Mountains of Kilpisjarvi Host An Abundance of Threatened Plants in Finnish Lapland

Abstract

ABSTRA C TStrict Nature Reserve (Malla SNR), located by Lake Kilpisjarvi in the northwes tern corner of Finland, approximately 270 km north of the Arctic Circle, con serves 3050 ha of subarctic birch forest and alpine environment. Pikku-Malla Fell (734 m alt.) and the adjoining Saana Fell (1029 m alt.) are famous for their rich flora, including numerous rare species. Calcicolous alpine species, which are rare or absent in other parts of Finland, are the most characteristic element of the flora. In this paper I summarize the red-listed vascular plants and bryophytes re corded in Malla SNR and on Saana Fell. For Malla and Saana, 24 vascular plants and 68 bryophytes are currently classified as threatened, and 23 vascular plants and 47 bryophytes as near-threatened. Due to the high geomorphological di versi ty and base-rich bedrock, these mountains provide a wide variety of habitats for rare and threatened plant species.