ENTRIES START
Below you can find links to the various (natural & artificial) groups of Icelandic plant species. From there you can identify single species and find the information on that species.
Clubmosses and ferns consist of 3 basic groups:
1)
clubmosses:
these are plants with small leaves, having only one vein. The leaves are more or less pressed onto the stem.
2)
horsetails:
these are plants with leafless stems. Some only have one main stem where others have side branches, but never leaves.
Spore forming organs are conically placed on the top of the
stems. This group is regarded as a fern-ally
3) true ferns
(leafy plants, leaves (fronds) are usually divided in leaflets. Stems very
short usually not visible. The spore forming organs (sporangia) are often on the bottom
side of the leaves. Some ferns though have the sporangia in other places.
Below are the links to information on specific clubmoss species
Alpine Clubmosses Lycopodium alpinum |
Interrupted Clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum |
Fir Clubmoss Huperzia selago |
Lesser Clubmoss Selaginella selaginoides |
Next the links to information on specific horsetail species. Note that some species sometimes lack side branches but not always. The division below is merely a quick introduction. On the pages of the individual species this is clarified.
(1) Horsetail species usually with branched stems. These branches are placed in whorls around the main stem
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense |
Shady Horsetail Equisetum pratense |
Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre |
Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum |
(2) Horsetail species usually lacking side branches from the main stem
Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre |
Water Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile |
Variegated Horsetail Equisetum variegatum |
Rough Horsetail Equisetum hyemale |
Mackay's Horsetail Equisetum x mackaii |
Note that E. palustre (marsh horsetail) is in both series; that is because at first it may seem to be without lateral branches but later on during the season it clearly does have lateral branches.
And now the links to information on specific true fern species. Note that the first series contains a natural group, the second and third does not reflect natural groups.
1): Ophioglossids: members of the Ophioglossacea (Adder's-tongue family). Members of this family have one leaf that is divided into a vegetative green part (blade) and a generative part that holds the sporangia. Note that this section is far from complete.
Common Moonwort Botrichium lunaria |
Mingan Moonwort Botrichium minganense |
Lance-leaved Moonwort Botrichium lanceolatum |
Description of other moonworts on Iceland |
Description of the Small Adder's-tongue |
2): Single leaves not disected in leaflets or compound leaves having only first order leaflets (meaning the leaves are disected only once in a row - these first order leaflets are not disected any further - pinnate leaves)
Hard fern Blechnum spicant + Blechnum fallax |
Holly Fern Polystichum lonchitis |
Oblong Woodsia Fern Woodsia ilvensis |
Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare |
3): leaves disected at least twice in a row (bipinnate leaves)
Note: only the Juniper is indigenous to Iceland. The other 3 species are introduced trees. Apart from these 3 species many other pine-related species have been introduced for forestation projects.
Juniper Juniperus communis |
Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta |
Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis |
Siberian Larch Larix siberica |
Woody species excluding willows:
Willow species:
Dwarf Willow Salix herbacea |
Wooly Willow Salix lanata |
Arctic Willow Salix arctica |
Tea-leaved Willow Salix phylicifolia |
Feltleaf Willow Salix alaxensis |
Heath species (1): Crowberry (Empetrum), Common heather (Calluna) and other heather species species:
Crowberry Empetrum nigrum |
Common Heather Calluna vulgaris |
Blue Heath Phyllodoce coerulea |
Trailing azalea Loiseleuria procumbens |
Mossy Mountain-heather Harrimanella hypnoides = Cassiope hypnoides |
Heather species (2): Arctostaphylos (bearberry) and Vaccinium species:
Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
Northern/Bog Bilberry Vaccinium uliginosum |
Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus |
Small Cranberry Vaccinium microcarpum |
Wintergreen species: (Note: the Pyrola and Orthillia species {wintergreen's} have been regarded as members of their own family - Pyrolaceae. Recent genetic studies lead specialists to conclude that they have to be included in the Ericaceae = heather family).
Common Wintergreen Pyrola minor |
Arctic Wintergreen Pyrola grandiflora |
Serrated Wintergreen Orthilia secunda |
Dock / Sorrel family:(Polygonaceae): Rather small reddish or white flowers clustered in dense inflorescenses.
