72 ALPINE FLOWERS AND GARDENS 



which have, it is conjectured, turned parasitic, 

 living on the roots of other plants, their own green 

 leaves having thereby degenerated into dingy- 

 brown scales. Here and there, too, stands in the 

 semi- shade a stately group of the great creamy- 

 plumed Spircea A?'uncus, crept up from the valley 

 below. This is La Reine des JBois ; and certainly 

 she is Queen of her race in Europe, if not elsewhere. 

 As slowly we arrive above the forest limit, the 

 Rhododendron bushes, laden with blossom, become 

 more numerous, until, the last gnarled and stunted 

 pine being left behind, we find ourselves in the 

 midst of rosy-red acres, bordered with blue Gentian 

 and flecked with orange Arnica — a unique and 

 wonderful sight : Alpine summer in its boldest, 

 most becoming robe. Our path is now winding 

 gently upwards, making for the Col on the sky-line 

 in front of us. We are passing along slopes 

 running sharply down into a deep, rocky, for- 

 bidding-looking gorge cut by Spring's torrents 

 from the snow on the Col and flanking peaks. 

 And these slopes are densely clothed with Rhodo- 

 dendron (as Gorse will sometimes clothe our 

 English downs and commons) in fullest blossom, 

 bright rosy-red, sometimes palest pink, and — but 

 this is far from common — sometimes white. Here 



