POLAR REGIONS. 



21 



quisate of Brandenburg 2000; in Sweden la- 

 keland 553; in Lapland .I'M < * in Spitsbergen, 

 .in Scoresby found 47 specie* t; and in Mel- 

 ville Island, probably the coldest point of the globe, 

 Captain l'rry has only noticed 12 or I'.i > 

 among which the only hhrubby plant was fietitla nittni, 

 there a creeping vegetable, not rising two' inches from 

 the ground | Even in Lieutenant Franklin's* arduous 

 journey, which embraced a large portion of country 

 below the 6()th degree of latitude, and but a compara- 

 tively small track within the arctic circle, the number 

 of plants observed, only amounts to 66.3 species. 



tremnla, are early lost ; and near its upper boundary, 

 we trms tiie S'irbiix attciijiarui, Jtu/jtia arclicut, and com- 

 nion heath, Erica vulgaris; but the vegetation o: 

 C//M.V nlfjinut, and Acunitum tycoclwum, are very luxu- 

 riant, as well a of the Lichen tangiferinvt, or rein- 

 ()<-tr moss, on the drier Knots. At the upper limit of 

 this zone-, the Tussilago J'rigida, and PeJicu/arn tcep* 

 1 1 a in ctirodnum, dUappear. 



1th, The next zone contains brushwood, only on the 

 margins of the streamlets, or in bogs, consisting of. 

 Salix glnvca, and lit In/a nan ft, (which still retains its 

 erect posture) intermixed here and there with a few 



The physical distribution of vegetables has only of bushes of juniper and Snlix hastata. Every hillock is 



late years claimed due attention from the botanist, 

 though it offers one of the most striking peculiarities 

 "f iliraate; but the researches of Wahlenberg, of 

 Von Buch, and of Humboldt, have opened a noble field 

 t-> botanical investigation. The observations of Wah- 

 lenberg, on their physical distribution in Lapland, 

 forms so very complete a view of their general dis- 

 tribution in Arctic countries, that they may serve for a 

 general sketch of the gradual extinction of vegetable 

 life by approximation to the line of perpetual congela- 

 tion. It is well known, that, besides latitude, the ele- 

 vation of a country above the level of the sea, exerts a 

 most important influence on its climate, because the 

 limits of perpetual ice approach nearer and nearer to 

 the sea as we advance toward the pole. Hence the 

 Alpine regions of Lapland, to which Wahlenberg's 

 observations apply, afford a favourable station for 

 viewing the gradual influence of climate in circum- 

 scribing the Artie flora. He divides this district into 

 eight zones, each marked by peculiarities in its vege- 

 table productions. 



1st, On approaching the Lapland Alps, we arrive at 

 the line where the spruce fir (Pinus aiica) ceases to 



covered with Arbulus alpina, variegated with Andro- 

 meda ccerulta and Trienialis Eurnpcea, while the bogs 

 are ornamented with Andromeda polijb'ia and Pcdicola- 

 ris Lappo'iica. On the southern declivities we find 

 Veronica alpina, Vi<-la btflora, Pter'u crispa* and Ange- 

 lica archatiJclica. The upper branch of thii zone it 

 1400 feet below the line of perpetual snow. 



5th, In this region brushwood is no longer seen. 

 The woolly willow, Salix lannta, is not more tha% two 

 feet high, even in the most favourable situations; and 

 Salix myrsinitis is still less. Delula nana now only 

 creeps along the ground in the drier spots ; but the 

 hiDs are clothed with the humble, but vigorous vege- 

 tation of Azalea procnmbens, and Azalea Lapponica, 

 which impart a peculiar brownish hue to this zone. 

