Comparisons with other areas
4. Draba lonchocarpa Rydb. var. lonchocarpa: This
species of whitlowgrass is known more typically from
The number of vascular plant species documented
locations south of the Alaska Range. It was found on
here for Fort Greely (497) is very similar to the 491
rocky outcrops at Donnelly Dome.
species described for Fort Wainwright (Racine et al.
5. Eriophorum russeolum Fries ex Hartman (rusty
1997). However, only about 65% of the species (~325)
cottongrass): Though Hulten records a limited interior
on Fort Greely also occur on Fort Wainwright. The re-
distribution for this species, it is known from an in-
maining 35% of the species (~170) found on Fort Greely
creasing number of sites. It was also found during the
do not occur on Fort Wainwright (marked with asterisk
Fort Wainwright inventory (Racine et al. 1997). It was
in Appendix A). At least two elements of the Fort Greely
collected by ABR biologists at site 117 near Gnat Lake,
flora account for these differences:
and also observed along the trail leading to site 12
Strictly alpine species found in the mountain sites of
(Granite Creek area).
6. Galium brandegei Gray: A small and easily over-
the Alaska Range on Fort Greely. The southern por-
looked bedstraw. It was found at the gravelly margin of
tion of Fort Greely encompasses mountains of the
Mark Lake (site 34). Its nearest location in Hulten
Alaska Range (mainly Donelly Dome and
(1968) is Fairbanks, and it was found at Fort Wain-
Moybdemum Ridge), some of which reach elevations
wright in the Yukon Maneuver Area (Racine et al.
of 1800 m (nearly 6000 ft). These mountains support
1997).
a wide variety of alpine communities that are miss-
7. Poa secunda J. Presl sensu Cody 1996: Includes
ing from the treeless alpine hilltops of the Yukon
P. nevadensis Vasey, P. ampla Merrill, P. stenantha, in
Maneuver Area at Fort Wainwright, whose highest
part, P. scabrella (Thurb.) Benth. and P. canbyi (Scribn.)
elevations are under 1000 m (3300 ft ). On Fort Wain-
Howell, most of which have restricted ranges in Alaska.
wright there are no scree slopes and fell fields, steep
A group in need of more work in Alaska, it was found
rock outcrops and snowmelt communities, common
in a young white spruce forest, near where it opened
at Fort Greely alpine sites. A large number of species
into tall willow scrub, at site 8.
are typical of Fort Greely alpine sites, but absent from
8. Potentilla virgulata A. Nels.: A cinquefoil that was
Fort Wainwright, and include Silene acaulis,
Thalictrum alpinum, Primula eximia, Draba sp., As-
also found during the Fort Wainwright survey. This
tragalus sp., Dryas sp., Papaver sp., Saxifraga sp.
collection represents another record that reduces the gap
(10 species), and Lloydia serotina.
between its northern and southern Alaskan ranges.
9. Polygonum pennsylvanicum L. ssp. oneillii
Floodplain species that occur on the well-developed
floodplains of the Delta River, Delta Creek, and Little
(Brenckle) Hulten: A small smartweed. It was mostly
Delta River. Only a small portion of the Tanana River
known from south of the Alaska Range and the
Fairbanks area, and was found consistently in the muddy
floodplain occurs on Fort Wainwright. Species in this
group include Minuartia dawsonensis, Salix
margin of ponds and lakes.
10. Primula cf. egaliksensis Wormsk. ex
setchelliana, and S. polaris.
Hornem.(Greenland primrose): Small rosettes of non-
farinose leaves, without flower stalks. It was found in
About 150 species occur on Fort Wainwright but not
wet sand on silty stream banks at sites 38 and 58 on the
on Fort Greely. These include several elements from
Delta River and appears to fit the description of this
habitats common on Fort Wainwright but absent on Fort
small primrose. If so, it represent a sizable range ex-
Greely:
tension.
11. Salix rotundifolia Trautv. ssp. dodgeana (Rydb.)
Aquatic and wetland habitats. These habitats are well
Argus: Although Hulten (1968) shows only two sta-
developed in the Tanana Flats and Chena River Low-
tions in the Northwest Territories for what he called
lands on Fort Wainwright. Here, extensive rich fens
Salix dodgeana Rydb., Argus (1973) recognizes it as a
and bogs occur as a result of groundwater discharge
subspecies of Salix rotundifolia and notes that it
and thermokarst (Racine and Walters 1994). Species
occurs sporadically throughout the range of ssp.
in this group belong to emergent and aquatic fami-
rotundifolia. It was found in sandy scree on Molybde-
lies such as the Alismataceae, Typhaceae, Urticaceae,
Lemnacea, Araceae, and Balsaminaceae. Species in-
num Ridge.
12. In addition, the alien species Achillea millefolium
clude Alisma trivale, Lysmachia thyrsiflora, Juncus
(sensu Hulten), Avena sativa, Gnaphalium uliginosum,
stygius, Sium sauve, Bidens cernua, Urtica dioica,
Rumex longifolius, Rumex maritimus ssp. fueginus, and
Carex leptalea, and Carex lasiocarpa, all found at
Rumex maritimus ssp. maritimus were large range ex-
Fort Wainwright, but not found at Fort Greely.
Disturbed and modified habitats. Many genera and
tensions.
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