Mountain sorrel Oxyria digyna |
Common sorrel Rumex acetosa |
Sheep's Sorrel Rumex acetosella |
Northern Sorrel Rumex longifolius |
Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare |
Iceland-purslane Koenigia islandica |
Alpine bistort Bistorta vivipara |
Rhubarb Rheum sp. |
Goosefoot, Purslane, Sundew and Nettle families:
Babingtons's Orache Atriplex glabriuscula |
Blinks Montia fontana |
Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia |
Common Nettle Urtica dioica |
Goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae): On Iceland there is just one common species. It is a coastal plant often growing on sandy beach soils over flood deposits. Small inconspicuous green or reddish flowers grouped together.
Purslane family (Portulacaceae): Also one common species on Iceland: Montia fontana (Blinks). Note there is also a plant called Iceland-purslane. Contrary to what the name suggests, this is not a member of the purslane family but it belongs to the dock family (see above).
Nettle family (Urticaceae): The nettle family is represented by two introduced weedy species. They are regarded as "aliens".
Saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae): Starry flowers usually (creamy-)white but two species are yellow and one purple. The calyx is often fused at the bottom. For identification the family is split in three series: being the non-white flowering members of the Saxifraga genus plus the white flowering "Grass of Parnassus" (Parnassia palustris). The latter is member of the Saxifraga family but not a true Saxifraga, The second and third list present the white flowering Saxifraga's. It is easy to change the lists within any page though.
Grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris |
Marsh Saxifrage Saxifraga hirculus |
Yellow Saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides |
Purple Saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia |
Pyramidal Saxifrage Saxifraga cotyledon |
Tufted Saxifrage Saxifraga caespitosa |
Irish Saxifrage Saxifraga rosacea |
Starry Saxifrage Saxifraga stellaris |
Mossy Saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides |
Alpine Snow Saxifrage Saxifraga nivalis |
Slender Snow Saxifrage Saxifraga tenuis |
Drooping Saxifrage Saxifraga cernua |
Alpine Brook Saxifrage Saxifraga rivularis |
Now we explore the Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) in this section. On Iceland only a few stonecrop species are common in the wild. Typically the members of this family have fleshy leaves. It includes three stonecrops (Sedum) species and the rose root (Rhodiola rosea)
These are:
Roseroot Rhodiola rosea |
Biting Stonecropt Sedum acre |
Annual Stonecrop Sedum annuum |
Hairy Stonecrop Sedum-villosum |
Now let's go to the Rose family (Rosaceae).
It is very difficult - if not impossible - to name a single feature for identifying a plant as a member of the rose family. Common species on Iceland are lady's-mantle's, Cinquefoils and Mountain&Water Avens. In order to keep some order I heve split them in three groups being:
1) the Alchemilla species (Lady's mantles)
2) the Potentils and relatives (Comarum and Sibaldia)
3) the remaining species
Whithin a specific species data page one can switch these lists
Silver Weed Potentilla anserina |
Sea-sideSilverweed Potentilla egedii |
Alpine Cinquefoil Potentilla crantzii |
Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre |
Creeping Sibbaldia Sibbaldia procumbens |
Mountain Avens Dryas octopetala |
Water Avens Geum rivale |
Stone Bramble Rubus saxatilis |
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca |
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria |
The next family listed below is the Buttercup and Poppy family. Most of them have yellow flowers, some though have white flowers. Some are (semi-)aquatic plants. Buttercups on Iceland are usually yellow-flowered or white (be aware of cinquefoils of the Rose family with superficially similar flowers). A common but rather strange little plant is the alpine meadow-rue which has one row of small purple flower leaves. The link start with the alpine meadow-rue from where one can easily find and identify other buttercups. The poppy family is also included here.
In order to keep it apprehensible I have split this group into three different lists, being:
1) The Yellow-flowered Buttercup family species
2) The White-flowering Buttercup family species
3) Poppies
1) Yellow-flowered species of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
2) Non yellow-flowered species of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
Glacier Buttercup Ranunculus glacialis |
Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus |
Alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum |
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa |
3) Species of the poppy family (Papaveraceae)
Arctic Poppy Papaver radicatum |
Iceland Poppy Papaver croceum |
Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris |
Nootka lupin Lupinus nootkatensis |
Tufted vetch Vicia cracca |
White Clover Trifolium repens |
Red Clover Trifolium pratense |
Sea Pea Lathyrus japonicus |
Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria |
Members of the mustard family - known both as Cruciferae and Brassicaceae - are pure herbaceas plants. Many vegetables belong to this group: cabbages, radish, etc. On Iceland many species of the wild are small and white flowering plants. Because there are also many white-flowering members of the pink family on Iceland - here is the simple way to distinguish them: pink family species always have opposite leaves along their stems, members of the mustard family never have opposite leaves along their stems.
