172 THE HIGH ALPINE PLANTS 



excessive intensity of the light, the relatively stronger 

 ultra-violet rays, the increased rarity of the atmo- 

 sphere, the greater force of the wind, and the scarcity 

 of insect visitors. Yet, strange to say, plants will 

 overcome all these difficulties successfully, if only a 

 favourable chance oflFers. 



If the highest of the Swiss peaks were free from 

 snow and ice for only six weeks or two months in 

 summer, there is every reason to believe that they 

 would accommodate a large and varied population of 

 Alpine plants. The rich flora of the Gorner Grat 

 (10,290 feet), near Zermatt, an exceptionally favour- 

 able situation for plant life in the High Alps, enables 

 us to form some idea of the vegetation we should 

 meet with at even greater elevations, if the conditions 

 were similar. 



The highest mountain in the Alpine Chain, Mont 

 Blanc, is 15,782 feet high. It is partly in France 

 (Savoy), and partly in Italy. Monte Rosa is partly 

 in Switzerland and partly in Italy, and reaches 

 15,217 feet. The highest mountain entirely in 

 Switzerland is the Dom, between the valleys of 

 Zermatt and Saas ; it is 14,942 feet high. 



The greatest height at which a flowering plant has 

 been found in Switzerland is about 14,107 feet 

 (4,275 metres), which proves the assertion pre- 

 viously discussed : that there is no real upward limit 

 to vegetation in the Alps. 



In other parts of the world, vegetation far exceeds 

 this altitude. On the north side of the Himalayas, 



