R. BROWN, FLORULA DISCOANA» 265 



Cetraria islandica, C. nivalis, Cladonia gracilis, Peltidea 

 aphtJiosa, Poli/trichum janiperinum, Racomitriitm canescois, 

 SphcBrophorum coralloides, &c. (vide Dr. Rink, &c.) The valley 

 graduates by a gentle slope to a dark beetling precipice. At 

 between one or two thousand feet ^from the shore the vegetation 

 seems to be lost, and there is only seen mountain clilfs or debris 

 of rocks rolled from above, through which the stream runs 

 gurgling along. The most remarkable of all the plants, how- 

 ever, which I saw in this valley were remains of the " Qvan " 

 {Angelica, officinalis, FIofFn.), well known by its native and Norse 

 names (apparently one of the words of the old Norsemen Avhich 

 have got incorporated in the Eskimo language), which grew in 

 patches by the side of the stream, and occasionally in the moist 

 ground. It is one of the most interesting plants of Greenland, 

 and is only found on the island of Disco, in North Greenland. 

 It is, however, abundant in the vicinity of South Greenland fjords, 

 and particularly in the district of Juliansliaab, so much so, that 

 the natives say that Disco was once a portion of Juliaushaab 

 district, and that a great angekok or wizard towed it north. He 

 would have towed it still further had not a rival cut the rope ! 

 That is what may be called a "myth of observation." The Danes 

 and Greenlanders use the leaves much as an antiscorbutic. On 

 the leaves is occasionally found Vitrina angelicce. By the borders 

 of the stream, and at the northern head of the valley, I found 

 Achemilla vulgaris, L., growing. I heard much of a place, 

 about twelve miles from Godhavn, called Qvannersoit, "^ the place 

 " of the Qvan," which, if all stories are true, seems to be the 

 most agreeable spot in the district. It is situated between high 

 falls and "jokulls," with numerous waterfalls from them, and 

 green slopes covered with the most luxuriant vegetation in all 

 North Greenland. Angelica has been found at various places on 

 the island of Disco, but nowhere so abundantly as here, as the 

 name indicates. The Willow is here eight feet high*^ when raised 

 up from the ground. Numerous flowers grow here. Bhodo" 

 dendron lapponicum, Pedicular is flammea. Ledum grcenlandicum 

 {palustre), &c., are seen in profusion. Godhavn was the last 

 locality we visited in Greenland, and on the 12th of September 

 we left in the royal trader " Hvalfisk," Capt. Hans Seiftrup, for 

 Denmark, just as the snow was beginning to cover the hills, and 

 the nights were getting cold, dark, and dreary. My time was 

 much occupied in zoological, geological, and astronomical work, 

 besides having a full share of the varied duties of the party, so 

 that my leisure for botany was limited ; and when we take into 

 account the time occupied in going from place to place, the 

 period over which the collecting extended did not much exceed 

 two months, the whole extent of our residence in the country being 

 only three months. f 



* I have seen a stem of Betula nana from Upernavik (72° 48' N.) two 

 inches in diameter, and another from Soiith-East Bay equally thick. 



f It has been necessary to give these dates, in order to show the times of 

 flowering, and to avoid repetitions, though the object of this paper is not to 

 furnish any narrative of the journey. 



