The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1942, Page 15

THE TARAXACUM-FLORA OF ICELAND
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T. leptolepis M.P.Chr. T. spiculiforme M.P.Chr.
„ luteodens M.P.Chr. „ stictophoreum M.P.Chr.
„ oxyphoreum M.P.Chr.
have been cultivated in Kogc, Denmark.
The following of these new species were found at Thorshavn on
the Faeroes 25/6 1937 :
T. angustifrons M.P.Chr. T. faeroenseforme (Ostenf.) M.P.Chr.
„ dilutisquameum M.P.Chr. „ leptolepis M.P.Chr.
5. The Distribution of the Taraxacum-Species in the
North Atlantic Flora.
I had hoped that by combining my Taraxacum-studies in Iceland
with many carried out earlier by various botanists in Scandinavia, Den-
mark, Finland, etc., I should arrive at a fairly good knowledge of the
distribution of the Taraxacum-species in the North Atlantic area. As
will appear from the above, however, I have only succeeded in obtaining
information of the distribution of a small number of species, outside
the area mentioned, and several of these species, among others the
species common to Denmark and Iceland, and surely also the species
common to the Faeroes and Iceland, have undoubtedly been introduced
into Iceland from Denmark and the Faeroes respectively. The species
common to Iceland and Greenland have surely been introduced from
Iceland to Greenland, with the exception, perhaps, of a single one, the
species concerned having only been found in or in the neighbourhood
of the old Norse settlements (Igaliko). It is also probable that the
species mentioned were brought to Greenland about 1000 years ago,
and this is an interesting example of species being constant through
hundreds of years and keeping their characteristic appearance, so that
they could at once be identified with corresponding Icelandic species.
The most remarkable result of my examination of the Taraxacum-
flora in Iceland, however, is not the identification of the common spe-
cies; such will always be found in countries having much intercourse
with other countries. The most noteworthy fact is that up to the present
the majority of the Icelandic species have not been found outside that
country; so before the distribution of the genus Taraxacum in the North
Atlantic area can be presented with in more detail more careful studies
are required on the genus in the following places: The west coast of
Norway, the Faeroes, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, Scot-
land, and Greenland. Not until these investigations have been carried