postelsia 25 



this character are not of general distribution in 

 the region because conditions for xerophytism 

 are offered only by the more or less perpendicular 

 rocky ledges and by the sharply tilted strata, 

 between the crevices of which the water passes 

 quickly downwards and out of reach. Among 

 these chasmophytes, more or less well differ- 

 entiated associations are to be made out. 



Plantago society. This is made up prin- 

 cipally of Plantago maritlma (PL II.) although 

 Plantago major asiatica is occasionally 

 met with in this location. The thick narrow 

 leaves of Plantago maritima show the adaptation 

 of the plant to withstand dryness as well as the 

 impact of spray and strong winds. On slightly 

 less exposed places one meets with a gramineus 

 society. The few hardy species which figure 

 most prominently here are Hordeum boreale, 

 growing in considerable tufts in the crevices, 

 Festuca rubra haikalensis and Agrostis exarata. 

 Closely associated with these plants, and 

 growing under very similar conditions are 

 Potentllla villosa and Armeria vulgaris. All 

 these forms are able to maintain themselves in 



