116 CARL SKOTTSBERG, A BOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. 



Grasses and herbs: 



Sol. Fcstuca niagdlanica Leucena saaveolens Luzula alopecurus. 



Groiind cover: 



Spårs. Lijcopodium magcUaniciim Sol. Hymcnophijlluin fulklundicuni SerpyUopsis ccespitosa 



Sol. Azorella ranunculus Nanodea miiscosa Viola tridentata. 



Bryophytes: Andrecea acutifolia, lanceolata, Blindia pseudolygodipoda, Dendro- 

 ligotrichu7n squarrosum, Dicranum aciphyllum,, leucopterum, Ditrichum Hookeri, Poly- 

 trichum piliferum, Rhacomitrium heterostichoides, ptychophylluni, lanuginosmn ; Plagio- 

 chila liirsuta, liirta. 



Lichens: Cladonia deformis, Cetrarla acuhata, islandica, Neuropogon melaxanthum, 

 Parmelia physodes, SphceropJiorus coralloides, Thamnolia vermicularis. 



Many of the same plants were fonnd on the highest parts of Mt. Maria 

 (665 m.). Hovvever, we did not see any Azorella selago liere; Valeriana was not 

 rare and besides, Colohanilius suhulatus presented itself. Among the herbs we 

 noted Hamadryas argentea, sparse — copious, but local. The lichens were most cha- 

 racteristic of the situation, forming patches ot true tundra with species such as 

 Thamnolia vermicularis and SphceropJiorus coralloides, and much Neuropogon melax- 

 anthum on the rocks. At my request Dr. Halle made an ascent of Mt Usborne 

 (683 m.), the highest mountain in E. F. He reports an Azorella seZa^o-association 

 with other cushion-plants and copious Neuropogon, but neiter Valeriana nor Hamadryas 

 were seen. It is evident, that Azorella selago is not on all higher mountains, for 

 d'Urville would not have failed to see it had it existed on Mt. Simon. And it 

 was not on the top of Mt. Maria as far as we could ascertain; it must, however, 

 be mentioned that we were overtaken by foggy weather so dense that we could see 

 only a few metres in front of us. 



Halle collected the following bryophytes on the top of Mt. Usborne: Andrecea 

 lanceolata, Conostomum australe, Dicranoweisia suhinclinata, Dicranum tenuicuspidatum, 

 Psilopilum antarcticwn. 



15. Snow-patch flora below the top of Mt. Adam, c. 680 m. 



As a rule, there is no perpetual snow in the Falklands even on the highest 

 summits. On Mt. Adam we found, in a shallow depression where the sun's rays 

 did not penetrate — at least in the spring — one small snow-drift left on the 13th 

 of December. I do not know if it remains there throughout the summer, but anyhow 

 it takes a long time to melt, and the soil below is saturated with cold water and 

 shows all the characteristic features of similar localities described from various parts 

 of the world, from Scandinavian mountains, Switzerland etc. Such places have 

 their special snow-patch flora with some few phanerogams and mats of cryptogams, 

 especially liverworts. The place observed on Mt. Adam was devoid of higher plants, 

 but was inhabited by numerons Bryophytes: 



