us- 



^ 4 PEOCEE DINGS OF THE 



Mr. R. K. HoLTTUM spoke of tlie Flora of Greenland, illus- 

 trating Ins r.MMarks with a scries ot lantern-slides ; an abstract of 

 Ills remarks, supplied by the author, is appended :— 



The writer accompanied Professor A. C. Seward duvlncr the 

 summer of 19-21 on a visit to Disko Island and the nei-hbourin- 

 parts ot the west coast of Greenland. The lantern-slides exhibited 

 are from photographs taken on that expedition, and illustrate 

 some ot the vegetation types observed. The most widelv-si)read 

 vegetation consists of a low heath, the most important species 

 being hmpetrum ni;/rum, Cassiope Mraqona, and other ericaceous 

 plants. In specially protected localities a scrub of Salix ghmca 

 may be {oiiiid, which may reach eight feet in height, and accom- 

 panying this a luxuriant vegetation of herbaceous plants of southern 

 type. In unlavonrable situations the ground is not covered bv 

 the vegetation, which consists of isolated plants of resistant 

 herbaceous and woody speeies. The total flora of the whole of 

 Greenland consists of 416 species of vascular plants, of which 

 18 per cent, are high arctic in type, 22 per cent, widely distri- 

 buted, and 00 per cent, of southern type. The problem o*^ the 

 means of arrival of the last-named group after the Glacial period 

 18 an interesting one. 



Mr. JoHX Walton followed with remarks on the ecology of the 

 flora of Spitzbergen, as shown in his abstract, which follows :— 

 _ Erom the point of view of numbers of species, the richest flora 

 in ^pifzbergen occurs in those places where the nearest approach 

 to Continental conditions is found. Blvtt pointed out that arctic 

 plants tend to avoid an oceinic climate. The head of Klaas 

 BiUen Bay, one of the branches of the fiord, is situated near the 

 centre of W'est Spitsbergen, and is included in a small elliptical 

 area of about 5000 sq. kilometres, which Nathorst has shown to 

 contain 90 per cent, of the species of vascular plants occurring' in 

 Spitsbergen. The area around Bruce City, at the head of Waas 

 Billen Bay, can be divided roughlv into three vegetational zones ■— 

 Eaised Shingle Beach, Alluvial Land between mountain and 

 beach, and Scree Slopes. The land is rising relatively fast from 

 tliesea, and the development of the flora of Alluvial Land and 

 Raised Shingle Bench can be traced from initial stages in an 

 intertidal zone. This intertidal zone shows many points of 

 resemblance to the salt-marsh formation of lower latitudes. 



Prof. A. C. Seward, F.E.S., who communicated both papers 

 opened the discussion by remarking that his main object was the 

 collection of fossil plants. lie recommended Greeidand as a 

 summer resort, the only difficulty being getting there; and 

 referred to Dr. Porsild's work in establishing a scientific sWion 

 within the Arctic Circle. 



The President, Mr. E. G. Baker, Dr. J. \l. Leeson, ]\Ir. C E 

 Salmon, Mi- J. Bi.rtt-Davy, Mr. T. A. Sprague, Mr. T. A. Dymes,' 

 and Prof. I.E. Weiss, F.R.S., joined in the discussion, and the 

 authors replied. 



