MOORLAND PLANTS 219 



paper the vegetation of the Venezuelan Paramos. 

 The Venezuelan Andes, an eastern branch of the 

 main chain, rise, he tells us, out of marshy, densely 

 wooded lowlands. Starting from these, and continually 

 ascending through the zones of vegetation described 

 by Humboldt, the traveller at last reaches the highest 

 tract which supports plant life. Here all is wild. 

 The trees, crippled even at lower levels by the cold 

 winds, are replaced by shrubs with small, leathery 

 leaves, and these at length give up the struggle. At 

 heights corresponding to the higher summits of the 

 European Alps the only vegetation is scanty, dwarfish, 

 and adapted to a rugged climate. This highest zone 

 of plant life, which on certain peaks is cut off 

 above by the snow-line, is the Paramos, and Goebel 

 defines it for scientific purposes as the zone between 

 the upper limit of trees and the snow-line. It is a 

 region of cold winds and sudden changes of tempera- 

 ture. Heavy dews, and showers of rain or hail are 

 frequent. The sun shines bright at times, but is apt to 

 be suddenly obscured by dense fogs. Pools and bogs 

 are common, and there is no lack of water anywhere. 

 The great height and the consequent rarefaction of the 

 air promote rapid evaporation, which is intensified by 

 winds which are described as peculiarly cutting. The 

 temperature rarely falls to freezing-point. 



In such a climate, and the very description makes 

 us shiver, Man would no doubt claim an extra great- 

 coat. Quadrupeds, if there are any, would be all the 

 better for thick fur. What kind of protection can we 

 suggest for the plants which strive to subsist under 

 conditions so unpleasant? 



