The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1942, Síða 19

THE TARAXACUM-FLORA OF ICELAND
245
8. The Distribution of the Species in the Various Plant-communities.
It is a fact beyond doubt that the Icelandic Taraxacum-species,
similarly to what has been demonstrated for the Danish species, are
distributed in the various plant-communities where the growing-condi-
tions are most suitable. Our knowledge of these facts, however, is far
from satisfactory, therefore only few and sparse comments and sug-
gestions can be made. As mentioned already the four Danish species
must be considered to have been introduced; and this applies also to
a number of other species. I am here especially thinking of the species
influenced by cultivation, which are hardly to be found outside the
home-field. Among these T. galeiferum may be mentioned, from the
home-field by Skógar in Fnjóskadalur, where it was growing in large
numbers. Other species may be found both in home-fields, and for
instance along the banks of rivulets. The latter must without doubt be
classed among the spontaneous species, among which the majority must
no doubt be placed. Many questions relating to these facts, e.g. the
problem whether the species are spontaneous or introduced, and to
what plant-community the spontaneous species should properly be re-
ferred, cannot be settled with our present knowledge. In the special
part of this work, however, in connexion with the mention of the
various species some information will be given on the subject.
9. The Flowering Season of the Icelandic Taraxaca.
The Icelandic Taraxaca do not all flower at the same time, and
it is possible to find flowering plants the summer throughout. In home-
fields and about inhabited places the actual flowering occurs in the
beginning of the summer, how early I have not been able to find out;
but on heaths, in ditches, in low meadows, by lakes, and along the
banks of rivulets, among rocks, in copses and in mountain-fields the
flowering season will be dependent upon the degree of light and pro-
portion of soil and the altitude of the locality.
The following will serve as a further illustration of the flowering
season:
Vestmannaeyjar, 4/7 1935. In home-fields the Taraxaca were at
the stage of fruit-dispersal, a few were flowering.
Reykjavík, 6/7 1935. In gardens, in parks, in high meadow there
were many Taraxaca past the blooming-stage, the spreading of the
fruits, however, had hardly begun. In ditches and in tufty meadows
the Taraxaca were flowering.
The Botany of Iceland. Vol. III. Part III.
17