322 



MESOPHYTES sect, xvi 



on high mountains the difference between direct and indirect sunlight is 

 greater than in plains. He distinguishes dry meadows with and without 

 shade, on level and on sloping ground ; he recognizes fresh or lush 

 meadows, which are or are not manured. There result many different 

 associations that are characterized by different species. 



Under the heading of alpine mat-vegetation possibly may be included 

 Flahault's prairies pseudo-alpines, which develop on old forest-soil.^ 



In Denmark littoral meadow seems to be the community most closely 

 allied to arctic and alpine mat-grassland and mat-herbage. Littoral 

 meadow has dense, low, often soft vegetation with roots and shoots densely 

 tangled, and thus resembles many, but not all, the above-mentioned types 

 of mat-vegetation.2 Certain alpine mat-grassland is similar to littoral 

 meadow in showing many xerophytic characters such as narrow, 

 approximately terete leaves that betray a tendency towards succulence 

 which reappear on saline soil. 



All high mountains display such mat-grassland and mat-herbage at 

 the limit of forest. On the Andes, according to Brackebusch,' there are 

 ' alpine meadows ' mainly pastures on which abundant rainfall induces 

 luxuriant growth of grass on the fertile soil, which is often interrupted 

 by masses of rock. The flora varies with the latitude and altitude. In 

 addition to many species of grasses there is an abundance of perennial 

 and annual (?) herbs and small shrubs, which display a glorious show 

 of blossom and belong to the Ranunculaceae, Malvaceae, Cruciferae, Poly- 

 galaceae, Geraniaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Rosaceae, Passifloraceae, and 

 others. But there are also many humble Cactaceae, ferns, mosses, and 

 lichens, interspersed in the vegetation, which therefore does not completely 

 correspond to typical alpine mat-vegetation or meadow. Oecologically it 

 may be most closely aUied with certain xerophytic alpine mat- vegetation. 

 R. Fries* mentions as widely distributed on the Argentine Andes ever- 

 green Hypsela-meadows, in which the vegetative organs, pedicels, and 

 peduncles, are very short, and the rosette-type of shoot prevalent. 



CHAPTER LXXXIX. MEADOW 



The mesophytic communities previously described as occurring in 

 arctic countries and on mountains must be regarded as natural, in so 

 far as they have not been modified by man or have had their character 

 only affected to an extremely slight degree by the grazing of cattle, sheep, 

 and goats. 



In all countries of moderate temperature and humidity mesophytic 

 communities of grasses and herbs occur ; even in the north of Russia, 

 according to Pohle,^ there are natural alluvial meadows showing a wealth 



* Flahault, 1901. In regard to alpine mat- vegetation and meadow, the following| 

 should be consulted: Kerner (1863), Stebler und Schroter (1892), Beck (1890),; 

 Radde (1899), Pax (1898), C. Schroter (1904-8), Engler (1901), Brockmann- 

 Jerosch (1907), Hayek (1907), Szabo (1907). = See p. 230. 



* Brackebusch, 1893. * R. Fries, 1905. ' Pohle, 1903. 



