460 A. HESSELBO 



84. Grimmia patens (Dicks.) Br. eur. 



Dryptodon patens Brid., Limpr. 



E. Iceland: Hornafjordur!. W. Iceland: Budahraun H. J.)!; Hafnar- 

 fjordur !. 



In Budahraun it was growing in the clefts in the lava-field; near 

 Hafnarfjordur it was found in abundance associated with Orthotrichum 

 rupestre and 0. Sturmii on the face of a dolerite rock with a nor- 

 thern exposure. 



85. Grimmia funalis (Schwgr.) Sch. 



Widely distributed over the whole of Iceland. 



G. fanalis is by far the most frequent species of this genus. It 

 grows everywhere on dry rocks, especially on the vertical sides of ra- 

 vines and lava-clefts, where it forms immense cushions, often 56 cm. 

 deep, which very easily break up into pieces when loosened from the 

 substratum. The fruit, which occurs rather frequently, was not ripe 

 even in August. This species is most frequent up to about 300400 

 metres above sea-level, but often ascends, however, to somewhat above 

 500 metres, for instance near Akureyri. 



86. Grimmia torquata Hornsch. 



E. Iceland: Hornafjordur!, very common; Seydisfjordur !. X. Ice- 

 land: near Hrutafjordur (H. J.)!. NW. Iceland : Dynjandi!; Grunnavik!; 

 Arngerdareyri!. W. Iceland: Melar Grl.)!; Hafnarfjordur Grl.;!); Buda- 

 hraun (H. J.)!. Very common in SW. Iceland!. 



This species in very common in SE., S. and SW. Iceland, rather 

 rare in N. and XW. Iceland. It grows on dry rock-faces in ravines 

 and lava-clefts, but only sterile specimens have been found. 



Note. Grimmia puhnnata is enumerated in several older lists, but 

 these records are probably due to a confusion with other species. 



87. Rhacomitrium sudeticum (Funck) Br. eur. 

 Grimmia microcarpa (Gmel.) Lindb. 



Common over the whole of Iceland. 



In many parts of Iceland R. sudeticum is one of the most frequent 

 species, being found from the sea-level up to the gravelly flats of 

 mountain heights. It is most widely distributed in NW. Iceland and 

 along several fjords in E. Iceland, for instance Seydisfjordur, while it 

 appears to occur less abundantly in N. Iceland. It grows on rather dry 

 rocks and blocks of lava, in clefts, and on wet stones in and by streams. 

 In mountain heights, especially in XW. Iceland, it forms the bulk of the 

 vegetation on gravelly flats from about 300 metres upwards. 



It varies considerably in size, habit, colour and length of hair 

 point. On wet rocks it becomes very large, and almost black, with 

 very short hair point, while the forms growing on dry rocks are as a 

 rule very low in growth and slender, often occurring in small round, 

 compact tufts, blackish green or brownish red in colour, with longer 



