VII. DIFFERENCES IN THE VEGETATION IN EAST 



AND SOUTH ICELAND. 



East Iceland and South Iceland - - at the south-eastern corner of the 

 island, at about the stretch of coast from Vestrahorn to Eystra- 

 horn are divided by a rather sharp boundary both as regards the 

 hydrography and the composition of the vegetation , as has been 

 mentioned above. On the other hand, E. Iceland is connected with 

 S. Iceland by a large transitional area (see p. 67) which stretches 

 further along the north and north-west coasts and a part of SW. 

 Iceland. The difference as regards the vegetation is therefore greatest 

 between E. Iceland and S. Iceland; so it is these coastal districts 

 which will exclusisely or almost exclusively be treated of in this 

 part of the present paper. 



Where a great floristic difference exists between the different 

 parts of the coast as, for instance, between E. Iceland and S. Ice- 

 land 1 (see Part III) it is to be expected that there will be differences 

 in the vegetation, more especially as some of the species which are 

 not common to all the coastal districts grow socially and form 

 associations. The majority of the communities and the associations 

 are however common to all the districts and are somewhat similar 

 in appearance, as is also seen from the above description (Part VI), 

 where the differences are alwavs mentioned. 



9f 



As regards the communities and associations common to both 

 districts it is enough to refer to the above description. Here, only 

 those communities and associations will be mentioned which are 

 found in the one district but are absent from the other. 



1 The greater part of the coast of S. Iceland is a sandy coast or a barren 

 "desert;" 1 in this part of the present paper, by S. Iceland is meant only that part 

 of the coast where vegetation occurs the Vestmannaeyjar and the stretch of 

 coast from Reykjanes in the direction of Thjorsa or somewhat more to the east 

 than Stokkseyri. 