The Draba genus with white flowers is common with a few species. Next to other white-flowering species there are also a few non-white flowering species.
Mustard family species 1: non-white flowering species
Lady Smock Cardamine nymanii |
Hawkweed-leaved Treaclemustard Erysimum hieracifolium |
Small-flowered Winter-cress Barbarea stricta |
Wintercress Barbarea stricta |
Mustard family species 2: white/yellow flowering species belonging to the Draba genus
Snow Whitlowgrass Draba incana |
Hoary Whitlowgrass Draba nivalis |
Rock Whitlowgrass Draba norvegica |
Alpine Whitlowgrass Draba oxycarpa aka Draba alpina |
Mustard family species 3: All other white flowering species
Because the number of Pink species on Iceland is rather large, I have split the group in four series.
The first series includes the Chickweeds/Stitchwort group and Spurrey
Common Chickweed Stellaria media |
Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea |
Fleshy Stitchwort Stellaria crassifolia |
Saltmarsh Stitchwort Stellaria humifusa |
Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis |
The second series includes the Cerastium and Arenaria species (Mouse-ear and Sandworts):
Alpine Mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum |
Arctic Mouse-ear Cerastium nigrescens |
Starwort Mouse-ear Cerastium cerastioides |
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum |
Arctic Sandwort Arenaria norvegica |
The third series includes the Sagina species (Pearlwort species) and Minuartia(sandwort):
The fourth series includes the Lychnis (catchfly), Silene (campions) and Honckenya (Sea sandwort) species:
Alpine-catchfly Viscaria alpina |
Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi |
Moss Campion Silene acaulis |
Sea Campion Silene uniflora |
Red Campion Silene dioica |
Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides |
First the three Plantain species
Sea Plantain Plantago maritima |
Greater Plantain Plantago major |
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata |
Second: related species (Hippuris and Callitriche species)
Third: related species (Veronica species)
Wild Pansy Viola tricolor |
Alpine Marsh Violet Viola palustris introducing all viola's |
Northern Marsh Violet Viola epipsila |
Heath Dog Violet Viola canina |
On Iceland four violet species are common. On the page of the Alpine Marsh Violet (V. palustris) the differences between the species are described. The link to this species is here.
Wood Crane's-bill Geranium sylvaticum |
Dwarf Cornel Cornus suecica |
Chickweed Wintergreen Trientalis europaea |
Fairy Flax Linum catharticum |
In this section we wrap up the remaining species with flowers having free petals. The species here are only distantly related.
Gentians (family: Gentianaceae) are typically summer-flowering plants.
The thumbnails below link to species of the broomrape family (Orobranchaceae) on Iceland. | ||||
Alpine Bartsia Bartsia alpina |
Cold Eyebright Euphrasia frigida |
Drug Eyebright Euphrasia stricta |
Red-tipped Lousewort Pedicularis flammea |
Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor |
These species are semi-parasites: they tap their own root system into the roots of other plants in order to acquire (steal) nutrients from these other plants (often grasses). They have flowers with a left/right symmetry.
The thumbnails below link to mint species (Lamiaceae) of Iceland | ||||
Wild Thyme Thymus praecox |
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris |
White Dead-nettle Lamium album |
Common Hemp-nettle Galeopsis tetrahit |
Water Mint Mentha aquatica |
The number of mint species growing in the wild on Iceland is small. Actually only thyme and selfheal are considered indigenous. The two "nettles" are introduced weeds and the water mint is rare introduced species only growing only on a few thermal soils. The low number of species reflects the fact that the members of the mint family are generally warmth-loving species. Having said this though it should be noted that the arctic thyme (a subspecies of the wild thyme) is very common all over Iceland where plant-growth conditions are not extremely tough. Members of this family also have flowers with a left/right symmetry.
The thumbnail below link to lopseed family species (Phrymaceae) of Iceland | ||||
Monkey Flower Mimulus guttatus |
This is an introduced species (from America) growing in shallow creeks.
