The Flora of Greenland and its Origin. 25 



S. Sub-arctic and boreal species, i. e. those having 

 their main area of distribution outside (south of) the 

 arctic regions; sonie of these get along very well in 

 the arctic regions (which is probably connected with 

 the faet that they consist, properly speaking, of several 

 minor specific units); others are found only on the most 

 favourable sites of Greenland. For the purpose of our 

 present task, this type, properly consisting of several, 

 may be taken as one, and can also be termed the 

 "southern element". (Porsild, for instance, uses this 

 term). 



We shall now, in the following pages, show what can 

 be deduced from Table II in regard to the distribution 

 of the flora in Greenland according to districts; to their 

 alterations with latitude; indications as to manner of immi- 

 gration, etc. 



VI. The Abundance of Species on the West Coast. 



Table II shows convincingly that the West Coast of 

 Greenland is far richer in number of species than the East 

 Coast. The South District (I) which, as will be noted, also 

 extends a short distance along the east coast, contains the 

 greatest number of species of any district, viz. 263. This 

 is due to several causes. P'irstly, its southerly situation, and 

 further, the relatively large extent of ice-free country, with 

 long and sheltered fjords, and ftnally, the ancient Norse 

 colonisation. No fewer than 46 out of the 50 piants or there- 

 about noted on pp. 17 — 19 as introduced by the Norsemen, 

 are found in this district. Proceeding from this south district 

 northward along the west coast, the number of species 

 decreases fairly regularly, though the number in W. IV 



I 



