The White Dryas 



{DRTAS OCrOPErALA) 



The White Dryas, or Silver-herb as the Swiss call it, is a 

 characteristic Alpine plant which is found all over Switzerland 

 between 3000 and 8000 feet, and even descends to the plains 

 with some of the rivers. It is common in dry mountain 

 pastures and rocky places, and seems to grow best on lime- 

 stone soil. Often the bare surfaces of rocks and boulders 

 are thickly covered with its matted growth, which persists 

 from year to year as soil gradually accumulates around it. 



The thick dense rootstock gives rise to long trailing 

 branches, which extend in all directions and bear the leaves 

 and flowers. Associated with the root tips is a curious 

 fungus growth, which from its constant presence is thought 

 to be of value to the plant. The tough leathery evergreen 

 leaves have rolled back notched edges. Their upper sur- 

 faces are dark green, smooth, and polished, and devoid of the 

 stomata or little pores by which air is absorbed by green 

 plants generally ; the lower surfaces are covered by thick 

 white felt-like hairs. The flowers, which appear from May 

 till July, resemble those of the Alpine Anemone, but are 

 smaller. They have usually eight petals, hence the Latin 

 name. Inside the petals are a large number of stamens 

 arranged in the form of a ring, and inside these again a honey 

 secreting gland which surrounds the mass of closely packed 



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