Rit (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.06.1975, Blaðsíða 41

water, which in most places is in slight motion, still it is more
properly described as seeping rather than flowing. Next to the
brooklet there is always a belt with a relatively pure C. Lyngbyei,
followed by a very narrow transitional belt, and farthest off there
is an E. angustifolium — C. rariflora sociation. C. Lyngbyei is
then dominant on low undular formations where E. angustifolium
disappears. This may perhaps be explained in the terms that the
water nearest to the brooklets is never still, but rather seeps for-
ward along the brooklet channel. It stagnates mostly in the hollows,
but it is set in motion again on the undular formations. No other
difference is detectable here in biological conditions. Analyses 17-
19 are from Holtavörðuheiði (370-400 metres above sea level), 17
and 18 were made in a typical Eriophorum — C. rariflora flói,
which covers quite an extensive part of the moor. Analysis 19,
however, is from a belt adjoining a hillock. It is somewhat drier
here than in the flói, and traces of mound formations occur. Two
óry ground species are conspicuous there, i.e. Carex Bigelowii and
Salix herbacea, both of which belong- however, to the drier mire
areas of the highland, the C. Bigelowii mire, which here consti-
tutes an intermediate stage between it and the Eriophorum flói.
Although this variant of the C. Bigelowii mire does not appear to
be widely distributed in these parts I have observed it on many
locations where conditions are similar e.g. on Öxnadalsheiði above
Bakkasel. E. angustifolium and C. rariflora were dominant there
in the flói, both in physiognomy and in covering, but C. Bigelowii
Was quite conspicuous there. Other species there were Carex rostrata,
Comarum palustre, Equisetum palustre, Polygonum viviparum,
Salix glauca. The succession from flói to dry Salix ground could
be as follows:
E. angustifolium — C. rariflora sociation —> E. angustifolium —
0. rariflora C. Bigelowii rich sociation > C. Bigelowii — Salix
glauca mýri —* Salix glauca heath.
Analyses 20-21 are from Brunnar at Kaldidalur taken from the
border of a flói as is analysis 19.
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