant. Androsace alaskana was found on Observation Mountain in the Yukon; this was only the second description of this plant from the Yukon. Polemonium boreale was found at high elevations; it was previously known from widely scattered sites in Alaska and the Yukon.

Notes on the alpine flora of the St Elias Mountains

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