At greater altitudes, about 2200 m. above sea-level, the vegetation is rather mono- 

 tonous, chiefly consisting of mosses and various lichens, mostly Chidonia rangiferina. 

 and others of a like kind, generally not even affording sufficient food for horses. 



Fig. 45. A mountain lake in the .\ltaian, near tlie sources ol the Sisli-kem, about tlie tree limit, 

 at an altitude of about 1800 m. above sea level. Scattered conifers in the background: in the 

 foregroundBc/u/n pubcsccns, Alniis fruticosa, Juniperus commnnisviir. nana, and Beliila ruliindi/nlia. 



In the Altaian, the mountain sides with southern aspects were rather dry and hot. 

 frequently covered with different lichens, interspersed with some few mosses. Here 

 large areas were seen to be entirely overgrown with the magnificent yellow-flowered 

 Rhododendron chrysanlhiun. forming dense thickets to about 1 m. high. Moreover, in 

 similar habitats, among lichens, were frequently to be found: 



Rhododendron Anthopogon var. fragrans. Phgllodoce coerulea. ArclosUiphglos alpina. 

 Gentiann ullaica, Genliana algida, Campanula pilosa, the large tlowered Dracocephalum 

 altaiense, Dryas octopelala, Crepis chrgsanlha, Empetrnm nigrum, and others. 



Especially on the moist, shady, and cool declivities with northern aspects and in 

 moist and shady valleys, the following markedly arctic species are common: 



Sa//.r glnuca. S(dLr Turczaninowi. Salix reticulata. Salix hastala var. subalpina. 

 Sedum Rhodiola. C.ardamine belidifolia. Sa.rifraga .sibirica var. eusibirica, Saxifraga 



74 



