The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1945, Page 23

THE VEGETATION OF CENTRAL ICELAND
365
mountains of Kverkhnúkarani. The oasis is situated along a small stream
formed by numerous springs issuing from the substratum of the lava.
These gather into several rivulets which at last unite into the small
stream Lindakvísl, which empties into Kreppa. The oasis is
long, but narrow, and is almost divided into two, an upper and a lower
part, by a branch of the lava flow. The upper part contains a low
conical mountain, Lindakeilir, while the lower part contains
the house ruins of some unknown outlaws, who once, long ago, found
a refuge there. The rivulets are bordered by Salix scrubs or extensive
growths of Archangelica, after which the oasis has been named
(Hvannalindir = Archangelica springs). Otherwise the greater part of
the oasis is damp and covered by a mýri vegetation. Salix heaths and
Calamagrostis growths are found in the driest areas. In several places
Philonotis is very predominant in the vegetation. The oasis is surrounded
by sandy or gravelly flats with a scattered vegetation. A short distance
south of Hvannalindir there is another small oasis around a small lake.
Here both Calamagrostis growths and Salix heaths occur.
5. Sauðárdalur is the name of a valley extending parallel
with the ravine of Jökulsá á Brú and only separated from
the latter by a low ridge. The southernmost part of the valley extends
as far as the junction of S a u ð á and Jökulsá. The valley is occupied
by a small river, which gradually gathers its water from springs and
rivulets coming from the sides of the valley. The slopes on either side
exhibit a gravel-flat vegetation. The bottom of the valley is very much
like Fagridalur, mýri or flói occurring in the middle, and belts of Salix
heath along the sides. Several lakelets and pools and a considerable
“flá” are found. A stretch of mýri, Háumýrar, showing a consi-
derable “flá” formation, is found at a fairly great distance west of
Sauðárdalur.
6. Kringilsárrani is the name of the spit of land formed
between Jökulsá á Brú and one of its tributaries, K r i n g i 1 s á, and
extending as far as Brúarjökull. The land spit consists of a ridge, and
the rivers run along its sides. A great part of the vegetation on the
ridge has been blown away by the wind, and now gravelly or sandy
plains occur. The slope towards Jökulsá is mainly covered with heather
or Salix, but luxuriant herb fields are found in the depressions. On the
western slope there is a partially dried up “flá”. That part of the land
spit which lies nearest the glacier is covered by a moraine, which was