118 H. MØLHOLM HANSEN 
number of chamaephytes attain a luxuriant development. The do- 
minant species are Betula nana, Empetrum nigrum, Salix glauca 
and herbacea, and Vaccinium uliginosum; in some snow patches one 
may likewise find Juniperus communis and Betula alpestris. All 
species attain a vigorous growth and form a dense mat of shrub- 
like vegetation. Beneath the chamaephytes there is a bottom layer 
formed of species like Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Carex 
rigida, Polygonum viviparum, Thalictrum alpinum, Galium Normanni, 
‚and a number of mo plants such as Thymus Serpyllum, Dryas oc- 
topetala, Silene acaulis, Armeria vulgaris, Juncus trifidus, Elyna Bel- 
lardi, Luzula spicata and several others. 
The Geranium silvaticum Belt. 
This formation initiates the snow patch vegetation proper. As 
stated above, it occurs on the steep sides of the large snow patches 
and in the smaller ones on slopes having a southern and western 
exposure. É 
H are considerably more dominant here than in the marginal 
zone whereas Ch are of minor importance. The most conspicuous 
plant is Geranium silvaticum (cf. fig. 25). Under this plant and mixed 
with it there occurs a dense vegetation of Ch and herbs: Vaccinium 
uliginosum, Salix herbacea, S. glauca, and S. phylicifolia, Empetrum 
nigrum, Polygonum viviparum, Thalictrum alpinum, Equisetum ar- 
vense, Carex rigida, Deschampsia flexuosa, Agrostis canina and A. te- 
nuis, Festuca rubra, Hierochloé odorata, Anthoxanthum odoralum, 
Phleum alpinum, Poa alpina, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acer, Viola 
palustris, Taraxacum officinale, Galium verum, Alchemilla alpina, and 
A. minor, and Sibbaldia procumbens. 
The table shows more precisely the quantitative distribution of 
the individual species. In the main the three localities examined 
by me are in accordance even though some few species deviate. 
The deviations probably express differences of environment, but the 
material is so small that there is no reason for a more detailed 
discussion, 
The Bottom Vegetation. 
Covering the bottom of the snow patch, below the Geranium 
belt and well marked off from it, there occurs a Salix glauca- 
Gnaphalium supinum formation. This formation is somewhat 
poorer in species than the Geranium belt above. The density of 
