The Flora of Disko Island and Adjacent Coast of West Greenland. 135 



XXXV. Vacciniaceae. 



I 235. Myrtillus uliginosa (L.) Drej. var. microphylla Lange. 



On heath-land, cliffs and barrens. 



Very common throughout the area. 



The widest distributed shrub in Greenland, horizontally as well 

 as vertically, without soiithern or northern limits. 



Abundantly flowering and fructificating. 



Often snow-less diiring winter. 



Locally, on favourable spots, especially on sunny rock-ledges or 

 in clefts with sufficient moisture in summer, a stouter, tall-leaved form: 

 var. pubescens (Horn) Lange occurs. It is always covered by thick 

 layers of snow in winter and late flowering, whereas var. microphyllum 

 is early flowering (Conf. Porsild: Medd. om Grønl. 50. p. 381 fig. 14 

 and p. 362 fig. 9). Perhaps there is a certain connection between the 

 late flowering and the snow covering. Another direct effect may be 

 that his form, at least in the northern parts of the area, but seldom 

 or never fructificates. 



The berries of var microphylla are very juicy and palatable and 

 are much coveted by Europeans in Greenland. Also the natives do 

 collect and eat them, but not to the same extent as those of Empetrum, 

 principally because they ripen before the frosts set in and are impos- 

 sible to keep in the natural state. 



A 236. Vaccinium Vitis Idaea L. var. minus Lodd. (Syn. 



V. piimilum Horn). 



On luxuriant heatli and not too wet mossbogs. 



Disko: Very rare, near Godhavn, 69°15', on a single spol, hardlv 10 m in dia- 

 meter between Lyngmarken and Østerdal (E. P.). "Disko", special locality not 

 mentioned, found by Margrete Krarup Smith, perhaps from the same spot. 

 South coast at Igpik, GO^IS' and Kvigssuaq, 69°20', on both piaces only a few speci- 

 niens (P.). — Diskofjord, according to the natives the plant is said to grow somewhere 

 near the mouth of the fjord, but nobody knows the locality now. 



Mainland: Jakobshavn, 69°13' (Pfaff.). South of the Icefjord rather common, 

 especially in the Sydostbugt (P.). Also common on the islands around and south 

 of Egedesminde as well as in the fjords on those latitudes (P.). Very common in 

 Nordre Strømfjord and in the fjords inland from Holsteinsborg (P. & E.). 



A so u them type principally occurring in the middle parts of 

 the west coast. In the southernmost parts of Greenland the occurrences 

 are scarce. North of our area the plant has several times been reported 

 in the literature, right to 76°, but all the reports want confirming and 

 until then Disko has to be considered the northern limit. 



The var. minus Lodd. is at the same time a western type, widely 



