Polystichum lonchitis in Central Quebec: Labrador

Abstract

North American distribution maps for the Northern Holly Fern, Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth, show a disjunct range from alpine areas in the western United States and Canada to the northern Great Lakes region, the Gaspe Peninsula, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Greenland (Fernald, 1935; Hulten, 1958, 1968; Wagner, 1979). One isolated station at Richmond Gulf on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay (Rousseau, 1974; Payette & Lepage, 1977) links the northern range of this species in Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta with its distribution on the coast of Greenland. Rouleau (1956) reported P. lonchitis from Labrador but without locality data or specimen citation. Since a specimen has never been located to verify this report, the occurrence of the Northern Holly Fern in Labrador has been considered doubtful (Rousseau, 1974; Payette & Lepage, 1977) links the northern range of this species in Grenfell-Forbes Northern Labrador Expedition of 1931, noted that Rev. Hettasch had seen P. lonchitis growing on Ogualik Island (Cod Island) on the Labrador coast (57?47'N, 61?47'W) but had not collected it. This brief mention may have been the basis for Rouleau's including it in his list for Labrador. Our recent collections from the Schefferville region (Lei s. n., 20 July 1980, MTMG; Waterway 2140, 30 July 1981, MTMG, CAN) confirm the presence of P. lonchitis in the central interior of the Quebec-Labrador peninsula. In 1980, a specimen was collected from a population of about ten to fifteen individuals growing on a protected, east-facing slope of Geren Mountain in the saddle between Geren Mountain and Sunny Mountain (55?04'N, 67?14'W). The plants were small (10-15 fronds each) and separated from one another by distances of about 0.5 m. Phegopteris connectilis, Carex scirpoidea, Salix vestita and Anemone parviflora were observed at the same site.