Lichens from Baffin Island

Abstract

During the expedition the author had ample opportunity to make careful studies of the lichen flora at some of the above localities. This was especially desirable since Baffin Island, which itself forms the major land mass of the Canadian Eastern Arctic, has been virtually the last remaining, terra incognita of lichenology in the arctic. A review of the history of lichen exploration in the area, already covered fully by Lynge (in Polunin, 1947), will show at once that a lichenologist has never visited the island. In fact our knowledge of its flora before 1934 rested on incidental collections of less than 60 of the commonest arctic species, often identified by amateurs. During 1934 and 1936 Dr. Nicholas Polunin investigated a number of stations on Baflin Island and in spite of other botanical duties returned with a surprisingly large number of lichens, subsequently identified by Lynge, who was the foremost authority on the arctic lichen flora. These collections, however, were made chiefly at the well traveled coastal stations and included with few exceptions the more common arctic species. The author was fortunate in revisiting most of these areas and also in exploring several fiord heads, the interior of the island, and the Cape Searle bird cliffs. The number of critical lichen species collected must prompt us to reconsider the phytogeographical position of Baffin Island; indeed the diversity of species should place this neglected area among the most interesting of arctic regions. Lichenological research on Baffin Island has now provided us with a wor kable knowledge of the macrolichen flora. The microlichens are of course still incompletely known but appear representative for the area. The information accumulated thus far should form a suitable basis for a preliminary study of the lichen flora of Baflin Island, which will incluc1e the author's collections along with reports of specimens examined by Lynge (1932b, 1935, 1939; in Polunin, 1947). All other literature reports given by Lynge will be ignored since they have not been verified in recent times. Brief notes on the habitats of many species will be added, as the author considers this information of distinct value. Keys will also be constructed for the more completely represented genera.