Chap. IV] MOUNTAIN REGIONS IN TEMPERATE ZONES 753 



R. semialata, Cornus macrophylla, and others). Pinus longifolia plays 

 a conspicuous part in this warm temperate belt, and, higher up, an ever- 

 green oak, Ouercus incana. At 2,100 meters the forest assumes a tropo- 

 philous character; here, cold temperate coniferous and broad-leaved trees 

 prevail, with a marked winter-rest. Among coniferous trees remarkable 

 for height and frequency are, Cedrus Deodara, Abies Webbiana, var. 

 Pindrow (Fig. 449), and Pinus excelsa, which last also occurs in the 

 Macedonian mountains. The broad-leaved trees are partly evergreen oaks 

 (Ouercus semecarpifolia, O. dilatata), partly various deciduous trees, usually 

 identical with European and Asiatic species (Prunus Padus, Juglans regia, 

 Aesculus inclica, species of Acer, Ulmus, Carpinus, Alnus, Fraxinus, Salix). 



Fig. 450. Desert vegetation in the Alichur Pamir. From a photograph 

 by Kaznakoff. 



Betula Bhojpattra, at 3.660 meters, forms the tree-limit. As the snow- 

 line lies at 3,900 meters, there is little space for the true alpine region. 

 Here grow shrubby species of Rhododendron (R. Anthopogon and R. 

 lepidotum) and northern perennial herbs (Ranunculaceae and others). 

 Nothing further is known of the alpine formations of the Himalayas. 



In the north-west the Himalayas border on the extensive plateau of 

 the Pamirs, where they meet the other mountains of Central Asia : Kara- 

 koram, Hindu Kush, Kuenlun, and Tian-Shan. The Pamirs form an 

 approximately rectangular mountainous district which, except in the west, 

 is about 3,cSoo meters high on the average, the highest point being 

 7,000 meters, and throughout they stand above the limit of trees. Beyond 

 this we know nothing regarding the plant-formations there. Our illustra- 

 tions (Figs. 450-454) show that the shallow valleys forming a considerable 

 part of the Pamirs possess a desert character, as the individual plants 

 arc separated from one another by wide intervals ; extensive tracts show 



SCHI.MPER O Q 