The daisy family (Asteraceae) is a very large family. Characteristic for this family is that (very) many single flowers are grouped together in a flowerhead which in turn resembles one single flower. This is accentuated by the fact that often the outer ring of the flowers on the head have one long petiole (ligulate or ray flowers). The ring of these single ray flowers on the outer edge of the flowerhead make the head appear to be just one flower (think of the sunflower). This is not always the case! There are daisies with only ray flowers (like dandelion) and there are those without ray flowers at all (example: Pineaple weed / Tansy).
The thumbnails below link to daisy (Asteraceae) species with yellow flowers (or at least with a yellow heart). | |||||
Hawkweed Hieracium spp |
Alpine Hawkweed Hieracium alpinum |
Icelandic Hawkweed Pilosella islandica |
Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis |
Dandelion Taraxacum spp |
|
Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum Also known as Matricaria maritima |
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea |
Colt's-Foot Tussilago farfara |
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare |
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris |
Seaside Groundsel aka Seaside Ragwort Jacobaea pseudoarnica |
The thumbnails below link to daisy (Asteraceae) species of the Achilea and Erigeron genera. | ||||
Yarrow Achillea millefolium |
Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica |
Alpine Fleabane Erigeron borealis |
Dwarf Fleabane Erigeron uniflorus |
Arctic Alpine Fleabane Erigeron humilis |
The thumbnails below link to cudweed/everlasting species of the daisy (Asteraceae) family. | ||||
Dwarf Cudweed Omalotheca supina |
Highland Cudweed Omalotheca norvegica |
Marsh Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum |
The thumbnails below link to thistle-like species and mugwort (Asteraceae) = daisy family. | ||||
Perennial Cornflower Centaurea montana |
Squarrose Knapweed Centaurea triumfetti |
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense |
Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris |
Bellflowers, Forget-me-not's and Oysterplant (Campanulaceae and Boraginaceae families):
Bedstraw (Galium) species (Rubiaceae family).
For other bedstraws see: Northern bedstraw |
|||
Northern bedstraw Galium boreale |
Slender bedstraw Galium normanii |
Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum |
Follows the remaining herbs with fused petals: Thrift, Common Butterwort, Valerian and Devil's-bit Scabious species.
Sealavender family (Plumbaginaceae), Bladderwort family (Lentibulariaceae) and Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
Thrift Armeria maritima |
Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris |
Hill Valerian Valeriana officinalis ssp sambucifolia |
Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis |
Lily family and closely related to the lily family members.
The number of species growing in the wild on Iceland of this group is very limited. Very common is the Scottish asphodel (Tofieldia pusilla). Quite common are Arrowgrasses (Marsh and Sea arrowgrasses). The Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) is more rare. It can be found in lava crevasses.
Herb Paris Paris quadrifolia |
Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla |
Marsh Arrowgrass Triglochin palustris |
Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima |
Rushes: Due to their leaf-forms, rushes appear at first glance to be something like grasses or sedges. Close inspection on flowers show they have - be it small - neat 6 floral leaves like lily flowers - very different to the complex spike(lets) inflorescences of sedges and grasses.
First: the Luzula rushes (known as Wood-rushes): wood-rushes have hairy grass blade-like leaves
Heath Wood-rush Luzula multiflora |
Sudetan Wood-rush Luzula sudetica |
Spiked Wood-rush Luzula spicata |
Curved Wood-rush Luzula arcuata |
Northern Wood-rush Luzula confusa |
Second: the Juncus rushes
The Juncus rushes have hollow-pointed leaves (more or less like chives)
For conveniance I have split them in three groups: the taller species (20cm+), the middel-sized species (10 à 15 cm) and the smaller (low) species (rarely taller than 5 cm).
Taller species: over 30cm (usually 40cm+).
Arctic Rush Juncus arcticus subspecies: arcticus |
>Arctic Rush Juncus arcticus subspecies: intermedius |
Baltic Rush Juncus balticus |
Thread Rush Juncus filiformis |
Middle-sized species: 10 to 20 cm tall - (rarely up to 30cm)
Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus |
Alpine Rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus |
Chestnut Rush Juncus castaneus |
Three-leaved Rush Juncus trifidus |
Smaller (low) species (rarely over 5cm. tall ; occasionally up to 25cm.)
Three-flowered Rush Juncus triglumis |
Two-flowered Rush Juncus biglumis |
Frog Rush Juncus ranarius = Juncus ambiguus |
Bulbous Rush Juncus bulbosus |
Orchids:
Although the number of common species is relatively low, orchids are common throughout the better vegetated regions of Iceland. Below are listed all more or less common orchid species of Iceland (just open any species and this list will appear).
