View source for Flora of Svalbard

{{Short description|Vascular plant species of the archipelago of Svalbard}}
There are over 190 [[vascular plant]] species on the [[Norway|Norwegian]] Arctic [[archipelago]] of [[Svalbard]]. This figure does not include [[alga]]e, [[moss]]es, and [[lichen]]s, which are [[non-vascular plant]]s. For an island so far north, this number of species constitutes an astonishing variety of plant life. Because of the harsh climate and the short growing season, all the plants are slow growing. They seldom grow higher than {{cvt|10|cm|in|0}}

In some areas, especially in warmer valleys, the plants produce carpets of blossoms. Svalbard has been divided into four vegetation zones.

==Plant species==
[[Image:Arctic bell-heather.jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[Cassiope tetragona|Arctic bell-heather]]]][[Image:hawkweed1.jpg|thumb|130px|right|[[Saxifraga hieracifolia|Hawkweed-leaved saxifrage]]]][[Image:knotweed1.jpg|thumb|130px|right|[[Polygonum viviparum|Alpine bistort]]]][[Image:Silene acaulis - Mosscampion.jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[Moss campion]]]][[Image:Svalbard poppy (Papaver dahlianum).jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[Svalbard poppy]]]][[Image:Pedicularis dasyantha - Lousewort1.jpg|thumb|130px|right|[[Pedicularis dasyantha|Woolly lousewort]]]]
{{div col}}
*''[[Achillea millefolium]]'' <small>L.</small> (introduced)
*''[[Alchemilla glomerulans]]'' <small>Buser</small>
*''[[Alchemilla subcrenata]]'' <small>Buser</small> (introduced)
*''[[Alopecurus magellanicus]]'' <small>Lam.</small>
*''[[Anthriscus sylvestris]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Arabis alpina]]''  <small>L.</small><ref name ="Alsos" >{{cite journal |title=Frequent Long-Distance Plant Colonization in the Changing Arctic |year=2007 |last1=Alsos |first1=I. G. |last2=Eidesen |first2=P. B. |last3=Ehrich |first3=D. |last4=Skrede |first4=I. |last5=Westergaard |first5=K. |last6=Jacobsen |first6=G. H. |last7=Landvik |first7=J. Y. |last8=Taberlet |first8=P. |last9=Brochmann |first9=C. |journal=Science |volume=316 |issue=5831 |pages=1606–1609 |doi=10.1126/science.1139178 |pmid=17569861 |bibcode=2007Sci...316.1606A |s2cid=37250212 }}</ref> – Alpine rock-cress
*''[[Arctagrostis latifolia]]'' <small>(R.Br.) Griseb.</small>
*''[[× Arctodupontia scleroclada]]'' <small>(Rupr.) Tzvelev</small>
*''[[Arenaria humifusa]]'' <small>Wahlenb.</small>
*''[[Arenaria pseudofrigida]]'' <small>(Ostenf. & O.C.Dahl) Steffen</small> – fringed sandwort
*''[[Barbarea vulgaris]]'' <small>W.T.Aiton</small> (introduced)
*''[[Betula nana]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – dwarf birch
*''[[Bistorta vivipara]]'' <small>(L.) Delarbre</small>
*''[[Braya purpurascens]]'' <small>(R.Br.) Bunge ex Ledeb.</small> – purplish braya
*''[[Botrychium boreale]]'' <small>Milde</small> 
*''[[Botrychium lunaria]]'' <small>(L.) Sw.</small> 
*''[[Cakile arctica]]'' <small>Pobed.</small> (extinct in Svalbard)
*''[[Calamagrostis purpurascens]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Calamagrostis stricta]]'' <small>(Timm) Koeler</small>
*''[[Campanula giesekiana]]'' <small>Vest ex Schult.</small>
*''[[Campanula uniflora]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Cardamine bellidifolia]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Cardamine nymanii]]'' <small>Gand.</small> – polar cress
*''[[Carex bigelowii]]'' <small>Torr. ex Schwein.</small>
*''[[Carex capillaris]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Carex dioica]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Carex × flavicans]]'' <small>(F.Nyl.) F.Nyl.</small>
