PASTURE PLANTS 33 



In the present volume we propose to group 

 Alpine plants according to their associations, large 

 or small, and to discuss the more typical and 

 interesting members of each. The first few chapters 

 will be devoted to the plants of the pastures, 

 beginning with some of the more characteristic and 

 abundant genera. We shall also devote chapters to 

 some of the smaller associations, such as the rock 

 plants, the marsh plants, and the inhabitants of the 

 artificial modifications of the pastures — the meadows. 



We will then discuss the High Alpines — i.e., the 

 inhabitants of the highest pastures — and finally the 

 Alpine thickets and forests and their smaller associa- 

 tions, the shade plants. The last two chapters will 

 be devoted to a general summary of some of the 

 peculiarities and other interesting features of Alpine 

 plants, and to the theories advanced as to the origin 

 of the Alpine flora of Switzerland. 



The pasture plants form a very large association 

 belonging to many diff*erent families. Of these, how- 

 ever, four are especially well represented by a large 

 number of abundant species in the Alps, and 

 their members contribute the most characteristic 

 feature of this association. The Buttercup family 

 (natural order Eanunculaceoe), represented by the 

 Anemones, the Alpine Buttercups, and several other 

 genera, the Gentian family (natm-al order Gentian- 

 acese) by the Gentians (genus Gentlana), the Primrose 

 family (natural order Primulacea^) by the Soldanellas, 

 Primulas, and Androsaces, and the Bell-flower family 



c 



