PREFACE. 



IN 1898 I took part in the late Dr. K. J. V. Steenstrups expedition 

 to Disko Island, in which it was my task to study the vegetation 

 in the locaHties visited by us. In the report of my work (Porsild: 

 Bidrag 1902) an account was given, for instance p. 229 ff., of the 

 remarkably large southern flora-contingent which is found on the south 

 coast of this island. In 1902 I was dispatched again by the Committee 

 of Geological and Geographical Investigations of Greenland to study 

 the vegetation in the relatively less-known northern part of the island 

 which we did not reach the first time. The result of this journey was 

 proportionately larger owing to my somewhat larger practice and ex- 

 perience, but, nevertheless, it did not modify my impression of South 

 Disko's remarkable floristic peculiarities. 



In the following years the results were revised, and in 1905 the 

 report was finished and might have been delivered to the Committee 

 for publication. But then the preparations for the establishment of 

 the Danish Arctic Station on Disko intervened, and, in 1906, when 

 the station was guaranteed, I wanted to take the finished MS. with 

 me to Greenland to supplement it further during my intended stay 

 there. The Committee most kindly agreed to this for which I here offer 

 my sincerest acknowledgement. 



Although South Disko, especially the- vicinity of Godhavn where 

 I am living at present, is botanically by far the best known locality 

 in Greenland, it became apparent all the same, that it still ofTered fresh 

 opportunities for research, and this circumstance by itseif naturally 

 suggested to me that the adjacent parts of West Greenland might 

 want a further investigation before the floristic characters, which 

 distinguishes them from Disko, were defined more precisely. I have 

 therefore used what time I could spare from other work in the sum- 

 mers of 1906 — 1918 in such investigations, partly in the island of Disko, 

 partly on the main land to the north and south of Disko. About some 

 of these investigations (Hare 0, the South- and West coast of the Niigs- 



