126 THE JOUltNAL OF BOTANY 



Enipctrum nigrum, Casslope fetragona^ and other ericaceous plants. 

 In specially protected localities a scrub of Salijo glaaca may be 

 found, which m:iy reach eight feet in height, and accompanying this 

 a luxuriant vegetation of herbaceous plants of southern type. In 

 unfavourable situations the ground is not covered by the vegetation, 

 which consists of isolated plants of resistant herbaceous and woody 

 species. The total Hora of the whole of Grreenland consists of 416 

 species of vascular plants, of which 18 per cent, are high arctic 

 in type, 22 per cent, widely distributed, and 60 per cent, of southern 

 type. The problem of the means of arrival of the last-named group 

 after the glacial period is an interesting one. Mr. John Walton 

 followed with remarks on the ecology of the flora of Spitzbergen. 

 From the point of view of numbers of species, the richest flora in 

 Spitzbergen occurs in those places where the nearest approach to 

 continental conditions is found. Blytt pointed out that arctic plants 

 tend to avoid an oceanic climate. The head of Klaas Billen Bay, one 

 of the branches of the fiord, is situated near the centre of West 

 Spitzbergen, and is included in a small elliptical area of about 

 501)0 sc|. kilometres, which Natliorst has shown to contain 90 percent. 

 of the species of vascular plants occurring in Spitzbergen. The area 

 around Brace City, at the head of Klaas Billen Bay, can be divided 

 roughly into three vegetational zones : — liaised Shingle Beach, 

 Alluvial Land between mountain and beach, and Scree Slopes. The 

 land is rising relatively fast from the sea, and the development of the 

 flora of Alluvial Land and Raised Shingle Beach can be traced 

 from initial stages in an intertidal zone. The intertidal zone shows 

 many points of resemblance to the salt-marsh formation of lower 

 latitudes. Both papers were illustrated by admirable lantern-slides 

 from photographs, showing some of the vegetation types observed. 

 An interesting discussion ensued, in the course of which the absence 

 of Legumiiioscs was commented on. Mr. Walton said that the reason 

 appeared to be that the summer temperature was rather low, ground 

 ice being found only 18 inches below the surface ; this having the 

 effect of preventing the existence of the bacteria that inhabit the 

 tubercles of leguminous plants. 



The publication or transmission of many of the parts of Das 

 PJlanzenreich having been held up during the War, it may be useful 

 to give a list of those which were received at the end of last month 

 by the Department of Botany, with the dates of publication as these 

 appear on the wrappers : — 



AracecB: Philodendroide?e, etc., A. Engler (Heft 61, 15 June, 

 1915) ; Aracese Colocasioidete, A. Engler & K. Krause (Heft 71, 

 14 May, 1920) ; Aroide^e et Pistioideie, A. Engler (Heft 73, 6 July, 

 1920) ; Pars generalis et Index, A. Engler (Heft 74, 9 July, 1920;. 



ComposltcB: Hieracium, K. H. Zahn (Heft 75, Feb. 4, 1921). 



CrucifercB '. Brassicea?, 0. E. Schulz (Heft 70, 30 Dec, 1919). 



CitcurhitacecB : Fevillese et Melothriese, A. Cogniaux (Heft 66, 

 26 Sept., 1916). 



DaphniphgllacecB: K. Rosenthal (Heft 68, 6 June, 1919). 



Eitpliurblace(£ : Acalypheai-MercurialineDe, 63, F. Pax (Heft 63, 