*''[[Carex fuliginosa]]'' <small>Schkuhr</small>
*''[[Carex glacialis]]'' <small>Mack.</small>
*''[[Carex glareosa]]'' <small>Schkuhr ex Wahlenb.</small>
*''[[Carex incurviformis]]'' <small>Mack.</small>
*''[[Carex krausei]]'' <small>Boeckeler</small>
*''[[Carex lachenalii]]'' <small>Schkuhr</small>
*''[[Carex × langeana]]'' <small>Fernald</small>
*''[[Carex × lidii]]'' <small>Hadac</small>
*''[[Carex marina]]'' <small>Dewey</small>
*''[[Carex maritima]]'' <small>Gunnerus</small>
*''[[Carex nardina]]'' <small>(Hornem.) Fr.</small>
*''[[Carex parallela]]'' <small>(Laest.) Sommerf.</small>
*''[[Carex × reducta]]'' <small>Drejer</small>
*''[[Carex rupestris]]'' <small>All.</small>
*''[[Carex saxatilis]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Carex subspathacea]]'' <small>Wormsk. ex Hornem.</small>
*''[[Carex ursina]]'' <small>Dewey</small>
*''[[Cassiope tetragona]]'' <small>(L.) D.Don</small><ref name=Alsos/> – Arctic bell-heather
*''[[Cerastium alpinum]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Cerastium arcticum]]'' <small>Lange</small> – Arctic mouse-ear chickweed
*''[[Cerastium cerastoides]]'' <small>(L.) Britton</small>
*''[[Cerastium regelii]]'' <small>Ostenf.</small>
*''[[Cherleria biflora]]'' <small>(L.) A.J.Moore & Dillenb.</small>
*''[[Chrysosplenium tetrandrum]]'' <small>(N.Lund) Th.Fr.</small>
*''[[Cochlearia groenlandica]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Comastoma tenellum]]'' <small>(Rottb.) Toyok.</small>
*''[[Cystopteris fragilis]]'' <small>(L.) Bernh.</small>
*''[[Deschampsia cespitosa]]'' <small>(L.) P.Beauv.</small>
*''[[Draba × algida]]'' <small>Adams ex DC.</small>
*''[[Draba alpina]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Draba arctica]]'' <small>J.Vahl</small>
*''[[Draba × asplundii]]'' <small>O.E.Schulz</small> (endemic)
*''[[Draba cinerea]]'' <small>Adams</small>
*''[[Draba corymbosa]]'' <small>R.Br. ex DC.</small>
*''[[Draba daurica]]'' <small>DC.</small>
*''[[Draba fladnizensis]]'' <small>Wulfen</small>
*''[[Draba hirta]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Draba lactea]]'' <small>Adams</small> – Lapland whitlow-grass
*''[[Draba × lastrungica]]'' <small>O.E.Schulz</small> (endemic)
*''[[Draba micropetala]]'' <small>Hook.</small>
*''[[Draba nivalis]]'' <small>Lilj.</small>
*''[[Draba norvegica]]'' <small>Gunnerus</small>
*''[[Draba oxycarpa]]'' <small>Sommerf.</small>
*''[[Draba pauciflora]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Draba × schaeferi]]'' <small>O.E.Schulz</small> (endemic)
*''[[Draba subcapitata]]'' <small>Simmons</small>
*''[[Draba × ursorum]]'' <small>Gand.</small> (endemic)
*''[[Dryas octopetala]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – mountain avens
*''[[Dupontia fisheri]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Empetrum nigrum]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – crowberry
*''[[Equisetum arvense]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Equisetum scirpoides]]'' <small>Michx.</small>
*''[[Eriophorum angustifolium]]'' <small>Honck.</small>
*''[[Eriophorum scheuchzeri]]'' <small>Hoppe</small> – Arctic cottongrass
*''[[Euphrasia frigida]]'' <small>Pugsley</small>
*''[[Eutrema edwardsii]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Festuca baffinensis]]'' <small>Polunin</small>
*''[[Festuca brachyphylla]]'' <small>Schult. & Schult.f.</small>
*''[[Festuca heteromalla]]'' <small>Pourr.</small>
*''[[Festuca hyperborea]]'' <small>Holmen</small>
