The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1949, Side 26

24
EMIL HADAC
Highland element, here and there descending to the lowland.
The alpine P. alpinum is diploid (in = 14), the boreal “P. alpinum” (i. e.
P. commutatum Gaud.) tetraploid (2 n = 28).
Krísuvíkurdalur 135 m; Rjúpnadalshnúkar 340 m; Hvannadalir 360 m; Bren-
nisteinsfjöll 560 m; Geitafjall 500 m; Kolviðarhóll 390 m; Stóra Reykjafell
350 m; etc.
49. Phleum pratense L. Sp. pl. 1753) 59.
20 m.
Cultivated on meadows. Grindavík: at Krosshúsið; Hafnarfjörður.
4—685 m.
50. Poa alpina L. Sp. pl. (1753) 67.
Frequent. Flowering form in low, sunny places only (4—320 m), the vivi-
parous form grows in higher places (120—685 m).
NB.: It is very interesting to compare the local distribution of both forms in
other countries. E. J. Nyárády (Ueber die alpinen Poa-Arten der Sieben-
búrgischen Karpathen 1933, 4—5) writes: “Im allgemeinen entstehen die
viviparen Formen in kalteren, vor allem durch ein standig feuchtes rauhes
Klima ausgezeichneten, Urgesteinsgebieten ...” C. H. O s t e n f e 1 d (The
Land-Vegetation of the Færöes 1905—8, p. 917) remarks: “On the Færöes . . .
Poa alpina occur in viviparous form only ... It is my opinion, that this
tendency towards pseudovivipary together with the lack of fruiting, are due
to the action of the insular climate in discouraging sexual reproduction and
encouraging vegetative propagation ...” K. G o e b e 1 (Organographie der
Pflanzen 1. 2. 1913, p. 30) writes: “Auf trockenen und stickstoffarmen Sub-
straten können bei viviparen Poa alpina Rúckschlage zur Samentragenden Form
eintreten.” According to V. K r a j i n a the viviparous form is in the granite
district of the High Tatra the only form present; in the chalky Bclské Tatry
is the viviparous form commonly distributed; the flowering form occurs only
in places manured by the chamois. On Spitsbergen the v. vivipara is common;
the flowering form was seen only in the neighbourhood of inhabited places.
In Greenland the distribution of both varieties is very peculiar: the flowering
form is common on the West coast as well as in East Greenland, whereas the
v. vivipara is known only from East Greenland.
f. florigera:
Vogavík, 40 m, fl. 1. VI. 37; Sveifluháls: 120—320 m; Fíflavallafjall 230 m,
fl. 5. VII. 37; Stakkavík 4 m, fl. 17. VI. 37; Grímshóll 58 m, etc.
v. vivipara:
Arnarfell, 173 m; Vífilsfell 560—654 m; Skálafell 574 m; Bláfjöll 530—620 m;
Hákollur 685 m; Brennisteinsfjöll 560 m; Geitafjall 500 m; Vatnshlíð 320 m;
Valahnúkur 145 m; Hagafell 120; etc.
51. Poa annua L. Sp. pl. (1753) 68 s. s.
8—300 m.
Scattered. Propagated endozoically by animals. Germinates and grows from
the horse dung e. g. at Grindaskarð and Kolviðarhóll on roads, Lambhagi,
in a cave, fl. 21. VIII. 37; Kerlingarskarð 300 m; Innri Njarðvík 10 m;
fl. 17. VI. 37; Grindavík, fl. 17. VI. 37; Vogshús 2 m, fl. 2. VII. 37; Stóri