viii SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



are chiefly in France and Italy, but they also comprise that 

 part of Switzerland which is south of the Rhone. 



The CENTRAL ALPS include the greater part of Switzerland, 

 north and east of the Simplon ; the small portion of Tyrol west 

 of the Reschen Scheideck Pass and the bit of Alpine Lom- 

 bardy to the north. 



The EASTERN ALPS comprise the rest of the Alpine ranges 

 to the east of the Reschen Scheideck and the Stelvio Passes. 

 They are wholly Austrian and Italian', except for the limestone 

 hills of Bavaria in the north. 



Among the many books and pamphlets consulted in the 

 preparation of this work I must especially mention the help 

 derived from the Flore de la Suisse by Messrs. Schinz and 

 Wilczek, Mons. Coste's Flore de la France, and Bentham's Hand- 

 book of the British Flora, which has been especially useful in 

 framing synopses of the characters of families and genera. 



My best thanks are due to my friend Mr. George Flemwell, 

 the author of Alpine Flowers and Gardens, etc., for painting a 

 beautiful series of flowers, which he has done in the course of a 

 busy and eventful year, not undisturbed by illness. These 

 drawings, though reduced in size in the plates, are remarkable 

 for their accuracy of form and colour and for their artistic 

 merit. They were made in many cases from specimens growing 

 in the neighbourhood of Le Planet, above Argentiere in Haute- 

 Savoie. The Swiss frontier is only a few miles distant. 



I am indebted to Messrs. Methuen and Co. for permission to 

 reprint the charming poem entitled Hepatica, written by my 

 friend Mr. Alfred Hayes. Finally I must not omit to thank 

 Professor Seward and Dr. C. E. Moss for their kindness in allow- 

 ing me to freely consult the Library and Herbarium of the 

 Cambridge Botany School. 



H. STUART THOMPSON. 



CAMBRIDGE, May, 1912. 



