The Mountain House-Leek 



(SEMPERVIVUM MONTANUM) 



Several varieties of House-leek are found in Switzerland. 

 They grow in dry, rocky places, where moisture is scarce and 

 where they are exposed to the fierce heat of the sun. Their 

 succulent leaves, covered by a thick, almost leathery, cuticle, are 

 arranged in rosettes, and serve as storehouses for water. 

 The plants grow slowly and in clusters, and when each one 

 has accumulated sufficient strength it throws up a long central 

 stalk bearing star-like flowers, and dies as the seeds mature. 

 The house-leeks are reproduced not only by means of seeds, 

 but also by runners, which extend outward and bear a small 

 rosette of leaves at their extremities. Some of these can 

 be made out in the photograph. Some of the Saxifrages 

 closely resemble the house-leeks in habit of growth, but are 

 less succulent. 



The Mountain House-leek is common all over the Alps 

 between 4000 and 8000 feet, or even higher in certain 

 parts. It seems to grow best on primary granitic rock. 

 The wedge-shaped rosette leaves are covered with short 

 glandular hairs. The rosettes are unfortunately not well 

 seen in the photograph, the leaves that can be made out 

 being mainly those of a species of Primula. From the 

 centre of the rosette the flower stalk arises. It is some 3 

 to 6 inches long and is covered with succulent leaves with 



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