Chap. IV] MOUNTAIN REGIONS IN TEMPERATE ZONES 767 



The quefioa-tree, growing scattered in the lower parts of the alpine grassland, 

 occurs in the Peruvian Cordilleras between 3,000 and 4,000 meters, where it also 

 forms the upper limit of tree-growth. It is a gnarled, very thick-stemmed, and hard- 

 wooded little tree, 16-20 ft. high. It is usually overhung with Tillandsia usneoides. 



Throughout the southern part of the Argentine Cordilleras the character 

 of the vegetation remains xcrophilous. According to notes by F. Kurtz 

 regarding the Cordilleras of Mendoza (about 33 S.), the following belts 

 may be distinguished : — 



Montane Region. 



Bush-forest and thorny bush-wood. 



Scanty shrub-wood (Adesmia pinifolia). 

 Alpine Region. 



Low shrub- wood (Berberis empetrifolia, Argylia Bustillosii). 



Alpine dwarf perennial herbs. 

 Continuous formations do not occur in the alpine region, which has a desert-like 

 aspect. The puny plants of typical alpine habit, the flowers of which, however, are 

 often large and brilliant, are social only on peaty soil, whereas on the shingle they 

 are quite isolated, and, owing to the fact that their foliage resembles the rocks in 

 colour, are often difficult to see. 



Regarding the character and classification of the vegetation in the 

 northern parts of the forest district of Chili, the following tabular statement, 

 compiled from notes by K. Reiche 1 , gives the essential points: — ■ 



REGIONS ON THE CORDILLERA OF NAHUELBUTA. 



(30° S.) 

 Montane Region. Meters 



Mixed beech-forest with a few lianes and epiphytes . . . . up to 1,100 

 Araucaria-forest (A. imbricata) with summer-green beech-shrub . . 1,500 



REGIONS ON THE CORDILLERA OF CHILLAN. 



(37° S.) 

 Montane Region. 



Mixed beech-forest up to 1,860 



Fagus Pumilio, as bush-wood I ,9°° 



Alpine Region. 



Shrub-wood (Berberis empetrifolia, Empetrum nigrum, Escallonia car- 



melitana 2,000 



Alpine perennial herbs on gravel and rocks 2,200 



Perpetual snow. 



The mixed beech-forest, especially in its lower parts, is to be regarded as 

 temperate rain-forest, even if in an impoverished form (this chiefly on the Chilian 

 Cordillera) ; higher up it assumes a more xerophilous character. 



1 Reiche, op. cit. 



