132 ALPINE FLOWERS [PART I. 



The Lion's-paw Cudweed is very abundant on Monte 

 Campione. Daphne and Rhododendron in small quantities, 

 and the pretty little Poly gala Chamcebuxus, often crop out 





The limit of -the Pines. 



less beautiful than when in cultivation. A blue Linum, 

 probably L. alpinum, is very common ; the rare Allium 

 Victoriale we found sparsely on high rocks ; and Dryas Octo- 

 petala abundantly in flower, with Anemone alpina in a very 

 dwarf state ; while pale flowers of the common Gentiana 

 acaulis looked up singly here and there. In the higher and 

 barer parts of the meadows, Aster alpinus was charming, not 

 in tufts or masses, but dotted singly over the turf. Having 

 climbed so high for the chief object of our ascent, we failed 

 to find it there after a long search, and, disappointed, were 

 descending the mountain down a long and rocky chasm 

 formed of a vast bed with banks of shattered rock, when, 

 much to our pleasure, a little plant with a few leaves was 



