On the vegetation of Iceland   surf tip

Characteristic features, ecology and natural history:
3) Main vegetation types

Forests

In Iceland, two forest types can be distinguished: the indigenous birch forests and the recently planted forests consisting of species introduced from outside Iceland. Many species have been tested, and it has been shown that quite a few conifer species from the Americas and Siberia thrive well in sheltered valleys. The indigenous forests consist of only two (or three) tree species, the most common being the Downy Birch (Betula pubescens - Birki) Downy Birch (Betula pubescens - Birki) and the less common Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia - Reyniviður) Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia - Reyniviður) . It is quite remarkable that rowan often grows taller than birch (in most countries, rowan is an understory tree). This can be seen in this photo this photo . A third rather rare tree species is the Aspen (Populus tremula - Blæösp) Aspen (Populus tremula - Blæösp) . This species is poorly adapted to Icelandic conditions and never flowers. Icelandic birch forests also contain many low shrub species (mainly heathers) and herbaceous plants. These are generally the same species that occur in the heathlands. However, I found that one species is much more common in birch forests than outside them. This is the Serrated Wintergreen (Orthilia secunda - Grænlilja) Serrated Wintergreen (Orthilia secunda - Grænlilja) . True forests, whether indigenous or planted with exotic species, cover no more than about 1% of Iceland today. Before the arrival of the Vikings, forests covered approximately 30% of the island. The Vikings underestimated the slow rate of forest regeneration, and as a result Iceland has suffered extensive land degradation ever since. Finally, there is an intermediate vegetation type between forests and heathland, consisting of low birch scrub (up to 2.5 m tall), which is frequently found along the slopes of the fjords.

Heather land

By definition, heathlands are dominated by low shrubs such as the Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris - Beitilyng) Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris - Beitilyng) and the Crow Heather (Empetrum nigrum - Krækilyng) Crow Heather (Empetrum nigrum - Krækilyng) . It should be noted that in Crow Heather, the subspecies "hermaphroditum" is much more common than the nominate subspecies "nigrum". The latter occurs only in southern Iceland. In addition to these two species, there are two other common members of the heather family belonging to the genus Vaccinium, namely Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus - Aðalbláberjalyng) Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus - Aðalbláberjalyng) and the Bog Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum - Bláberjalyng) Bog Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum - Bláberjalyng) . A third Vaccinium species, the small cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus, aka Oxycoccus microcarpus - Mýraberjalyng) small cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus, aka Oxycoccus microcarpus - Mýraberjalyng) is a small herbaceous plant of bogs that occurs in some regions of Iceland. Another heather-like shrub commonly found in Icelandic heathlands is the juniper (Juniperus communis - Einir) juniper (Juniperus communis - Einir) . In most regions outside Iceland this species grows into a small upright tree, but in Iceland the conditions are too harsh, and it usually spreads low across the ground. Other more or less common small shrubs growing in Icelandic heathlands are the Dwarf Birch (Betula nana - Fjalldrapi) Dwarf Birch (Betula nana - Fjalldrapi) , and the willows: the Arctic Willow (Salix arctica - Grávíðir) Arctic Willow (Salix arctica - Grávíðir) , the Wooly Willow (Salix lanata - Loðvíðir) Woolly Willow (Salix lanata - Loðvíðir) and the Tea-leaved Willow (Salix phylicifolia - Gulvíðir) Tea-leaved Willow (Salix phylicifolia - Gulvíðir) .

Next to shrubby species of coarse, many herbal species grow in these regions. Only a few are mentioned here. Very common is the Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina - Smjörgras) Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina - Smjörgras) . Next to the Alpine Bartsia the Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox ssp arcticus - Blóðberg) Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox ssp arcticus - Blóðberg) and the Dwarf Willow (Salix herbacea - Grasvíðir) Dwarf Willow (Salix herbacea - Grasvíðir) are very common. An interesting - and also very common - plant is the Alpine Bistort (Bistorta vivipara - Kornsúra) Alpine Bistort (Bistorta vivipara - Kornsúra) . This plant produces true flowers in the upper part of the inflorescence stalk, but bulbils in the lower part. Another interesting plant is the Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris - Lyfjagras) Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris - Lyfjagras) . The leaves of this plant catch flies due to its stickiness and they are then "digested".

