THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



Vol. 15 January, 1919 No. 1 



The Swiss Mountain Pine 

 P. A. Mattli 



Uri, Switzerland 



The Sylvestrts niontana, or Swiss Mountain pine inhabits the 

 motintains of Middle Europe, especially the Northern and Southern 

 Slopes of the Swiss Alps, where it grows on the cliffs and brows of 

 precipices that surround the valley, usually far above the upper 

 region of the tree line. 



Its leaves are in twos, short, stiff and somewhat twisted. They 

 are thickly set on branches and are from 2 to 2>^ inches long and 

 are surrounded by a long white woolly sheath. Its flowers are 

 monoeicious, that is to say both sexes are borne on some plant 

 though separate. The male catkins occur liberally in dense masses. 



The mountain pine, although small, is distinctly tree like, and 

 grows to a height of 20 to 30 feet under favorable conditions. In 

 higher regions, however, it assumes more of a bush like appearance, 

 with the branches trailing along the groimd or hanging out into 

 space. Ecologically, it is rather interesting since it shows to a 

 remarkable extent a nature adaptive to a cold and unkind clime 

 and the resulting modifications. 



Economically it is not of much importance though in certain 

 parts of Europe, not in the Alps, it supplies some kind of resin. 

 In my part of the Alps, it is occasionally used as fire wood. It may 

 be said, however, that the trouble of getting it, does not pay for 

 the gain. In fact I am inclined to believe that it is rather the spirit 

 of daring than the motive of gain, that prompts the mountaineer to 

 dislocate it from its lofty heights. 



In appearance, especially in old specimens, it is rather different 

 from the S. M. Pine that we find transplanted in our parks. It is of 

 a more rugged and twisted type and there is something unj-ielding 

 in its nature. It reminds one of the type of man that is ready to 

 bear any trouble and hardship and it makes one think of somebody 

 who wouldn't "give in" so soon. To my mind, however, when I 



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