The birch tree, often short in stature, sometimes twisted around is one of the few trees that you can see in Iceland, particularly along the south coast.
Betula pubescens tortuosa (Arctic downy birch) is the most common variety of the tree to be found in Iceland.
The Icelandic name Björk means birch.
When Vikings first arrived on the island more than a millennium ago, up to 40% of the landmass was wooded. This percentage could have been even higher long before Vikings set foot on the rocky shores of Iceland. After their arrival, mass deforestation ensued to provide wood for houses and other structures as people settled. After just a few hundred years, most of the trees in Iceland had been cut down.
Betula pubescens tortuosa (Arctic downy birch) is the most common variety of the tree to be found in Iceland.
The Icelandic name Björk means birch.
Bjork Gudmunsdottir is one of the most famous of Iceland's musicians and fearlessly creative in her many projects over the years.
She was born in Reykjavik.
Here's the video for Björk's latest single from her new album Fossora.
Here's the video for Björk's latest single from her new album Fossora.
It's a little out there - check out imagery and video from her current concert tour.
You will see the occasional plantation of coniferous trees e.g. on the southern flanks of the Kerid crater.
These are often part of plans to stabilise the soils and reduce the risk of erosion which has plagued the country in the past, once areas were denuded of the original tree cover.
Check out this webpage which provides some useful detail on the trees in Iceland (or lack of them). It's written by Riley Fortier for the PlantSnap app.
Another shrub is the:
Tea-Leaved Willow (Salix phylicifolia)
Two other trees, which are rarer are:
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and European Aspen (Populus tremula)
Tea-Leaved Willow (Salix phylicifolia)
Two other trees, which are rarer are:
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and European Aspen (Populus tremula)
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