The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1945, Page 139

THE VEGETATION OF CENTRAL ICELAND
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described is situated at a higher level than the flá areas described by
me, and moreover in another part of the highland. I did, indeed, visit
the same flá on my journey across the highland, but had no time for
a careful investigation. However, on a ride through its marginal parts
I noticed, in addition to the species already mentioned, large growths
of Carex saxatilis and C. rariflora. H u ml u m (1936, pp. 71-73), too,
gives a synopsis of the vegetation zones of the flá.
I shall now briefly mention the relationship that exists between
the flá and similar vegetation complexes in other northem countries.
Hannesson (1928, p. 141) says as follows (translated from the
Icelandic) : “According to descriptions I think that the flá is the
same or a similar formation as the southern edge of thc tundra in
northem Russia and Siberia. The flá is the tundra of Ice-
1 a n d”. From the knowledge I have been able to acquire about the
matter I can accept this contention. To show on what sources I base
this view I shall quote below three descriptions of tundras, viz. K i h 1-
m a n’s from Russian Lappland, F r i e s’s from Tornetrásk in Sweden,
and P 0 h 1 e’s from the peninsula Kanin in northern Russia. K i h 1-
m a n’s description is the oldest, he says: “Ueber einen grossen Teil
der Halbinsel verbrcitet findet man náhmlich Gruppen gewaltiger Torf-
hiigel von rundlicher, lánglicher oder unregelmássig gelappter Gestalt.
Ihre Höhe wechselt um ein Betráchtliches, erreicht gewöhnlich 3-3.5
mitunter 4 m und zeigt andererseits alle Abstufungen bis zu den nied-
rigen, noch fortwachsenden Híimpeln der Hochmoore. In horizontaler
Richtung sind ihre Dimensionen ebenso schwankend und wachsen
von meterbreiten, gerundeten Fláchen oder gratenförmigen Riicken zu
ausgedehnten, 20-30 Schritt breiten Plateau’s. Öfters sind zwei oder
mehrere Hiigel mit einander durch schmale, briickenförmige Einschniir-
ungen verbunden, die Zwischenráume werden theils von tiefen, gewöhn-
lich nassen, mitunter auch ganz trockenen Rinnen, theils von kleineren
oder grösseren Tiimpeln eingenommen, welche letztere in Bezug auf
das Niveau ihrer Wasserfláche sehr differiren können, und meistens
mit einer schwarzen Schlammerde bis auf wenige Zoll Wasser aus-
gefiillt ist” (Kihlman 1890, pp. 10-11). The tops of all these
“Hiigel”, K i h 1 m a n says, lie in the same horizontal plane in each
locality, but these tops are cut across by grooves 1-2 dm deep. Large
spaces are covered with bare Sphagnum peat, but in the depressions
there grow lichens with a few and stunted shrubs. The “Hiigel” slopes,
which are steep, are clad with Ledum and Empetrum at the top,
farther down Betula and Rubus Chamaemorus, which attain a cons-