THE CHAROPHYTES OF GREENLAND

Based on herbarium studies, eight charophytes are reported from Greenl and: Nitella flexilis, N. opaca, Tolypella canadensis, T. nidifica f. groenlandica nov. form., Chara canescens, C. contraria, C. globularis, C. globularis f. bulbillifera nov. form. and C. delicatula. In additi on Chara baltica has been reported in the literature. The total number of known species is therefore nine. Of these 9 species five are commo n in Europe and North America; one (C. canescens) has its main distrib ution in Europe with a few finds in Northeast America; another (T. can adensis) has a northern amphi-atlantic distribution; a third (C. balti ca) has its main distribution in Europe and is found in a few localiti es in South America. One species (T. nidifica) has a European distribu tion only. The early immigration of charophytes to Greenland and the d evelopment of early bird migration routes in this direction lead us to believe that the charophyte flora of Greenland has more affinity to E urope than to North America. Some ecological factors are discussed bel ow for each of the species.