92 SWISS FLOWERS. 



much the growth of that so common in our gardens in 

 spring, and is probably nearly the same, but there is 

 brilliancy in the rather light blue of its flowers as seen in 

 Switzerland that makes it look like a string of sapphires. 

 It is somewhat the colour of the Lake of Geneva. The 

 flowers are on short stalks ; the lower leaves spatulate, 

 those on the stem sessile and oblong. Mountain- woods and 

 meadows. 



M. Alpestris (Fig. 71). We have said that the various 

 forms of Myosotis seem to run into each other ; but M. 

 Alpestris may be distinguished by having its flowers in a 

 flatter head, so as somewhat to resemble the blossom of 

 the Heliotrope ; by the numerous hooked white hairs of 

 the calyx, which give the plant a silvery look ; by its deep 

 blue colour; and its low growth. It is said to have a sweet 

 scent. On the high mountains : Pilatus, Mont Cenis, 

 Little St. Bernard. 



72. Eritrichium nanum. 



(PLATE XLL) 



This little plant (Fig. 72), from its rarity and beauty, 

 may truly be called one of the gems of the Alps. Its 

 flowers are very much like those of the Forget-me-not — 



