420 



THE ARCTIC FLORA. 



such as are common to the plains both here and in 

 higher latitudes. 



Salix herbacea is with us an Alpine plant ; and in 

 Lapland, (lat. 67J°-70°), placing the limits of per- 

 petual snow at 3300 feet, in which Humboldt and 

 Wahlenberg agree, Salix herbacea is found to 

 grow at from 2 100 to 2400 feet of elevation. On the 

 west coast of Greenland, (lat. 70° 40 -71°)* Mr Ja- 

 meson gathered the same plant at an elevation of on- 

 ly 300 feet. Th latitude 74°, he again met with it ; 

 but it had then entirely lost its character, as an al- 

 pine plant, and was growing upon a small low island. 

 It was also brought to Mr Jameson by a sailor* from 

 the level coast of Labrador, (lat. 76°) adhering to a 

 specimen of Papaver nudicaule. This little salix, 

 with one or two others, the largest of which do not 

 exceed three or four inches, are the only trees to be 

 seen in these dreary regions. 



According to Humboldt*, the most common 

 plants " in montibus nivosis zonae frigidae," are 

 Caryophylleje (Stellaria, Cerastium,) Eri- 

 ciNvE (Andromeda,) and RANUNcULACEiE. In 

 Spitzbergen, however, (lat. 79° 10',) Captain Scores- 

 by found Saxifrage not uncommon ; and Mr Ja- 

 meson obtained several Crucifer^e and Rosacea, 

 with a few Gra mineje, from Greenland. 



* Vid. Humboldt, de Distributione Geographica Plan- 

 tarura. 



