947 



Rannnciiliis flammiila, Jiinciis siipimis and .7. lampocarpus, Sphagim, 

 Amblystegium scorpioides and many others. This plant-association 

 forms a transition to the boggy moors to be considered next. Yet 

 it merits independent recognition as one form of pioneer-vegetation 

 leading to the moor, because its two dominant species cannot be 

 regarded as ordinary moor-plants. Siniilarly the Heleocharis asso- 

 ciation is a nother form of pioneer-vegetation. 



The diflerence in the composition of those two associations is 

 caused by the difference in the soils of their habitats, but when 

 Ihe growth becomes denser, that is, as we approach the true moor- 

 formation, the difference disappears; thus starting from two points 

 we get one and the same result. 



g. The moor formation. 



The greater part of the Færoes under vegetation, is covered by 

 plant-formations on humous soils. A series of associations may 

 be drawn up according to the water-content, but as might naturally 

 be expected, these merge into each other by gradual transitions. 

 The weltest type is the swamp-formation already described, but its 

 extent is very limited in comparison with what I call the moor- 

 formation, and the heather-moor. The dry Calluna heath does not 

 occur at all, the nearest representative being better described as 

 the heather-moor. 



The moor formation of the lower parts of the country consists, 

 in my opinion, oftwo subdivisions, based on the degree of moisture 

 in the soil and the resultant difference in the piants present: 



a. The boggy sedge-moor association or Cyperace- 



Sphagniim association (Kær). 

 p. The grass-moor association or Gliimiflor-Hyloco- 



miiim association (Hedekær). 



In each case the second designation is used to indicate the most 

 characteristic phanerogams and mosses. The mosses play an im- 

 portant part in the Færoese plant-associations, particularly in those 

 occurring on humous soils. 



(a) The boggy sedge-moor association (Cyperace-Sphag- 

 num association) occurs especially in the numerous valleys of 

 the undulating landscape. Wherever one finds a distinct develop- 

 ment of low dome-shaped »roches moutonnées« or »Rundheller«, 

 there, in the depressions between, the boggy association is met with, 



Botany of the Kæroes. 61 



