ON THE BOTANY AND ENTOMOLOGY OF ICELAND. 215 
as the Archangelica Islandica (Icel. Hvorm), and their growth 
and uses. Page 176 of his book also contains an interesting 
record of how Iceland was once wooded, from the sea to 
the mountains, or inner plateau, in ancient days, and how 
the forests were destroyed by fire, as well as of the present 
aspect of its woods, and size attained by the trees. I have 
ventured to transcribe his list of native simples as not a 
lengthy one: “The simples collected for use are the Holta- 
rot (Silene acaulis or moss campion), the Alchemilla or 
Burnet, a Sanguisorb; the Geldinga-rot (Statice armeria), 
the speedwell (Veronica officinalis), and various gentians. 
The ‘“ptarmigan-leaf” or mountam-avens. Dryas octo- 
petala, the Holta-Sdley of older travellers, and the modern 
Rjupa-lyug) makes a tea good for jaundice; the root also is 
eaten. The half digested flowers of the bleberry (Vaccinium 
myrtillus) and the bog whortle (vaccinium uliginosum) are 
taken from the ptarmigan’s crop to make ptisane. The 
reindeer moss (Cenomyce rangiferina) a small pale-green 
species with hollow stem, is gathered for sheep feeding, 
The wild geranium also produces blue tint, of old called 
Odin’s dye. 
List or Prants noticed in Iceland by Dr. Sraupincer in 1856 
(76 kinds). 
Vaccinium uliginosum. Draba verna. 
Silene acaulis. Juniperus nana. 
Caltha palustris. Epilobium alpinum 
Elymus arenarius. * origanifolium 
Betula humilis. i latifolium. 
nana. Thalictrum aipinum 
Salix arbuscula. Geranium sylvaticum. 
herbacea. Sedum acre. 
Rhodiola rosea. 
Epilobium palustre. 
Calluna vulgaris. 
Arbutus uva-ursi. 
Empetrum nigrum. 
Aralea procumbens. 
Eriophoron capitatum. 
”” 
Comarum palustre. 
Geum rivale. 
Sauguisorba officinalis. 
Pinguicula communis. 
Viola canina. 
—- palustris. 
Myosotis sylvatica. 
Cardamine pratensis. 
Leontodon Taraxacon. 
Hieracium Schmidtii. 
angustifolium. 
Dryas octopetala. 
Rubus saxatilis. 
Fragaria vesca. 
Armeria maritima. 
Thymus serpyllum. 
Menyanthes trifoliata, 
Cerastium. 
Galium. 
Gentiana. 
Parnassia palustris. 
Plantago maritima. 
» latifolia. 
Potentilla anserina. 
Trifolium repens. 
