Borovichev E.A. Botanical excursion on the Northern Soroya. Hammerfest, 2014.

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is the loveliest plant o fthe subalpine and lower alpine гопе on Sereya. It blooms plentifully in August with tiny lilac-violetflowers, densely covering every branch their forest environment, in these low-alpine habitats? This is an interesting and unsolved ecological problem. Some scientists consider them to be relic from communities, which reached a higher and more northern position in the post-glacial warm period, In tundra some of them cannot reproduce by seeds and propagate only vegetatively. However, the low-alpine populations of species often differ in their ecology and even morphology: they look like In Russian cuisine berries o fStone Bramble (Rubus saxatilis) can be eaten with sugar or honey, and can be used in preparation o fkissel, compote, jams andjellies ‘miniature’ versions of their counterparts below the timberline. Without protection o f trees, the strong winds leave their mark on vegetation. Due to the wind, snow cover above the timberline lies very unevenly: on exposed hillocks snow cover may be very thin while in sheltered habitats snow may exceed several meters. In exposed habitats forest shrubs take on a creeping appearance, and use every slanting depression, where they are snow-protected during the winter. The height o f Dwarf Birch (Betula папа) shrubs is often a Grey Willow fSalix glauca) is a shrub up to I m tall, with narrow slightly haired leaves. It is an important foodfor reindeer, in winter it constitutes much o fthe dietj'or mountain hares (Lepus timidus) Juniper (Juniperus communis spp. папа) is a shrub from prostrate up to 1.5 m tall It is dioecious, with male andfemale cones on separate plants. Thefemale seed cones are berry-like, from blue to purple-black are used toflavor meats, some beer and gin 35