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

(Loiseleuria pivcumbem) are more abundant on acidic substrata, where Heath Grey Moss (. Racomitrium lanuginosum) forms an almost continuous carpet. Troughs and valleys of the middle alpine tundra, where snow accumulates and melts late into summer are called snow beds. Plants here have to endure a delay in the start o f the growing season and often grow on water-saturated soils that may also be subject to downhill soil creep. Extreme snow beds are dominated by the liverworts Juratzka's Anthelia (Anthelia juratzkana), Gymnomitrion species and mosses such as Kiaeria starkei. Snowbed Willow ( Salix herbacea) and Moss Bell Heather ( Harrimanella hypnoides) are characteristic species o f snow beds. Mat-grass (Nardus stricta) forms dense mats in early snow beds and avoids calcareous soils. Fragments o f high alpine tundra can be seen on summits of northern Saraya, above 400 m elevation, especially on stony fields and near permanent snow-patches, where Glacier Buttercup {Ranunculus glacialis) and Snowbed Willow (Salix herbaeea) are characteristic plants. Lichens and mosses are important components o f the high alpine tundra, where they cover large stones and bits of fine earth. Woodrush (Luzula multiflora Bigelow 'sSedge (Carex Three-leaved Rush, Highland ssp. frigida) bigelowii) Rush (Juncus trifidus) You have to use a hand lens to identify sedges, wood-rushes and rushes. They are monocotyledonous plants: sedges belong to Cyperaceaefamily , wood-rushes and rushes - to the Juncaceaefamily. Members o fthe sedge family have stems with triangular cross-sections, leaves o fwood-rushes areflat and bear bunch o flong white hairs, rushes have flat or cylindrical hairless leaves 39