100 



NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



Finally, the New Zealand edelweiss must be mentioned, of 

 which there are two species, Helichrysum grandiceps and H. Leon- 

 topodium. Both are exquisite, and surpass their celebrated Swiss 

 namesake, Leontopodium alpinum. Perhaps H. Leontopodium (fig. 50). 

 when in. full bloom, as it may be seen in late January on the Tararua 

 and Ruahine Mountains, is the most beautiful plant in New Zealand. 

 A near relation, but much more common, is H. bellidioides (fig. 51). 



FIG. 48. Bringing Vegetable-sheep from 5,000 ft. on Mount Torlessc for the 



Christ church Exhibition of 1906-7. 



[Photo, L. Cockayne. 



ADAPTATIONS OF THE ALPINE PLANTS. 



High mountain plants live under conditions considerably different 

 from those of the lower country. The climate is much colder, many 

 are buried beneath a great depth of snow for several months, and all 

 are subjected to frost at any period of the year. The atmosphere is 

 more rarified than at lower levels, and this leads to stronger and 

 more active sunlight, and to a more rapid loss of water from the leaves 

 of the plants. Although the mountain climate is a wet one, yet 

 when the sun is shining and the sky clear the plants are exposed to 

 danger of damage from a too rapid loss of water. Nor are several 



