LIFE IN THE ARCTIC 



a little difficult and devious, but still it is quite a possible 

 undertaking. It would be very interesting, for he would be 

 able to watch the cold and frost and chilliness of winter 

 disappearing as the sun's rays thaw out a greater and 

 greater extent of the cold and frozen North. 



The life of an Arctic plant is truly set in the midst of 

 many and great dangers. 



For 250 days the ground is hard frozen and the tem- 

 perature never above the freezing-point. About the end of 

 May it begins to rise a little, but the plant has to crowd the 

 whole of its life, its flowers, fruits, and seeds, into the space 

 of two months ! 



About the 23rd to the 29th June the first flower appears, 

 then follows strong, active growth in uninterrupted sunshine 

 during July and August. The flowers are brilliant in colour 

 and richly produced. The tiny dwarf Arctic plants are 

 covered all over with blue or golden yellow or white blossoms. 

 All is in full activity and luxuriance. Then suddenly, in a 

 night, the icy grasp of winter falls upon them. 



Hard-frozen flowers, buds, and ripening fruits remain 

 chilled and incapable of life from the 30th August until the 

 end of May. 



Of course, under such conditions, these hardy and vigorous 



little plants cannot become trees or shrubs. To show the 



effect of the climate upon them, a few British plants which 



are also Arctic may be compared. j j , 



Great Britain. Arctic Regions. 



Matweed {Matricaria inodora) . 6 in. to 1 ft. high 2 in. 



Goldenrod {Solidago virgaurea) . 1-2 ft. 3-4 in. 



Red Rattle {Pedicularis palustris) G in. to 1 ft. 2-8 in. 



Mugwort {Artemisia vulgaris) . 2 to 4 ft. 4-6 in. 



Willowherb {Epilobium palustris) 1 to 2 ft. 2 in. 



Grass of Parnassus {Parnassia 6 in. to 1 ft. 1 in. 

 paiuatris) 



102 



