384 Mr Philip Sewell's Observations 



GenfAana, &c. Between was a dry steep upon which grew 

 Hdianthemum, Hellcborus, Erydraurin, Saponaria, Astragalus, 

 Cytisus, Genista, and various species of Carlina and Carduus. 

 The greater warmth of the more open position had indeed 

 matured the plants of the higher level more than was the 

 case among the plants of the same species in the lower 

 valley. Gagea and Scilla hifolia were in fruit, whilst the 

 grasses of the turf were much more advanced. Additions 

 to the flora observed in the valley below were numerous, 

 an especially good find being the exceedingly rare dark 

 variety of Fritillaria delphincnsis, known as F. Burnati, a 

 plant which (as we have remarked) it is the more interesting 

 to find because access to the only other known locality in the 

 region is on the prohibited Col di Tenda. 



In certain curious and deep depressions occurring in this 

 upper meadow, there was a constant succession of the three 

 plants Crocus albifiorus, Gagea Livitardi, and Fuinunculus 

 jjyrenceus. The Crocus was always lowest, its flowers pushing 

 out from the discoloured turf from which the snow had only 

 just melted ; above this, on the shady side especially, was 

 the Gagea, and above the Gagea, in greater profusion on the 

 sunny side, was Ranuncidus fyrenmus. Elsewhere, at the 

 same altitude, although the presence of the Crocus was not 

 observed, the darker colour of the green leaves in little 

 isolated depressions in the meadow showed the persistent 

 selection by the Gagea of positions of more than average 

 moisture. On the other hand, the Viola calcarata preferred 

 generally some slightly raised position whilst Viola hi flora 

 was conspicuous in the shade immediately about numerous 

 large boulders. Viola hiflora did not ascend to such altitude 

 as V. calcarata, nor indeed did V. palustris or V. hirta in 

 the region about Mont Blanc, where they were neverthe- 

 less seen at an altitude of close upon 7000 feet. It is of 

 interest to note that, in Lapland, although Viola hiflora may 

 everywhere be seen associated with such damp-loving plants 

 as Veratrum, and others of these mountains, yet Viola cal- 

 carata is unknown. 



We ascended the mountain on the south side of the 

 Miniera Valley that comparison might be made with the 

 flora just described on the northern slopes. At a height of 



