The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1942, Side 95
THE PTERIDOPHYTA AND SPERMATOPHYTA OF ICELAND
93
p. 137.—Stefánsson, Fl. ísl. ed. 1, 1901, p. 10.—Ibid. ed. 2, 1924, p. 10.—
C.H.O., Fl. arct. 1902, p. 11,—O. & Gr. 1934, p. 4.
Flora Dan. tab. 1183.
Icelandic: Mýrelfting. Danish: Kær-Padderokke. English : Marsh Horsetail.
Common in all parts in the lowland as in the central highland. Rather varying,
thus the following forms may be mentioned as growing in Iceland :
f. þolystachyum Villars.
f. simþlissimum A.Br.
f. verticillatum Milde.
Transitional forms between the above-named frequently occur.
Is rather valued as fodder for horses and sheep, and is much used for hay.
Life-form: G. (Rhizome Geophyte).
In moderately moist meadows, on sandy and clayey ground, often on the river banks
and shores; on grassy slopes, in copses.
Max. height: 35 cm; average: 18 cm.
Geogr. area: Am.: Northern North America.—Eur. : Fær.; E.S.I.; northern and
central Europe.—Asia: Siberia from 69° N. lat. south to Asia Minor. Turkestan,
Korea, Japan.
5. Equisetum pratense Ehrh., Hannov. Magaz. (1784), St. 9, p. 138.
E. umbrosum Willd., Babington, 1848, p. 19.—Idem, 1871, p. 345.—Gronlund,
Isl. Fl., 1881, p. 137.—E. þratense Ehrh., Stefánsson, Fl. ísl. ed. 1, 1901, p. 9.
—Ibid. ed. 2, 1924, p. 10,—O. & Gr. 1934, p. 4.
Flora Dan. tab. 1770.
Icelandic: Vallelfting. Danish: Lund-Padderokke. English: Meadow Horsetail.
Common in most parts of the lowland, as also in the central highland. In S. it
has, however, been recorded from comparatively few places, but on closer investiga-
tion it will most likely be found to be widely distributed here too.
This species does not seem to vary much in Icel., as far as can be seen from the
herbarium material, the variations being limited to the length of the branches; and
this is evidently mainly due to the nature of the habitats.
f. ramulosum Milde, with secondary branches in the lower part of the primary
branches was found by H.J. at Vallanes, E.
Fruiting specimens are rather rare.
Life-form: G (Rhizome Geophyte).
On heaths, in damp grassy places, in mó, on stony soil, urðs, in Salix and Betula
copses, on herb-slopes.
Max. height: 27 cm; average: 13 cm.
Geogr. area: Am. : Alaska to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, southward to New
Jersey, Iowa, Colorado.—Eur.: Fær.; E.S.I. ; Scandinavia, north and central Europe.
Alps.—Asia : From 67° N. lat. to Turkestan and northern Mongolia. Sakhalin. Kuriles.
Equisetum scirþoides Michx.
Bennet, 1890, p. 82.—Rostrup, 1887, 186.
Bennet and Rostrup (loc. cit.) entered this species in their lists on the authority
of Friðriksson, but this is evidently a mistake. Specimens of E. variegatum may have
been determined as E. scirþoides, but of this latter there are no specimens in evidence
in H.H. It is not unlikely, however, that it may be found in Iceland.