474 Fr. J. Mathiesen. 



and \Nåll evidently be easily touched by an insect visitor. 

 the anthers are placed immediately behind the stigma and, 

 on account of the stretched-out position of the llower, partly 

 above it, so that self-polHnation will probably take place" 

 (E. Warming, 1890, p. 213). The same author describes a 

 flower from Spitzbergen with pelorial development. 



On Spitzbergen (formå dasyantha) Ekstam found the 

 end of the style to be rolled up (as in P. hirsuta, cf. Fig. 37), 

 so that the stigma is in contact with the anthers. In my 

 material I always found it to be protruding, as also shown 

 in the figure. 



Varieties with entirely white flowers may occur, but 

 they are very rare (M. Porsild, 1920). 



The species is fragrant (Ekstam and Warming). It sets 

 fruit everywhere abundantly and regularly, and also in Spitz- 

 bergen, where humble-bees, its natural poHinators, are want- 

 ing (Aurivillius); according to information given by M. 

 Porsild, insect-visitors are rare in Greenland. Among the 

 Eskimos the plant is known for the abundance of honey 

 contained in its flowers; at Cape York its popular name is: 

 "The food of the humble-bees;" and children pick the flowers 

 and suck the honey out of them or even eat them entire 

 (Freuchen, I. c). 



During the end of the flowering-period, the axis of the 

 inflorescence elongates. 



Geographical Distribution. The species is common 

 in West Greenland, from Disco Bay and northwards. "In 

 N. Stromfjord it is restricted to alpine stations and northern 

 slopes and rather scarce (P & E). South of Holsteinsborg 

 observed several times down to Itivdlinguaq, 66° 30' (P & E)" 

 (Porsild, 1920); from East Greenland it is totally absent 

 (Porsild, 1. c). It is also found in Arctic North America 

 (the continent and the islands), the western Subarctic North 



