755 



are often found intermingled with the Alaria. Circumstances are, 

 however, ahvaj's somewhat altered where other species are inter- 

 mingled. In places favourable to the A/arzV/-association, that is, on 

 steep or vertical rocks on exposed coast, this association may be 

 found almost unmixed for miles. 



The ^/arza- association in the Faeroes which has already been 

 shortly described by Simmons (78, p. 254) seems to agree well 

 with Hansteen's (I.e.) and Boye's (6, p. 4 — 5) A/ar/a-formation. Yet 

 we may suppose according to Boye that y>L(iminaria stenophi)lla« 

 Harv. must be somewhat more common in the association on the 

 coast of Norway than at the Faeroes. 



The Laminaria hyperborea- Association. 



This characteristic algae-association is widely distributed on the 

 coasts of the Faeroes. It grows abundantly from a depth of about 

 1 fathom down to 10 — 15 fathoms, and it is most luxuriant at 

 5 — 10 fathoms, forming large submarine forests. It prefers hori- 

 zontal or slightly sloping rocks, on stony ground. In such locali- 

 ties, the very dense vegetation of Laminaria hyperborea, w^ith its 

 brown, pendulous, fan-like laminae swaying with the waves, may be 

 seen when the water is clear. Close to the land, in gulfs and 

 inlets, it often groW'S in such shallow water that the uppermost part 

 of the lamina are seen above the surface of the sea at low tide 

 (see fig. 160). 



It is here that the above-mentioned epiphytical Rhodymenia- 

 vegetation has its habitat. 



On account of its vigorous haptera, the Laminaria hyperborea is 

 able to cling to even the most exposed places. This algae is how- 

 ever not much exposed to the surf; it generally grows at too great 

 a depth, and when it grows in shallow water it is most often in 

 rather sheltered inlets and gulfs, as mentioned before. Its solid 

 and comparatively not very flexible stalk would certainly make it 

 unfit for resisting a strong surge. On the other hand, it is much 

 exposed to and also excellently fitted for resisting the strong pull 

 of the rolling waves. When the sea is rough , the effect of this 

 pull is felt far down, as is seen from the fact that a stormy sea can 

 break at more than 10 fathoms of water. 



On a small rock outside of the »redoubt« near Thorshavn there 

 is a dense vegetation of Laminaria hyperborea at a depth of 3 — 4 

 fathoms. During a tempest from the south and a rough sea, I have 



