CHAPTER XI 



ADAPTATIONS AMONG ALPINE PLANTS 



THE present chapter will be devoted to a discussion 

 of certain adaptations found among Alpine plants. 

 In the previous sections we have repeatedly drawn 

 attention to the mutual dependence or alliance which 

 exists between a large number of Alpine flowers and 

 members of the insect world. We may now enter 

 on a more general consideration of this subject. 



FLOWERS AND INSECTS. 



It is a matter of common observation that insect 

 life abounds in Alpine Switzerland ; so do con- 

 spicuous and beautiful flowers, and" for the good 

 reason that a large percentage of Alpine plants are 

 specialised for cross-pollination through insect agency. 

 They have found that, to ensure and maintain the 

 fertility and robustness of the stock, the ovules of one 

 flower must be fertilised by pollen brought from 

 another plant, and not by the pollen of the same 

 flower. The two chief agencies which act as pollen 

 carriers are insects and the wind. Such is a plain 



