THE NORTH TEMPERATE ZONE 49 



and in some localities, lilacs are characteristic. The smoke-bush 

 (Rhus cotinus) and flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus) also belong to 

 this region. 



A truly alpine vegetation is richly developed in the high moun- 

 tains which separate central Europe from the Mediterranean 

 countries. The Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians reach high above 

 the snow-line, and in these regions a numerous and beautiful high 

 alpine flora is found. Many species are identical with arctic ones, 

 but many others are peculiar to these high altitudes and each 

 alpine district has many species peculiar to it. 



Near Vienna is a mountain, Schneeberg, only about 2000 

 metres in height, but at the summit having a number of true 

 alpine species. A visit to this mountain about the middle of June 

 showed the snow was not yet all gone, and one found such typical 

 alpine species as Anemone alpina, Ranunculus alpestris, Soldinella, 

 Gentiana verna, G. acaulis, Primula auricula, and others. 



Lower down the mountain were columbines, kingcups (Trollius), 

 Clematis, forget-me-nots, Pedicularis sp. and other sub-alpine 

 species. Of course in the higher Alps the number of strictly alpine 

 forms is much greater. 



In Switzerland the high alpine region above 2600 m. has accord- 

 ing to Drude 1 388 species, of which 150 are arctic species, the others 

 strictly alpine. 



The alpine region sometimes shows open grassy expanses, or 

 meadows, beset with low growing plants, mostly dicotyledons, 

 such as anemones, primroses, buttercups, gentians, etc., with 

 relatively large and vividly colored flowers. 



Monocotyledons are less abundant as alpines. Among the 

 commonest of these (apart from grasses and sedges), are the false 

 hellebore (Veratrum), a few species of onions (Allium), and a 

 small number of inconspicuous orchids. 



Of the dicotyledons, the Compositae, as usual, are the most 

 abundant, for the most part familiar types like the dandelions, 

 hawkweeds, flea-bane (Erigeron), asters, Arnica, golden-rods, 

 mostly yellow in color, except Aster and Erigeron. To the Com- 

 positae belongs also the Edelweiss (Leontopodiuni alpinum) 

 and the low growing thistle-like Carlinia, a very common plant 

 of the lower elevations. 



1 hoc. cit, p. 378. 



