10 



As a rule the fruit ripens; this is at least the case in the 

 most southernly and the central parts of West Greenland. The 

 capsule has septicidal dehiscence; the valves open from the 

 base towards the apex and persist, this should be connected 

 with the fact that the capsule is inverted and nods on the 

 curving stalk (Fig. 3). 



Rhododendron lapponicum Wahlbg. 



Warming, 1885, p. 185, fig. 1 1 ; p. 205. Abromeit, 1899, pp. 49, 

 51. Skottsberg, 1901, p. 15. Dusén, 1901, p. 42. Hagldnd, 1905, 

 p. 18. Sylvén, 1906, p. 133. 



Material from Greenland and Finmark. 



A dwarf shrub, as much as 20 — 25 cm. high; the irre- 

 gularly branching stems are often much curved. It may also 

 occur as an espalier-like shrub, closely pressed to the ground; 

 in the latter case a great number of dormant buds develop 

 from the axils of the lower leaves, due to the fact that many 

 of the branches die at their apex (Haglund). 



The primary root is strong, often thick and irregularly 

 curved. Slender adventitious roots may arise on damp soil, 

 but very sparingly, and the stems do not appear to produce 

 offshoots. 



The year's growths are short (from 1 to 3 cm.) and have 

 a few (only as many as 8) closely set leaves (Fig. 6 E). The 

 buds are protected by a few arched scale-leaves (Fig. 4); the 

 bud-scars and the limits of each year's growth are distinctly 

 marked. The leaves have been observed to come out in June- 

 August. 



According to Hagldnd the primary shoot lives for a few 

 years and then dies down, and new shoots arise from its base. 

 The branches live 3 — 4 or more years in a vegetative condi- 

 tion before they flower. They branch but sparingly. 



The foliage-leaves remain green on the branches some 

 two years and then fall Those of the last year are fresher 



