in the extreme North. 97 



three Tliuias, two from the Ice fiord and another [Thuites 

 Ehrensioiirdi^ Heer) from Kinijj's Bay (in 79° N. lat.), and, 

 lastly, ten species of pines and firs. It is to be observed tliat 

 of these last we do not find any branehes, but only isolated 

 needles and seeds. The latter are furnished with wings, so 

 that the wind would carry them easily. The trees therefore 

 grew at some distance from the lake, forming a forest which 

 covered the hills, from which a few seeds reached the lake. 



Altliougli Conifers predominated at Spitzbergen, leafy trees 

 were by no means wanting. Two species of poplars {Pojyulus 

 arctlca and P. liichardsoni) present characters which agree 

 with those of the species found in Greenland ; they were very 

 widely spread, and may be traced from Bell Sound to King's 

 Bay. They probably grew in the marshes or on the banks of 

 the rivers with the birches, alders, and Nyssce [N. Eckmanni), 

 whilst a plane tree with large leaves, a lime tree, and two 

 species of oaks, the leaves of which alone have reached us, no 

 doubt composed the forests of the drier soils. Over these trees 

 climbed the same ivy [Iledera M' Clurii, Heer) which we have 

 indicated in Greenland and on the Mackenzie ; among the 

 shrubs, besides those which have already been mentioned, we 

 find a hazel [Corylus M^ Quarrii) which is spread over the 

 whole arctic zone, a dogwood, and a buckthorn. 



We know in all, up to the present time, forty species of 

 trees and shrubs from Spitzbergen, coming from a zone com- 

 prised between 78° and 79° of north latitude. To these must 

 be added numerous herbaceous plants — Gramineae, Cyperaceje, 

 Najadca^., Polygonete, Alismaccfe, Nympha3acefe, Ferns [Adi- 

 antites Dicksom, Sijihonoj^teris Blomstrandi, Heer), and horse- 

 tails {Equisctinn arcticum). Thus we find on the shores of 

 the lake of Spitzbergen the remains of a varied vegetation 

 which differs completely from that which, in our days, endea- 

 vours to clothe with a scanty mantle the few patches of ground 

 left uncovered by the ice. Formerly, therefore, a luxuriant 

 vegetation of leafy trees and conifers adorned this country, 

 which is now covered by unlimited glaciers ; and this is 

 certainly one of the most remarkable facts, for the knowledge 

 of Avhich we are indebted to the Swedish expedition. 



Insects were not wanting in this forest : I already know 

 ten species the characters of which arc perfectly in accordance 

 with the flora. 



The largest and commonest trees of Spitzlxirgcn also flou- 

 rished in Greenland. 'JMiis fact renders it very probable that 

 Spitzbergen was formerly united to Greenland. As the flora 

 of the latter country is only known by discoveries made upon 

 the western coast, we can liardly doubt that these common 



