78 H. MØLHOLM HANSEN 
centages, while the A1 species are practically absent. In the E sub- 
groups the peculiarity appears in the fact that the decrease comes 
especially under E 2 and likewise in no small degree under the E 4 
species, while the E 3 percentage is considerably higher than in the 
surrounding types of vegetation, mo and jadar or myri. Both the 
localities examined, the south country as well as the north country, 
show the same deviation from the adjacent types of vegetation with 
regard to the species group spectra. The flag vegetation is thus 
characterised by comparatively high A3, A2, and E3 
percentages, and by comparatively low Al, E4, and E2 
percentages. 
As regards the distribution of the flag vegelation it may be said 
that in Iceland it seems to be peculiar to the lowlands alone. Per- 
sonally I have sought the flag vegetation in vain in the highland 
tracts of South Iceland (Lyngdalsheidi), of Arnarvatnsheidi and Holta- 
vorduheidi (Tvidägra). Magister Palmi Hannesson, who has ex- 
plored the highlands for a number of years, has informed me orally 
that a flag vegetation has never been observed here. Helgi Jöns- 
son refers the clayey flats (i.e. the flag vegetation) to the “open 
vegetation of the lowlands” (it is not mentioned that they only occur 
in the lowlands). If we may infer from this that the clayey flats have 
not been seen by Helgi Jonsson in the highlands, all observations 
would seem to indicate that the flag vegetation is limited to the lowlands. 
In Iceland the flag vegetation has been observed in all parts 
of the country. As mentioned above, H. Jönsson has described it 
from East Iceland, South Iceland, and South-West Iceland. On my 
journey in the summer of 1925 I observed flag vegetation in the 
south country (at the foot of Lyngdalsheidi) in the south-west country 
(Norötunga in Borgarfjöröur), and in the north country (Lækjamôt 
in Vididalur). According to the oral communication of Mr. Jacob 
Lindal, the farmer at Lækjamét, who has travelled through the 
north country as consulting agriculturalist for a number of years, 
the flag vegetation is of common occurrence throughout this part. 
Judging from the literature, the flag vegetation seems to be 
peculiar to Iceland. I have not been able to find in the phyto- 
geographical literature on the surrounding countries any record of 
types of vegetation which may be compared with or referred to 
the flag vegetation in its typical form. 
Hence the flag vegetation seems to be a type of ve- 
getation peculiar to the Icelandic lowlands. 
