688 ZONES AND REGIONS [Pt. Ill, Sect. Ill 



us splendidly for bedding. The longer haulms were i| feet high, there would have 

 been work for the scythe. . . . 



' But the most luxuriant oases of the extreme north are found on slopes sheltered 

 from the influence of cutting winds, and meeting the sun's rays at right angles, 

 especially when there are present steep fertile banks freely proffering the virgin 

 wealth of their soil, which, owing to its black colour, absorbs the sun's rays still more 

 completely. 



' Even on these steep banks the grasses occur only in isolated patches and tufts, 

 and we look in vain for a continuous sward familiar to us at home ; but so much the 

 more surprised are we at the beautiful tints, as well as the wealth of form of the 

 individual flowers, which rise from the dark ground. Viewed from above, we 

 frequently see more flowers than leaves on the plants. Here are displayed Sieversia 

 glacialis, Ranunculi, Caltha palustris, Potentillae and dandelions with their luxuriant 

 bright yellow flowers, Saussurea alpina with its large blue blossoms, raised above 

 the juicy foliage, or the blue Polemonium humile and the forget-me-not. Here is 

 a parade of finely divided rosy species of Oxytropis, and of species of Pedicularis 

 with their variously tinted beautifully shapen flowers. Here again, the fresh delicate 

 enamel of yellow, blue, purple, and white Saxifragae, and the red capitula of Armeria 

 artica ; there again, Polygonum Bistorta or the lovely compound forms of Matricaria 

 inodora, var. phaeocephala ; here, Erigeron uniflorus and other Compositae, there, 

 the luxuriant alpine poppy (Papaver nudicaule) ; here, the extremely beautiful 

 Delphinium Middendorffii, the large Senecio palustris with its flowers an inch 

 across, and up to 40 in number. . . .' 



Greenland possesses a number of formations the differences between which 

 are determined partly by climatic, partly by local factors. A distinction 

 first arises between the southern sub-arctic point and the more northern 

 truly arctic parts. The extreme south of Greenland possesses birch-thickets 

 attaining a height of ten feet, and chiefly composed of Betula odorata, var. 

 tortuosa, and B. intermedia. As accessory constituents they contain : Sorbus 

 americana, Alnus ovata, var. repens, Juniperus communis, var. nana, Salix 

 glauca and S. myrsinites. 



In the more northern latitudes of Greenland, even at 68° N., there appear 

 thickets of Salix glauca as high as a man, which on the black, moist soil, 

 especially near brooks, support a vigorous herbaceous flora (Archangelica, 

 Alchemilla vulgaris). At Upernivik (about 73° N.) these thickets are only 

 two feet high. 



A greater part of Southern and Central Greenland is occupied by Warm- 

 ing's ' heath- formation,' which I prefer to style dwarf -shrub- tundra, for its 

 oecological character is much more influenced by the climate than in 

 temperate latitudes. The vegetation consists of evergreen shrubs, about 

 six inches high, with leaves that are small and tough, especially Empetrum 

 nigrum, also Cassiope tetragona ; also of herbaceous perennials, for instance 

 Pyrola grandiflora, mosses, and lichens. The dry sandy soil is always visible 

 between the individual plants. 



