Contributions to the Flora of West Greenland. 191 



in W. Greenland (about the 70th parallel) only 13, and in the whole 

 of West Greenland (from 60 — 80tli) 37 species occiir above the 

 1000 m. line. 



If then the snow-line in Scoresby Sound lies at a miich greater 

 height than on the W. Coast, it is only natural that arctic types of 

 piants should also range higher since the latest expeditions have shown 

 that vasciilar piants will thrive on icefree ground as far north as the 

 land extends towards the pole. It is more surprising to find that in 

 Scoresby Sound several piants, which in W. Greenland are southern 

 and lowland types, reach very considerable altitudes. In this group we 

 have: Carex Macloviana (625 m.); Juncus trifidus; Rumex acetosella; 

 Sagina Li?inaei; Viscaria alpina (all 785 m.); Arabis alpina (1255 m.); 

 A. Holboelli (940 m.); Draha aurea and Rhodiola rosea (785 m.); Arcto- 

 staphylos alpina (720 m.); Veronica fruticans (940 m.); and Pinguicula 

 viilgaris (625 m.), all of which are very rare in W. Greenland in the 

 neighbourhood of the 70th parallel on the mainland, and, even on South 

 Disko they are restricted to the most favourable stations in the lowland. 



Concliision. 



Of the two coasts of Greenland the west coast may safely be con- 

 sidered by far the best known both as regards the vegetation and the 

 general climate features. It may safely be assumed that the flora of 

 the Nordost Bugt requires a period of growth, at least from the end 

 of May to the end of September with a mean temperature in July from 

 6 — 8° C. for the coastal and inland districts respectively. 



As our present information on the flora of Scoresby Sound, at least 

 in the respect of the inland districts, rests on the observations of one 

 botanist only, made during one season and under most unfavourable 

 conditions, we may safely predict that further investigations will prove 

 that the flora is not poorer than that of the Nordost Bugt. 



This prediction is justified by the two considerations: 



1) the number of southern species known to occur in Scoresby Sound 

 is but one species less than in the Nordost Bugt; 



2) nearly all southern types in Scoresby Sound have a greater range 

 vertically. 



We may safely suppose that our present conception of the climatic 

 conditions of the Scoresby Sound region, resting upon one single series 

 of observations, is far from giving a correct idea. The flora of this 

 Eastern region proves, that the sum of the temperatures 

 from May to September cannot be less than in the Nordost 

 Bugt of West Greenland and that consequently the isotherm 

 for 8° C. of July probably reaches Scoresby Sound. 



