TIIK BUYOPHVTA Ol' K.ELAND 587 



or ollier species Ihe Ibllowing werc obseived: Pohlia nntans, P. 

 criida, Bnjum cæspiticium, B. affine, Jkirtramia ilijphijlla, Pohjtrkbiim 

 (ilpiimm, P.jiiniperiirum, Distichimn montaniim , Dilrichnm flexicaule, 

 Sæhmia cæsia, Tortilla siibnlala, T. riiralis, Dicrauiim scoparium, 

 Plilidiuin ciliare, Lophozia hjcopodioides, L. (jiiinqnedentata, Frnllania 

 Taniarisci and Scapania ciirta. 



Birch coppice in Kaldalon (NW. Iceland). The soiilh-west- 

 ein sloi)e was covered wilh a Io\v-gro\ving and very dense birch 

 coppice with a ground vegetation of nunicrons flowering piants 

 {Geranium silualiciim, Barlsia alpina, Taraxaciim, elc.) and a Bryo- 

 |)hyte carpet of Hijlocomium prolifernm, H. parietinum, H. s(piarrosum 

 and Hijpniim iincinatiim intermixed \vith Dicranum scopariiini, I). 

 fnscescens, Pogonatiim urnigerum, Polijtrichuin alpinum, Lophozia hj- 

 copodioides, L. (piinquedentala, L. Flwrckei, L. ventricosa , Cephalozia 

 biciispidala and C. pleniceps. In open spots Pohlia niitans was veiy 

 conimon, and Pohjtrichnm gracile occurred freqnently on knoils on 

 the lloor of the coppice. 



Of a siniilar coniposition is the moss carpet of all Ihe coppices 

 of NW. Iceland. In several spots Dicranum majiis and Hylocomium 

 triqiietrum also occnrred. 



Br3'0})hyta of Soil recenlly laid bare. On slopes, on 

 the sides of clefts, on soil covered rock-ledges and, on the whole, 

 in all i)laces where by weathering, by land-slips or by the action 

 of water new soil is prodnced, which has not yet become inhabited 

 by higher piants, a Inxuriant Bryo[)hyte vegetation occurs, \vhich 

 C. Jensen (1910, p. 258) inclndes in a gronp within the mesophi- 

 lous associations, under the name "Moosvereine des frischen Erd- 

 bodens". A nuniber of species are liere met with, especially of the 

 commonly occurring mesophilous forms, but also, several species 

 belonging to damp sandy soil and to rocks. It is especially liver- 

 worts and the acrocarpous mosses which are represented liere, 

 while the pleurocarpous mosscs occur but scantily. It is a con- 

 dition for the growth of mosses that there is an abundant snow- 

 covcring during winter, which afibrds them prolection from de- 

 siccation by wind. 



The com])osition of the moss-covering varies greath' according 

 to the [)revailing degrce of humidity, and the local conditions. 



In sucli localilies as those mentioned abovc the following 

 Hcpaticæ occur: — Aneura pinguis, Marchantia pohjmorpha, Gijm- 

 nomitriiun concinnatiim , Aliciilaria scalaris, A. geoscgpha, Lophozia 



38* 



