361 



In the reddish coloured carpet of the Glyceria shone 

 thousands of little white starflowers [Stellaria humifusa); here 

 and there low, dense, yellowish-green tufts of Carex ursina 

 rose above the carpet, the inflorescenses quite hidden in the 

 tufts. Carex subspathacea , this tiny inconspicuous Carex- 

 species, which has no doubt been often overlooked in Green- 

 land, was rather frequently intermingled between the Glyceria- 

 cover, especially in the immediate vicinity of the beach. 



In dry crevices in the basalt the Cochlearia grew very 

 tall and vigorous and displayed a surprising abundance of 

 flowers ; down in salt marsh it kept lower (3 — 5 cm). 



Around a small pool filled with algae and gnat worms — 

 abt. 25 m above the level of the sea — stood as mentioned 

 in the account of the voyage p. 164, a group of Esquimaux 

 houses ; on the ruins of the houses grew the same strandvege- 

 tation as everywhere else upon the island, only more luxu- 

 riantly on the manured ground. Älopecurus alpinus, ordinarily 

 the faithful follower of Esquimaux houses could not be found 

 here; it frequently grows on the slopes towards the open sea; 

 but probably the saltness of the ground has been too much 

 for it here. 



On the low rocks brood a great many eider ducks, and 

 between the nests grew Glyceria vilfoidea and Stellaria parti- 

 cularly high and luxuriantly between big bush-shaped lichens 

 and Gritmnia-iuUs. — In rock crevices, where there was 

 shelter, shade and manure, were found 20 cm high, etiolated 

 Cochlearia with very thick fleshy leaves and ripe fruit. 



On the west side of the island was a very low tract of 

 land which was partly covered by brackish water, partly above 

 water, yet so low that it is flooded at springflood, protected 

 from the sea by a strandwall. The water was filled with algae, 

 and the drained part of it covered either by dried up algal 

 membranes or by a dense carpet of Carex salina v. subspa- 

 thacea together with Glyceria vilfoidea (Fig. 5). 



XXX. 25 



