The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1942, Blaðsíða 335

THE PTERIDOPHYTA AND SPERMATOPHYTA OF ICELAND
333
Accidentally introduced as a weed. Found in some places in S.W. and N. Also
recorded from Geysir, S. Scarcely naturalized in Iceland.
346. Prunella vulgaris Linn., Sp. pl. ed. I (1753) p. 600.
P. officinalis, K. & M., 1770, p. 208.—P. vulgaris, Babington, 1848, p. 18.
Id., 1871, p. 322.—Brunella vulgaris Moench, Gronlund, Isl. Fl., 1881,
p. 71.—Stefánsson, Fl. Isl., ed. 1, 1901, p. 179.—Ibid., ed. 2, 1924, p. 202.—
P. vulg. L., O. & Gr., 1934, p. 119.
Flora Dan. tab. 910.
Icelandic: Blákolla. Danish : Almindelig Brunelle. English: Brunel, Self-Heal.
Coramon in the lowland in S. and S.W., and rather frequent in the other parts,
except in N.W., whence it is recorded from one locality only (Reykhólar, 1915,
H.J.). Not recorded from the central parts.
Life-form : H.
In dry localities, on grassy slopes, herb-slopes, near hot springs.
Flor. VII—VIII; fr. mat. (VII—VIII).
Max. height: 25 cm ; average : 11 cm.
Geogr. area: Am.: (Partly var. lanceolata (Bart.) Fernald) throughout nearly the
whole of N. Am.—Eur.: Fær.; E.S.I.; throughout nearly all Europe from about
69° N. lat. in Scandinavia.—Temperate Asia (var. lanceolata in Eastern Asia).—
Africa : North Africa.—Australia.
347. Thymus Serpyllum Linn., Sp. pl. ed. I (1753) p. 590.
K. & M., 1770, p. 208.—Babington, 1871, p. 321.—T. Serp. L. var. prostrata
Hornem., Gronlund, Isl. Fl., 1881, p. 71.—Stefánsson, Fl. Isl., ed. 1, 1901,
p. 178.—Ibid., ed. 2, 1924, p. 202.—O. & Gr., 1934, p. 118.
Icon.: fig. 150.
Icelandic: Blóðberg. Danish: Smalbladet Timian. English: Creeping Thyme, Wild
Thyme.
According to M. P. Porsild (Stray Contrib. to the Flora of Greenland VI—XII,
Medd. om Gronland, Bd. 93. no. 3 (1935) p. 35 et seq.) the Icelandic Wild Thyme
should be placed under Thymus arcticus (E. Durand) Ronniger, Rep. Bot. Exch.
Club for 1923, p. 237 (1924)—(Syn. Th. Serpyllum L. var. prostrata (Homem.)
Lange, Conspectus Fl. Groenl. I, 1880, p. 81). The characteristic features of this
species are the following: The principle shoot-system is decumbent, growing un-
limitedly, with rooting older parts. Erect vegetative shoots and erect floral shoots
are developed from the leaf-axils of the decumbent shoot-system. The leaves are
elliptic-obovate, cuneate at base, short petioled. Upper surface and margin of the
leaves as the petioles with long white hairs. The secondary nerves of the lower
leaf surface prominent. Inflorescence densely capitate, corolla-tube externally pube-
scent, and upper lip on the outer side with somewhat coarser hairs. See fig. 150.
Sometimes a variety occurs with the stems bifariously hairy, otherwise like the
common form in Iceland (cp. H.J., 1896, p. 351, and L. K. Rosenvinge, II. TilL,
1892, p. 688).
f. albiflora with white flowers, here and there.
Common in all parts, in the lowland as well as the central highland, and growing
in practically all kinds of localities on dry soil. It is one of the most widely distributed
plants in Iceland.