KONGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 20. N:0 5. 19 



arcta, Cladophora gracilis, Rhizoclonium rigidum, Chcetomorplia melagonium and Ch. Worm- 

 skioldii. I think I may say that all these are quite as luxuriant in the Arctic Sea as 

 when at their best in the Atlantic, or as their nearest relatives there. Lithothamnion 

 glaciale for instance forms, as said above, spherical masses of 15 — 20 cm. in diameter 

 on the coasts of Spitzbergen; Odonthalia is larger in the Murman Sea than on the coast 

 of Bohuslan, Delesseria sinuosa in the Greenland Sea reaches not seldom a length of 

 30 cm. and a breadth of 7 cm.; Sarcophyllis arctica in the Murman Sea has a length of 

 above the third part of a meter and a breadth of 20 — 25 cm. On the north coast of 

 Spitzbergen I have seen specimens of Haloftaccion ramentaceum more than a quarter of 

 a meter long. Diploderma amplissimum on the north coast of Norway is sometimes 

 nearly one meter long by a considerable breadth; bushy specimens of Dichloria vi- 

 ridis, half a meter long, are not rare on the coast af Spitzbergen. Monnstroma fuscum 

 on the north coast of Norway and Monostrorna Blyttii on the west coast of Greenland 

 have not seldom a surface of about half a square meter. Chcetomorpha melagonium has 

 sometimes in the American Polar Sea a length of 5 feet a. s. o. As, moreover, those 

 species which chiefly decide the aspect of the vegetation, i. e. the Laminariacete, attain 

 in the Arctic Sea such a size and development, that they may be reckoned amongst 

 the largest and most luxuriant a\gse of the Ocean, the vegetation of the Arctic Sea 

 must evidently bear a character of uncommon greatness, luxuriancy, and vigour. 



Thus the most prominent features in the general aspect of the arctic marine Flora 

 are scarcity of individuals, monotony, and luxuriancy. 



