366 Morten P. Porsild 



with the figure published by the former author as Fig. 2 on Plate II. 

 It is far lower in growth and more slender in its vegetative parts 

 than is the Aim cœspitosa which I know from the north coast of 

 Disco and which Ostenfeld (loc. cit., p. 13) also refers to Ledebour's 

 variety. On the other hand, a form which resembled the latter was 

 found in full flower at Sarfarssuit on Svartenhuk, 71° 42'. 



A. cœspitosa v. piimila Ledeb,, to judge from the few hitherto 

 known habitats, appears to be a very rare, high Arctic form. 



16. Dupontia Fischeri R. Br. Svartenhuk (Tartusag): 

 on the edge of pools. Igdlorssuit : formed the mass of the vegetation 

 in a bog developed in a lagoon near the inhabited place; there it 

 was growing with Carices, Eviophora, Ranunculus руд mams and others. 

 The soil was well manured with refuse from the houses, and the 

 Dupontia plants presented rather an unusual appearance. They were 

 altogether coarser, and were flowering richly; the lowermost panicle- 

 branches were protruding or else slightly pendant and the spikelets 

 were considerably larger than is customary. 



When growing in very damp soil Dupontia is usually sterile and 

 is then rather inconspicuous: it is especially easy to mistake it for 

 sterile Eviophora. This is perhaps the reason why it has been re- 

 corded from only a few places relatively. If we have an acquaintance 

 with its peculiar, yellowish-red tinge and the habitats favoured by 

 it, I am fairly certain we shall not search in vain for it in suitable 

 localities in West Greenland north of lat. TO''. There I know altoge- 

 ther eight habitats and six of these I myself found. 



Dupontia grows by preference in alluvial meadow-formations at 

 the mouths of rivers and along lagoons within the series of downs; 

 rarely is it found in bogs proper. I never came across it at any 

 distance from the shore, but always in localities where it was at 

 least occasionally reached by sea- water, and always with other 

 halophilous plants. True, the above-mentioned habitat at Tartusaq 

 is now never reached by the sea, but the locality was a raised 

 beach which showed crystallized common salt in several places, and 

 where several decided halophytes were thriving. Consequently , we 

 must believe that the species is a halophyte. 



17. Arctagrostis lati folia (R. Br.) Griseb. It was very 

 common in all the localities which I investigated, in bogs which 

 were not too wet, and on heaths. 



At the head of the fjords the plant attained a height of as much 

 as 80 cm.; there it was a character-plant of the luxuriant tracts of 

 heath. During flowering the top branches are spread out, and in 

 this condition the plant is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful 

 and stately of Arctic grasses. 