Moss vegetations

On lava's one can find large fields of mosses and or lichens with few other higher plant species. In the north of the country often lichens dominate where in the south mosses dominate. lichens often dominate, whereas in the south mosses dominate. This is (probably) due to the fact that snowfall in the south is more erratic and summers in the north are generally drier. Two species of the moss genus Racomitrium species ( - Gamburmosar) Racomitrium species ( - Gamburmosar) dominate, these are Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hoary Rock-moss/Hraungambri) and Racomitrium canescens (Hoary Fringe-moss/Hærugambri). Gradually other species settle although this can take a long time. One of the first species to grow in moss fields is the Three-leaved Rush (Juncus trifidus - Móasef) Three-leaved Rush (Juncus trifidus - Móasef) . In hollows of lava fields, ferns can often be found, and in lower areas birch bushes birch bushes can appear in the landscape.

Open grounds (highland deserts)

Sparsely vegetated or even non-vegetated terrain covers a large part of Iceland, especially in the interior (the highland deserts). The volcanic nature of the country, slow soil formation on rock, pebble, and ash surfaces, and the impact of human activity (historical wood cutting and {over-}grazing by sheep) have had a detrimental effect on Iceland's vegetation (see the "forest" section at the top of this page). On these barren grounds, two species thrive. These are the Thrift (Armeria maritima - Geldingahnappur) Thrift (Armeria maritima - Geldingahnappur) and the Moss Campion (Silene acaulis - Holurt) Moss Campion (Silene acaulis - Holurt) . Apart from these two species, many dwarf forms of plants from other vegetation types can be found. A common example is the Northern Rock-cress (Arabidopsis petraea - Melablóm) Northern Rock-cress (Arabidopsis petraea - Melablóm) which can be found in highland deserts as miniature forms of the lowland individuals.

Wetlands

As mentioned in the page about North American species, the Lyngbye's Sedge (Carex lyngbyei - Gulstör) Lyngbye's Sedge (Carex lyngbyei - Gulstör) is a dominant species of many wetlands. Another very common sedge species in the Icelandic wetlands is the Common sedge (Carex nigra - Mýrastör) Common sedge (Carex nigra - Mýrastör) . Wetlands can vary from rather dry to near-permanent inundated grounds. One can find the Bottle sedge (Carex rostrata - Tjarnastör) Bottle sedge (Carex rostrata - Tjarnastör) often along the edges of lakes and ponds. In more boggy wetlands two cotton grasses often dominate, being the Common cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium - Klófífa) Common cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium - Klófífa) and the Scheuchzer's cottongrass (Eriophorum scheuchzeri - Hrafnafífa) Scheuchzer's cottongrass (Eriophorum scheuchzeri - Hrafnafífa) . Many other medium-sized sedges can be found in the wetlands; two examples are: the Silvery sedge (Carex canescens - Blátoppastör) Silvery sedge (Carex canescens - Blátoppastör) and the Star sedge ( Carex echinata - Ígolstör) Star sedge ( Carex echinata - Ígolstör) . But there are many more sedge species.....

In the wet meadows of the lowlands, a very conspicuous flower often appears in spring: Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris - Hófsóley) Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris - Hófsóley) . This plant usually grows along waterways like ditches.

Highlands and mountains

There are quite a few species that only grow in the (high) mountains. A beautiful example is the Glacier buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis - Jöklasóley) Glacier buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis - Jöklasóley) . A less conspicuous buttercup of the mountains is the Pigmy buttercup (Ranunculus pygmaeus - Dvergsóley) Pigmy buttercup (Ranunculus pygmaeus - Dvergsóley) . Another plant of the high mountains is the Alpine whitlowgrass (Draba oxycarpa - Fjallavorblóm) Alpine whitlowgrass (Draba oxycarpa - Fjallavorblóm) . This species is rather rare though. Far more common (also at lower altitudes of mountains) is the Creeping sibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumbens - Fjallasmári) Creeping sibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumbens - Fjallasmári) .