 Sheltered spots between the rocks, it is true, afford 

 specimens of Lychnis apelala, Erigeron uniftorum, and 

 Oplrys alpina ; and in bogs may be seen Aira alpina, 

 Carex nslnlata, and Vaccinum nliginosum; but the only 

 berries that here ripen are those of Empetrum nigrum, 

 which luxuriates in this region. This zone extends to 

 within 800 feet of the line of perpetual snow, and its 

 mean temperature = 34 Fahrenheit; a little above 



grow. It had previously assumed the appearance of this point we lose the Lichen rintgiferinus. 



a slender pole, beset with short drooping branches, of 

 a funereal hue. With the spruce fir, the Rosacii^namonea, 

 and Convollarin bijolia, had disappeared; and the borders 

 of the pools were stript of Arundo phragmites, Lysi- 

 inachia t/iyrsifolia, Galium boreale, and Curcx globularis. 

 This is the true region of Ttissilago nivea. The ex- 

 treme boundary of the spruce fir is 3200 below the 

 level of perennial snow, where the mean temperature 

 is 3T.5 Fahrenheit. 



2d, Region. Here the Scotch fir, (Pinus syhestris) 

 though diminished in size, is still found, with a low 

 stem and spreading branches; and here we lose 

 Ledum paluslre, Salix pentandr!a, Veronica scrpulifo- 

 lia. Near the extreme boundary of the Scotch fir, is 

 found Phaca alpina. Beyond this the fruit of Vacci- 

 nium myrlillus does not perfectly ripen: the upper 

 limit of this region is 2800 feet below the line of per- 

 petual snow, and has a mean temperature of 36 5'. 

 About 600 feet lower, barley, one of the most hardy of 

 the Cerealia ceases to ripen ; though the potato and 

 turnip are not too diminutive to afford a profitable 

 crop, almost to the extremity of this zone. 



3d, Beyond this the miniature forests consist of 

 stunted birch, (Beta/a alba) which soon becomes so low 

 as to be commanded from the most trifling eminence. 

 I is upper boundary, where it is not above five feet in 

 height, is 2000 feet below the line of perpetual snow. 

 In this zone the Alnus incana, Pruntis padus, Populus 



6th, This region is marked by patches of perennial 

 snow, the bare spaces between which are thinly sprink- 

 led with the dark vegetation of Empetrum nigrum, now 

 destitute of fruit; Andromeda tetragona, A. hypnoides, 

 and Diapensia Lapponica, a few southern slopes are 

 decorated with Gentiana tenctla, G. nivalis, Campanula 

 uniflora, and Draba alpina ; while the marshes afford 

 Pedicularis hirsula, P, jlammea, and Drya s oclopi tala. 

 The superior limit of this zone is 200 feet below the 

 line of perpetual and almost uninterrupted snows. 



7th, Beyond the last region the general covering of 

 snow is only interrupted by a few dark spots, occa- 

 sioned by reflected heat, where the spongy surface of 

 the "soil affords sustenance to Saxifraga slellaris, S. 

 opposilifolia, S. rivularis, Ranunculus nivalis, R. gla- 

 cialis, Rumex digynus, Juncus curvatus, and Silene acqu- 

 its. The mean temperature of this zone, which touches 

 the line of uninterrupted snow, is a little above 32" 

 Fahrenheit. 



8th, When some mass of dark rock occasions the 

 melting of the snow in a few points of this zone, a 

 few shoots of Ifanitnculits glacialis, and other similar 

 plants occasionally show themselves, even to the height 

 of 500 feet above the general line of perennial snow, 

 until the point of perpetual congelation arrests the 

 farther efforts of animated nature. The only living 

 creature found in this dreary region, is the snow bunt- 

 ing, Emberiza nivalis. 



* Fi'ora Lapponica. f sir die Regions. | Parry'* Voyage. 



% In this journey, Dr. Richardson, who was naturalist to the expedition, remarked the gradual extinction of sowe species of plant*, 

 and the diminution in the height of the trees as they advanced toward the shores of the Icy Sea; and they obse.ved no .trees above Lau 67* 

 30' N. in Long. 116 W. though they attained to latitude 68* 18'. 



