42 



Vanhoffen, 1893: Frühlingsleben in Nordgrönland. (Verhandl. der Gesellsch. 

 für Erdkunde zu Berlin, Nr. 8 und 9.) 



Warming, E , 1886: Om Bygningen og den formodede Bestøvningsmaade af 

 nogle grønlandske Blomster. (Oversigt over d. k. danske Vid. Selsk. 

 Forhandlinger, Kjøbenhavn.) 

 ~ 1887: Om Grønlands Vegetation. (Meddelelser om Grønland XII, Kjø- 

 benhavn.) 



A. The Morphology and Biology. 



Diapensia lapponica is of decidedly cæspitose liabit, a 

 "cushion-plant" with a distinct primary root of long duration 

 (Figs. 1 and 2). Sylvén has given a description of its early 

 vegetative stages, from which it appears that the cotyledons, as 

 also the other leaves, are leathery and last for two years. 



The leaves are very closely set. The lateral branches are 

 formed, as far as 1 can see, without any definite order. In 

 the case of shoots terminating in flowers, vegetative shoots are 

 formed at the base of the floral shoot and sometimes there 

 are two opposite each other. 



The evergreen leaves are stiff and leathery in consistency; 

 and in form, somewhat oblong-elliptical and tapering towards 

 the base; they are sessile and half encompass the stem, and 

 are flat, but have the apex bent backward. The leaves are 

 functional for hardly more than two years. When they die, 

 they do not fall off, but remain for a long time on the stems 

 in the interior of the tufts. The form of the leaf varies some- 

 what according to the habitat. In individuals growing in the 

 damper and more shady localities, e. g. at Angakugsarfik on 

 Disco (PoRsiLD, 4650, "Shade-form submerged during spring"} 

 the leaves were somewhat longer than in the specimens growing 

 in decidedly dry soil. 



The buds have not any definite bud-scales, but they are 

 fairly well protected, being deeply hidden among the leaves. 



