The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1914, Síða 130

314
THORODDSEN
Markhlidar........................ 250 metres
Burfell near Thjórsárdal........... 300 —
Skridufellsskogur.................. 220 —
Tungufellsskogur................... 260 —
Haukadalsheidi.....................J380 —
Uthlidarhraun...................... 320 —
Laugardalsskogar................... 280 —
Thingvallaskogar................... 200 —
Botnsskogui........................ 200 —
Skorradalur........................ 150 —
Svinadalur......................... 200 —
Husafellsskogur.................... 260 —
Hvitársida......................... 300 —
Although it is possible that birch coppices may be met with
in some places at a somewhat higher level yet the limits will
be approximately those given above. On the north-western pe-
ninsula, birch coppices occur mostly on the southern side at
the head of the valleys and fjords which extend upwards from
Breidifjördur and face llie sun; but the birch coppices extend hardlv
anywhere higher than 200—300 metres, and usually occur at far
lower levels. There is also a good deal of birch coppice at the
branch-fjords of Arnarfjord, in Dyrafjord and at the southern fjords
of Isaijardardjup, especially at Hestfjördur. North of Isaíjardardjup
I nowhere saw birch coppices proper, although a few individuals of
Betula odorata occur in sotne places in Adalvik; nor are birch cop-
pices known to occur on the east coast from Cape Nord to Stein-
grimsfjord.
To the birch region belongs also Sorbus aucuparia which occurs
as scattered individuals both in the birch coppices and outside them;
I do not tliink the mountain ash extends so far up as does the
bircli; I did not observe it at liigher altitudes than on Sluttnes in
Myvatn, 290 metres above sea-level. Betula nana occurs now and
then in birch woods, but grows most commonly on heather moors
and in bog-lands; it rarelv forms coppices proper. It extends higher
on the mountains than Betula odorata; I found it, for instance,
in Sydri Pollar, 729 metres above sea-level. Juniperus communis is
fairly common in birch coppices and on heather moors; the highest
altitude at wliich I found it was in Yxnadalur near Odádahraun,
488 metres above sea-level. The heather moor is closely associated