SPITSBERGEN 617 



habitats in temperate and tropical regions. A second set of 

 adaptations, however, those developed as a result of the very 

 short summer, are not paralleled elsewhere, except, perhaps, in 

 Alpine regions. 



The first point in this connection is the well-known fact 

 that Arctic plants, such as occur in Spitsbergen, can grow much 

 more rapidly than can plants in temperate countries. The 

 development of the vegetation in Spitsbergen immediately the 

 snow disappears, and provided favourable conditions follow, 

 is extraordinarily rapid. This is partly due to actual capability 

 for quick growth, partly to the continuous daylight, which 

 allows uninterrupted assimilation of food, and partly to the 

 fact that everything is got ready beforehand, so to speak. On 

 examining individual specimens of many perennial plants in 

 Spitsbergen in October or May, it will be found that the flowers 

 for the coming season are already in existence. They are in 

 embryo, but are nevertheless perfect. All that is necessary 

 in spring is an enlargement of the various parts. As a result of 

 this the plant is able to produce flowers very early, without 

 first having to store up a large amount of constructive material. 

 This is so marked a feature in some species that one may find 

 flowers of, for example, the purple saxifrage fully out at a 

 distance of only a foot or so from the edge of the melting snow, 

 the snow having melted from over the plants just a few days 

 previously. Not less rapid is the production of seeds which 

 may be found at the end of July or even earlier in favoured 

 positions. This rapid development is without doubt much 

 helped by the continual daylight, but can also be traced to 

 some intrinsic quality of the plant. Tentative experiments 

 seem to indicate that the same species growing in lower latitudes 

 are not endowed with equal capabilities. 



In Great Britain and similar countries it is a commonplace 

 that the development of insects and the development of flowers 

 are closely bound up with one another. Many flowers in this 

 country depend on insects for their fertilisation. In Spits- 

 bergen, however, there are practically no insects ; as far as can 

 be ascertained, none which is necessary for the fertilisation of 

 the flowering plants. Flies may sometimes be seen on the 

 purple saxifrage, otherwise insect visitors are extremely un- 

 common. Yet fruit is produced in abundance, as has been 

 noted on many occasions. The only satisfactory solution to 

 this problem is self-pollination ; this is one of the means adopted 

 by the plants in Spitsbergen in order to make up for the lack 

 of insect life. Much research has shown that the majority of 

 the plants are self-pollinated. Many have modified the usual 

 order of development of the organs of the flower for this 

 purpose. Another interesting point is that in some cases pol- 