The sedge family (Cyperaceae) is well represented in the Icelandic flora. The major group consists of the true sedges (Carex sp.). Other representatives are the Spike-rushes, Deergrass, and Cottongrasses.
Spike-rush species (Eleocharis sp.) and Deergrass (Trichophorum).
Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris |
Slender Spike-rush Eleocharis uniglumis |
Few-flowered Spike-rush Eleocharis quinqueflora |
Needle Spike-rush Eleocharis acicularis |
Deergrass Trichophorum cespitosum |
Cottongrasses: (Eriophorum sp).
Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium |
Scheuchzer's cottongrass Eriophorum scheuchzeri |
On Iceland many sedge-species can be found. The major genus with most species is the genus Carex. I have most common as well as a few less common species on this site. It is though far from complete!
In order to make it easier for you I have split the Carex-species in the following groups:
Carex species: Stems having only one terminal spike
Dioecious Sedge Carex dioica |
Mouse-tail Bog Sedge Carex myosuroides |
Bristle Sedge Carex microglochin |
Capitate Sedge Carex capitata |
Rock Sedge Carex rupestris |
Carex species: multiple spiked stems: spikes not distincly male or female, Spikes condensed at the top of flowering stems.
Carex species: multiple spiked stems: spikes not distincly male or female, Spikes more or less evenly spaced along flowering stems.
Star Sedge Carex echinata |
Silvery Sedge Carex canescens |
Brownish Sedge Carex brunnescens |
Mackenzie's Sedge Carex mackenziei |
Krause's Sedge Carex krausei |
Carex species: multiple spiked stems: spikes clearly divided in mainly female-flowered and mainly male-flowered types;
female flowers 3 styled.
(a) species with drooping female spikes
Hair Sedge Carex capillaris |
Mountain Bog-sedge Carex rariflora |
Common Bog-sedge & Tall Bog-sedge Carex limosa & Carex paupercula |
Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca |
(b) species with upright female spikes
Sheathed Sedge Carex vaginata |
Carnation Sedge Carex panicea |
Large Yellow-sedge Carex flava |
Pill Sedge Carex pilulifera |
Glacier Sedge Carex glacialis |
Bottle Sedge Carex rostrata |
Carex species: multiple spiked stems: spikes clearly divided in mainly female-flowered and mainly male-flowered types;
female flowers 2 styled.
For most people, even nature lovers, grasses do not bring great enthousiasm. This is even more so when it concerns identification of grass species. To difficult, it is believed. That though is exaggerated. One needs to know the names of typical morphological elements of grasses. If you are not sure, check this.
The inflorescences of grasses are often divided in three classes, being:
By far the most species belong to the loose/ slightly contracted panicles group.
To quickly sieve through all grasses one can first settle the inflorescence type. If it belongs to the first group one can check the number of flowers in the spikelets and in case of many if the spikelets are somewhat flattened. Further identification is then not so difficult anymore.
Finally this section is yet far from complete but does include nearly all common grass species of Iceland. I am planning to introduce many more species in the future.
Panicles with spikelets having just one flower
Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera |
Brown Bent Agrostis vinealis |
Narrow Small-reed Calamagrostis stricta |
Whorl Grass Catabrosa aquatica |
Reed Canary Grass Phalaris arundinaceaa |
Panicles with spikelets having two - thee flowers
Panicles with spikelets having many flowers
Panicles with spikelets having few - many flowers: Poa species: these have rather flattened (keeled) spikelets.
Smooth Meadow-grass Poa pratensis |
Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis |
Alpine Meadow-grass Poa alpina |
Wavy Meadow-grass Poa flexuosa |
Glaucous Meadow-grass Poa glauca |
Spike-like panicles: Alopecurus and Phleum species
Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis |
Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus |
Orange Foxtail Alopecurus aequalis |
Timothy Phleum pratense |
Alpine Cat's-tail Phleum alpinum |
Spike-like panicles: other species
Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum |
Spiked Trisetum Trisetum spicatum |
True spikes
(American) Lyme-grass Leymus (mollis) arenarius |
Couch Grass Elytrigia repens |
Mat-grass Nardus stricta |
Members of the Potamogetonaceae are all true waterplants
The following water plants are close relatives of the Plantain-family
Miscellaneous other water plants.
Alternate Water-milfoil Myriophyllum alterniflorum |
Bur-reeds Sparganium sp |
Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata |
Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus |