The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1942, Síða 138
136
JOHS. GRONTVED
61. Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Pal. Beauv., Agrostogr. (1812)
p. 160.
Aira caespitosa, K. & M., 1770, p. 204.—Babington, 1871, p. 342.—Gronlund,
Isl. Fl., 1881, p. 127.-—Stefánsson, Fl. ísl., ed. 1, 1901, p. 59.—D. caespitosa
(L.) Beauv., Ibid., ed. 2, 1924, p. 67.—A. caespitosa, L., C.H.O., Fl. arct.,
1902, p. 113.—D. caespitosa (L.) Beauv., O. & Gr., 1934, p. 22.
Flora Dan. tab. 240.
Icelandic: Snarrótarpuntur. Danish: Mose-Munke. English: Bent-grass, Tussock-
grass.
Common in all parts, in the lowland as well as the central highland. Much
valued for hay and grazing for the sheep both in summer and winter.
In Iceland the northern form var. brevifolia Hartm., non R.Br., occurs here and
there. It is distinguished by its shorter usually flat leaves; the panicle branches are
short, nearly glabrous; spikelets violet-coloured.
var. aurea Wimm. & Grab., with bright yellowish spikelets, larger than in the main
form, leaves usually involute, awn often longer than the flowering glume. Here
and there.
Life-form: H.
On grassy slopes, heaths, fell-field ; also on cultivated soil; in home fields, etc.
Flor. VII—VIII; fr. mat. VIII.
Max. height: 125 cm; average: 43 cm.
Geogr. area: North America, from Newfoundland to Alaska, south to New Jersey
and Illinois.—Greenl.: W. 61°12' (introduced).—Eur.: Fær.; E.S.I.; throughout
Europe. Spitsbergen, Novaya Zemlya.—Asia: From Northern Asia to Asia Minor,
Persia, Himalaya ; Sakhalin ; Honshu.—Africa : Abyssinia, Cameroon.—Austr. :
Tasmania, New Zealand.
62. Deschampsia flexuosa Trin., Bull. Acad. St. Petersb. I (1836)
p. 66.
Aira flexuosa, K. & M., 1770, p. 204.—Babington, 1871, p. 342.—Gronlund,
Isl. Fl., 1881, p. 127.—Stefánsson, Fl. ísl., ed. 1, 1901, p. 59.—D. flex. Trin.,
Ibid., ed. 2, 1924, p. 68.—A. flex. L., C.H.O., Fl. arct., 1902, p. 112.—
D. flex. Trin., O. & Gr., 1934, p. 21.
Flora Dan. tab. 157, tab. 1322 (/T montana (L.)).
Icelandic: Bugðupuntur. Danish : Bolget Bunke. English : Wavy Hair-grass.
Common in all parts, also in the central highland.
var. montana (L.) Hartm. (Aira montana L., Sp. pl., ed. I (1753) p. 65), usually
lower of growth, leaves shorter and often somewhat broader, with larger and dark-
violet spikelets. Several specimens kept in H.H. agree very well with the description
of this variety; seems to be rather common in Iceland. It was noticed already by
König & Miiller, 1770, p. 204 (as Aira montana).
Life-form: H.
In dry grassy ground, heaths, grassy slopes, in copses, etc.
Flor. VII; fr. mat. (VIII).
Max. height: 74 cm; average : 37 cm.
Geogr. area: (coll. spec.). North Am. ; Southern S. Am.—Greenl. : W. 60°—66°58'.
E. 60°—66°5'.—Eur.: Fær.; E.S.I. ; throughout most of Europe ; Caucasus.— Asia:
Siberia. Mts. of northern Asia; Asia Minor, Japan.