*''[[Festuca richardsonii]]'' <small>Hook.</small>
*''[[Festuca rubra]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Festuca vivipara]]'' <small>(L.) Sm.</small>
*''[[Harrimanella hypnoides]]'' <small>(L.) Coville</small>
*''[[Hippuris lanceolata]]'' <small>Retz.</small>
*''[[Honckenya peploides]]'' <small>(L.) Ehrh.</small>
*''[[Huperzia arctica]]'' <small>(Grossh. ex Tolm.) Sipliv.</small>
*''[[Juncus arcticus]]'' <small>Willd.</small>
*''[[Juncus biglumis]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Juncus castaneus]]'' <small>Sm.</small>
*''[[Juncus effusus]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Juncus squarrosus]]'' <small>L.</small> (introduced)
*''[[Juncus triglumis]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Koenigia islandica]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Lolium pratense]]'' <small>(Huds.) Darbysh.</small>
*''[[Luzula arcuata]]'' <small>(Wahlenb.) Sw.</small>
*''[[Luzula confusa]]'' <small>Lindeb.</small> – Arctic wood-rush
*''[[Luzula nivalis]]'' <small>(Laest.) Spreng.</small> – tundra wood-rush
*''[[Luzula spicata]]'' <small>(L.) DC.</small>
*''[[Luzula wahlenbergii]]'' <small>Rupr.</small>
*''[[Mertensia maritima]]'' <small>(L.) Gray</small> – oysterleaf
*''[[Micranthes foliolosa]]'' <small>(R.Br.) Gornall</small>
*''[[Micranthes hieraciifolia]]'' <small>(Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Haw.</small>
*''[[Micranthes nivalis]]'' <small>(L.) Small</small>
*''[[Micranthes tenuis]]'' <small>(Wahlenb.) Small</small>
*''[[Oxyria digyna]]'' <small>(L.) Hill</small> – mountain sorrel
*''[[Papaver cornwallisense]]'' <small>D.Löve</small>
*''[[Papaver dahlianum]]'' <small>Nordh.</small> – Svalbard poppy
*''[[Pedicularis dasyantha]]'' <small>Hadac</small> – woolly lousewort
*''[[Pedicularis hirsuta]]'' <small>L.</small> – hairy lousewort
*''[[Phippsia algida]]'' <small>(Sol.) R.Br.</small>
*''[[Phippsia concinna]]'' <small>(Th.Fr.) Lindeb.</small>
*''[[Pleuropogon sabinei]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Poa abbreviata]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Poa alpigena]]'' <small>Lindm.</small>
*''[[Poa alpina]]'' <small>L.</small> – Alpine meadow-grass
*''[[Poa arctica]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Poa glauca]]'' <small>Vahl</small>
*''[[Poa hartzii]]'' <small>Gand.</small>
*''[[Poa pratensis]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Polemonium boreale]]'' <small>Adams</small> – boreal Jacobs-ladder
*''[[Polygonum aviculare]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Potentilla chamissonis]]'' <small>Hultén</small> – bluff cinquefoil
*''[[Potentilla crantzii]]'' <small>(Crantz) Beck ex Fritsch</small>
*''[[Potentilla hyparctica]]'' <small>Malte</small> – Arctic cinquefoil
*''[[Potentilla × insularis]]'' <small>Soják</small> (endemic)
*''[[Potentilla × prostrata]]'' <small>Rottb.</small>
*''[[Potentilla pulchella]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> – tufted cinquefoil
*''[[Potentilla sommerfeltii]]'' <small>Lehm.</small>
*''[[Puccinellia angustata]]'' <small>(R.Br.) E.L.Rand & Redfield</small>
*''[[Puccinellia phryganodes]]'' <small>(Trin.) Scribn. & Merr.</small> – cushioned saltmarsh grass
*''[[Puccinellia tenella]]'' <small>(Lange) Holmb.</small>
*''[[Puccinellia vahliana]]'' <small>(Liebm.) Scribn. & Merr.</small>
*''[[× Pucciphippsia vacillans]]'' <small>(Th.Fr.) Tzvelev</small>
*''[[Ranunculus acris]]'' <small>L.</small> (introduced)
*''[[Ranunculus glacialis]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Ranunculus hyperboreus]]'' <small>Rottb.</small> – Arctic buttercup
