THE FLORA OF SOUTH GREENLAND, 



BY SAMUEL P. ORTH. 



ON the bare rocks and bleak hills 

 of the far north everything that has 

 life is of peculiar interest. The 

 beauties of the Arctic flora can no- 

 where be surpassed in daintiness 

 and exquisite tintings. There is no 

 useless flaunting of colors or gaudi- 

 ness, but a pure, transparent tint 

 which brush cannot reproduce. 



There are several circumstances 

 which combine to make the floral 

 life of Greenland very interesting and 

 simple. The short summer makes 

 it necessary for all the species to bloom at one time, there 

 being practically no succession of flowers. The soil is shallow, 

 thus affording little opportunity for sprouting. The pure 

 atmosphere, free from dust, contributing so much to Arctic 

 landscape and sunset, tells also on the pure colors of the 

 flowers. The long day and very short night of the summer 

 make a double share of the sun's actinic rays possible to the 

 plants. This accounts for the rapid growth of vegetation. 

 All these circumstances create the beautiful delicate forms 

 which so surprised us all on our mountain climbings. 



Everywhere along the coast lichens and mosses share their 



hints with the landscape. The peculiar dull-red glow of the 



islands and rocks is caused by a moss-like fungus covering the 



ocks everywhere. Farther in the interior, lichens thrive 



