IV 



r. C. KIÆR. CHRISTIANIAS MOSSER. 



about 555 species of mosses and 144 of hepaticae have been foundy j 

 of which 64.7 7o and 53.5 7o respectively at Christiania. In the | 

 renowned district of Dovi e about 330 mosses have been gathered. ■ 



The table III (page V— VII) exhibits the number of mosses \ 

 (acrocarpi, pleiirocarpi, etc.) and hepaticae in various countries 

 and districts of Europe. 



The hepaticae amount to 15,1—25,9 7o of the total number; i 

 the difference in this respect between the various territories de- | 

 pends still partly on the fact that the hepaticae are investigated 

 in an unequal manner in the different places. The proportion between i 

 the acrocarpical and the pleurocarpical mosses varies in the differ- 

 ent territories within tolerably narrow limits; generally the num- 

 ber of acrocarpi is about twice the number of pleurocarpi. From 

 this rule the mountain of Rhon, explored during 20 years or there- , 

 abouts by A. Geheeb, makes a remarkable exception, the pleuro- j 

 carpi here amounting almost to the same number as the acro- : 

 carpi. The table also shows that as a rule the numbers of An- , 

 dreaeaceae and Sphagnaceae augment towards the higher latitudes 

 in Europe. The limited number of these mosses in the Islands of | 

 Oeland and Gothland depends upon the fact, that the rocks on 

 these islands are exclusively or almost exclusively calcareous and i 

 therefore unfavourable for these plants. The list further shows,. ! 

 that the Christiania region relatively to its size has a rich moss- ' 

 flora. It is perhaps also in this respect worth mentioning that 

 we have repeatedly contrived to note, during an excursion of 2 — 3 : 

 hours, more than 100 species of mosses. 



The copiousness of the moss-flora in question depends upon 

 several circumstances and chiefly upon the varying geological con- 

 dition of the region with silicious or calcareous strata and beds, j 

 upon the vertical elevation from the level of the sea to 600 m 

 above the same, the situation on a fiord, the multitude of large 

 forests, of lakes, rivers, rivulets, swamps and moors and of unco- ■ 

 vered, dry or moist rocks. ' 



In connexion with this subject I insert a passage af an inter- 

 esting letter to me from Pabbé Boulay, dated llth January 1885:. i 



i 



