454 Mr Philip Sewell o^i ^Ae i^ora o/ [sess. liii. 



portion of the phints are those which are able thus to re- 

 treat into the smallest possible compass before the long 

 winter sets in. It is, however, worth notice that it is 

 not those plants which inhabit the valleys, and are there- 

 fore protected by the early snow, but those frequenting the 

 exposed wind-swept slopes, that are characteristic of the 

 country. 



At Vads0, on the northern shores of the Varanger Fiord, 

 was a more extensive tract of marsh-land than at the other 

 stations, which yielded distinctively Viola jpalustris, Sedum 

 palustre, Oxycocciis palustris, Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum, 

 Myosotis sylvatica, Salix lappo7iu7ii, Toficldia, also Pyrola 

 sccuiida and Linncea borealis. 



Lycopodia were more abundant than elsewhere. Salix sps. 

 grew in considerable numbers in a sheltered valley, where 

 also were Spirma Ulmaria, Geranium sylvaticum, and Trollius 

 in great profusion. There were no trees, except a few 

 birch in one of the small gardens, Pyrus Aucupiaria and (a 

 sp. of Pinus ?)-. We heard that they were plentiful on the 

 south side of the Varanger Fiord, where the mountains of 

 liussiau Lapland afford a rich field for the botanist. Pole- 

 monium cairuleum, var. grandifiorum., and Arenaria laterijiora, 

 were sent from this locality by Miss Clarke, an accomplished 

 local botanist. 



As is to expected, there are several plants common to 

 Lapland which were absent from the flora of the islands of 

 Vard0, the reason for which may be seen, not so much in its 

 separation from the mainland, as in its restricted area. The 

 straits which cut it oil' from the mainland are not a couple 

 of miles in width, and it would be easy for seeds to be 

 blown or washed across; but the limited area of the islands 

 does not allow of any extensive peat-bogs, nor are there the 

 exposed slopes which were noticed at K0lle and Vads0, as the 

 home of D'ia'pensia, Bdida, &c. 



The commonest of tliese plants absent from Vardv?^ are 

 enumerated below ; they are perhaps absent mostly from 

 lack of marsh-land or sheltered places: — 



Trollius curopseus. 

 Gfium rivalc. 

 KuVnis saxatilis. 

 Alclioniilla alpinu. 

 Ilieraciuiii .sy«. 



( )xycoccus pahistris. 

 Andromeda polifolia. 

 l^yrola sps. 

 Veronica al])ina. 

 Bartsia alpiuu. 



