The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1945, Page 10

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STEINDÖR STEINDÓRSSON
Even from the beginning of my work I was aware that it would be
impossible for one man with limited means and time at his disposal to
visit the whole Icelandic highland and investigate its phanerogamous
vegetation, to which my work has chiefly been confined. I therefore
chose to investigate as carefully as possible the patches or oases in which
Fig. i. i, Síðumannaafrjettur; 2, Jökuldalir; 3, Kýlingar; 4, Laugar; 5, Land-
mannahellir; 6, Ulugaver; 7, Eyvindarver; 8, Laugafell; 9, At Geldingsá and
Stórihvammur; 10, Arnardalur and Þorlákslindir; 11, Fagridalur; 12, Hvannalindir ;
13, Háumýrar; 14, Sauðárdalur; 15, Kringilsárrani; 16, Laugar at Snæfell;
17, Háls at Snæfell; 18, Eyjabakkar; 19, Víðidalur; 20, Kollumúli.
I was able to stay for some length of time and to consider these as types
of the remaining regions also. In this way it was possible to gain an
idea of the most important formations found in the highland of
Iceland.
I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to describe the plant com-
munities and to show their connection with the habitat factors in each
place. The result will, of course, always to some extent be conjectural
if there is no opportunity to study the vegetation over a fairly long