partly upon their height above the sea, partly on their distance
from the coast. In the inland valleys, there are birch-trees up to
1600 and 2300 feet above the sea, while along thé coast they are
rarely more than 1300 feet. Above these limits, however, the biroh
is often found in the form of a shrub, together with willows and
dwarf birch.
In the birch slopes there is often a luxuriant, varied vegetation
of many different species. These are to some extent southern
forms, which here have their extreme out-posts to the north, to
some extent arctic plants, most of which, in Nordland-and Fin-
marken, go right down to the sea.
Thé richest flora is found in the inland fjord valleys, both
the southern forms and .the arctic plants preferring the continental
climate. In the valleys of the interior the vegetation is'often very
luxuriant. In Tysfjord, for instance, the wild raspberry (Iiubus
id<eus) and strawberry (Fragaria vesea) bear abundance of fruit
nearly every summer, and the fruit has an aroma that is quite
unknown in lower latitudes.
The arctic plants are most numerously represented in the
valleys, where the sub-stratum consists of loose mica-schist. • Salt-
dalen, Maalselvdalen, Lyngen, Alten and Sydvaranger are localities
where the'arctic flora is-developed in special abundance. On the
mountains here are found, in the main, the species that occur on
the Dovre Mountains, although there are a few extreme arctic plants
that have their southern limit in Nordland, e. g. two species of
Gentiana, G. involucrata and G. serratà 'S the latter has large,
deep blue flowers |U- two peculiar Rhinanfhaceee, Pedicularis hirsuta
and flammea, and the pretty yellow Ranunculus sulpTiureus.
Rubus arctieus, the arctic raspberry, is an east country plant
indigenous to Finland and northern Sweden. In Norway it is
found almost exclusively in the most northerly parts, in valleys
where the watershed on the frontier is rather low, so that it has
had the opportunity of migrating thither in comparatively recent
times. I t occurs in several places in abundance, but does not bear
fruit every year.
In the coast regions of Nordland and Finmarken, the flora is
very uniform and poor as regards species. The Western European
species, which gave to the west coast flora its peculiar character,
are almost entirely absent, as are also the more sensitive mountain
plants and south country plants. The species forming the bulk of
the vegetation are such as are not very particular as to their
conditions of life, and are therefore found over almost the whole
country. Blaeberry (Myrtillus uliginosa), black crowberry (JEmpe-
trum nigrum) and dogberry (Cornus^ sueciea) cover the mountain
knolls. In many places, moreover, there are large bogs, where
the c lo u d b e rry Ruhus Chamcemorus) is the characteristic plant.
Its orange-coloured fruit is very palatable, though acid; it is
sent from Nordland in great quantities to the southern parts
of the country. Ando is especially famous for its extensive,
luxuriant cloudberry bogs. Bilberry and whortleberry are also
found in great quantities in the north of Norway, both on the
coast and inland.
J. M. N o r m a n has carried out very minute phytogeographical
investigations in the arctic parts of the country. As human habitations
in these districts are very scattered, and the effect of civilisation,
upon the vegetation is therefore slight, he found here
unusually favourable circumstances for studying the natural conditions
that contribute to the spread of the species. A few species
are found only in places where there are, or have been human
habitations, and to which the domestic animals have had access;
they are indeed still spread by the aid of domestic animals, e. g.
Ranunculus repens, Stellaria media. Others are spread by birds,
especially those with fleshy seeds, such as the cloudberry. And
lastly, there is . a number of species that are scattered by ocean
currents, the seed becoming entangled in drifting sea-weed, and
being carried in to the shore in the bays.
Of the cultivated land, the meadow-land is the least affected
by civilisation. The greater part,of the meadows are «natural»;
it is the grasses belonging to the land that are allowed to
contend for a place on it. These meadows are very beautiful
m the summer when in full flower; the grass is fine and soft,
sprinkled with a variegated mixture of wild flowers. The
principal sorts of grass are Agrostis vulgaris with its brush of
fine, reddish brown hairs, the yellowish green, fragrant Anthoxan-
t um odoratum, and the silvery Aira ccespitgsa. Among the meadow
owers may be named Ranunculus aeris and Rhinanthus with yel