Apart from specific mountain plants, one can also distinguish highland species that can be found in mountains but are more common in relatively flat highland areas where vegetation develops along rivers, ponds, or sheltered places. One of the prettiest highland species is the Red-tipped lousewort (Pedicularis flammea - Tröllastakkur) Red-tipped lousewort (Pedicularis flammea - Tröllastakkur) . In the rugged highlands one can also find the Slender snow saxifrage (Saxifraga tenuis - Dvergsteinbrjótur) Slender snow saxifrage (Saxifraga tenuis - Dvergsteinbrjótur) , the Northern sandwort (Minuartia biflora - Fjallanóra) Northern sandwort (Minuartia biflora - Fjallanóra) and the Wavy meadow-grass (Poa flexuosa - Lotsveifgras) Wavy meadow-grass (Poa flexuosa - Lotsveifgras) .

Thermal soil plants

Iceland is of coarse famous for its volcanic nature. Thus "thermal" soils are abundant, some very hot, others only mildly warm. As such one can expect special species growing in these environments. A very characteristic species is the Small Adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum azoricum). Unfortunately, there is no photo available, but see the Wikipedia page on the Small Adder's-tongue (Naðurtunga). Another species that - in Iceland - is restricted to thermal soils is the Marsh cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum - Grámygla) Marsh cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum - Grámygla) . Another species that is restricted to thermal soils is the Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris -Vatnsnafli) . Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris - Vatnsnafli) . Apart from these three obligate thermal soil species, there are some species that occur occasionally on "cold" soils but nevertheless have a preference for thermal soils. Notably this is the Drug eyebright (Euphrasia stricta) - Kirtilaugnfró) Drug eyebright (Euphrasia stricta) - Kirtilaugnfró) and, somewhat surprisingly, also the Greater Plantain (Plantago major - Græðisúra) Greater Plantain (Plantago major - Græðisúra) . It should be noted that the Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) which is only common in the very south of Iceland grows - albeit rarely - on some thermal grounds in the north. Finally Water Mint (Mentha aquatica - Vatnamynta) Water Mint (Mentha aquatica - Vatnamynta) should be mentioned. This species grows on two/three thermal areas (west and north-west Iceland), but it has probably been introduced recently.

The rest

There are certainly many more ecological based vegetation zones. For example the coastal shore regions. On the black beeches one can find the Arctic Sea Rocket (Cakile arctica - Fjörukál) Arctic Sea Rocket (Cakile arctica - Fjörukál) and the Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides - Fjöruarfi) Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides - Fjöruarfi) . A completely different system is the mossy banks of cold streams. Here the Starry Saxifrage (Saxifraga stellaris - Stjörnusteinbrjótur) Starry Saxifrage (Saxifraga stellaris - Stjörnusteinbrjótur) is a conspicuous species among the mosses. Next there are fully aquatic vegetation systems where species of the Potamogeton and Callitriche species can be found, but also a species like the Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot(Ranunculus confervoides - Lónasóley) Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot(Ranunculus confervoides - Lónasóley) with its pretty white flowers emerging above the water can be found. Sometimes ponds can dry up during summer. Here species like the Creeping Spearwort (Ranunculus reptans - Flagasóley) Creeping Spearwort (Ranunculus reptans - Flagasóley) and the Bulbous Rush (Juncus bulbosus) - Hnúðsef) Bulbous Rush (Juncus bulbosus - Hnúðsef) can appear, the latter often forming red mats. Sometimes, when ponds dry in summer, open ground appears on which delicate species like the Awlwort (Subularia aquatica - Alurt) Awlwort (Subularia aquatica - Alurt) may appear. Along the coast, small pockets of salt-marsh habitats can be found, each with their characteristic species. A final note: this page is still far from complete, nor will it ever be...

Continue with:
1)  introduction
2)  Is the flora North American or European?
3) The main vegetation types (this page)
4)  Regional differences in the flora
5)  The influence of the glacial periods and the revegetation following the last glacial period