*''[[Ranunculus lapponicus]]'' <small>L.</small> – Lapland buttercup
*''[[Ranunculus nivalis]]'' <small>L.</small> – snow buttercup
*''[[Ranunculus pallasii]]'' <small>Schltdl.</small>
*''[[Ranunculus pygmaeus]]'' <small>Wahlenb.</small> – pygmy buttercup
*''[[Ranunculus × spitsbergensis]]'' <small>Hadac</small>
*''[[Ranunculus sulphureus]]'' <small>Sol.</small> – sulphur-coloured buttercup
*''[[Rhodiola rosea]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Rubus chamaemorus]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – cloudberry
*''[[Rumex acetosella]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Sabulina rossii]]'' <small>(R.Br. ex Richardson) Dillenb. & Kadereit</small>
*''[[Sabulina rubella]]'' <small>(Wahlenb.) Dillenb. & Kadereit</small>
*''[[Sabulina stricta]]'' <small>(Sw.) Rchb.</small>
*''[[Sagina caespitosa]]'' <small>Lange</small>
*''[[Sagina nivalis]]'' <small>(Lindblad) Fr.</small>
*''[[Salix herbacea]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – snowbed willow
*''[[Salix polaris]]'' <small>Wahlenb.</small> – polar willow
*''[[Salix reticulata]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Saxifraga aizoides]]'' <small>L.</small> – yellow mountain saxifrage
*''[[Saxifraga cernua]]'' <small>L.</small> – drooping saxifrage
*''[[Saxifraga cespitosa]]'' <small>L.</small> – tufted saxifrage
*''[[Saxifraga hirculus]]'' <small>L.</small> – bog saxifrage
*''[[Saxifraga hyperborea]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
*''[[Saxifraga oppositifolia]]'' <small>L.</small> – purple saxifrage
*''[[Saxifraga rivularis]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – brook saxifrage
*''[[Saxifraga svalbardensis]]'' <small>Øvstedal</small> (endemic)
*''[[Sibbaldia procumbens]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Silene acaulis]]'' <small>(L.) Jacq.</small> – moss campion
*''[[Silene involucrata]]'' <small>(Cham. & Schltdl.) Bocquet</small>
*''[[Silene uralensis]]'' <small>(Rupr.) Bocquet</small>
*''[[Stellaria humifusa]]'' <small>Rottb.</small> – Arctic chickweed
*''[[Stellaria longipes]]'' <small>Goldie</small>
*''[[Stellaria media]]'' <small>(L.) Vill.</small>
*''[[Taraxacum acromaurum]]'' <small>Dahlst</small>
*''[[Taraxacum arcticum]]'' <small>(Trautv.) Dahlst</small>
*''[[Taraxacum brachyceras]]'' <small>Dahlst</small> (endemic)
*''[[Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia]]''
*''[[Taraxacum cymbifolium]]'' <small>H.Lindb. ex Dahlst.</small>
*''[[Taraxacum recedens]]'' <small>(Dahlst.) G.E.Haglund</small> (endemic)
*''[[Taraxacum torvum]]'' <small>G.E.Haglund</small> (endemic)
*''[[Tofieldia pusilla]]'' <small>(Michx.) Pers.</small>
*''[[Trisetum spicatum]]'' <small>(L.) K.Richt.</small>
*''[[Vaccinium uliginosum]]'' <small>L.</small><ref name=Alsos/> – bog bilberry
*''[[Veronica longifolia]]'' <small>L.</small> (introduced)
*''[[Vicia sativa]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Woodsia glabella]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
{{div col end}}
<gallery>
Image:mountsorrel-1.jpg|[[Oxyria digyna|Mountain sorrel]]
Image:spiderplant1.jpg|''[[Saxifraga flagellaris]]''
Image:Saxifraga oppositifolia - PurpSaxifrage1.jpg|[[Purple Saxifrage|Purple saxifrage]]
Image:Vaccinium uliginosum fruit.jpg|Fruit of ''[[Vaccinium uliginosum]]''
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Flora of Europe}}
{{Svalbard topics}}

[[Category:Flora of Svalbard| ]]
[[Category:Environment of Svalbard]]
[[Category:Flora of the Arctic|Svalbard]]
[[Category:Natural history of Norway]]