ANTHELIA : AN ARCTIC-ALPINE PLANT ASSOCIATION 85 



snow-flush types of vegetation to be indicated later. It is 

 thus clear that experienced observers in Northern Europe 

 and the Alps recognise in A. Jiiratzkana one of the pioneers 

 of the snow-flush. 



Another cryptogamic element in the snow-flush vegetation 

 is the genus PolytricJmiii, according to the Swiss accounts 

 generally F. sexangulare, Flork., and P. alpinum, L., two species 

 recorded as characteristic of the summit region of Scottish 

 mountains. On Ben Lawers we saw cushions of Pofytrtchuin 

 (sp. not identified) in the snow-flushes pointed out. This 

 genus of mosses has several species which are adapted for 

 life in moorland flushes, as indicated by C. B. Crampton [(2) 

 p. 62)]. They can withstand periodical submergence and 

 soon grow through the shallow deposits of sediment laid 

 down, so that they aid in binding these deposits into a 

 humous turf ; the close, compact growth also enables the 

 tufts to withstand periods of drought. 



The snow-flush vegetation includes a limited number of 

 flowering plants, but according to Swiss accounts some of 

 these are very characteristic. The following is a list of 

 species recorded in August 1911 {i.e. after a dr}^ summer) 

 on the western slopes of Ben Lawers (about 3500 feet) in two 

 snow-flushes where Antlielia was a conspicuous element : — 



PoiytricJuini. Gnaphaliuni supimim. 



Rhacomitriuui lanuginosum. Salix herbacea. 



Solorina crocea (orange lichen). Sibbaldia procumbens. 



Carex pihilifera. Euphrasia (? scotica). 



C. rigida. Festuca ovina {vivipara). 



A short list was recorded (August 13, 1898) by Robert 

 Smith on Ben-y-Ghloe at about 3000 feet on patches where 

 snow had recently melted : — Salix herbacea, Gnaphaliuin 

 supinurn, Alchemilla alpina, Galium saxatile. 



The Swiss " Schneetalchen " is thus described (3) : — " Poly- 

 trichinn septentrionale usually appears as a pioneer and 

 covers the ground with a dense, dark-green carpet. Soon 

 afterwards Arenaria biflora begins to penetrate this carpet ; 

 its slender stems and small leaves are half hidden in the 

 moss, so that the stellular flowers seem to be scattered over 

 the carpet as if by accident. Next the creeping, radiating 



