370 MISCELLANEOUS 



altitudes. The numerous short branches are thickly covered 

 with tiny narrow leaves ; the purplish flowers are inconspicu- 

 ous, and the berries, which are large, round, and of a dul 

 black colour, are a favourite fruit with the alpine birds. 



JUNIPER 



Juniperus nana. Pine Family -^ 



A depressed rigid shrub. Leaves: all subulate, rigid, spreading, 

 channelled and whitened on the upper surface, densely clothing the 

 twigs, verticillate in threes. Flowers: in aments, axillary. Fruit: cones 

 globose, berry-like, blue. 



A very depressed, almost prostrate species of Juniper, 

 which forms on the ground large circular patches that some- 

 times extend to ten feet in diameter. It grows at extremely 

 high altitudes, and is one of the last signs of vegetation en- 

 countered near the tree-line. The leaves, which densely cover 

 the branches, are channelled, and sometimes whitened on the 

 surface ; they are set in verticels of three on the twigs. The 

 cones are berry-like, being rounded, smooth, and dark blue. 



LYALL'S LARCH 



Larix Lyallii. Pine Family 



A small tree ; branches horizontal and ascending, the branchlets and 

 bud-scales densely pubescent with whitish hairs. Leaves : narrowly linear, 

 without sheaths, in fascicles on short, lateral, scaly, bud-like branch- 

 lets, deciduous. Flowers: in aments, short, lateral, monoecious, staminate 

 from leafless buds, the fertile buds commonly leafy at the base, red. 

 Fruit : cones oblong, promptly deciduous. 



Lyall's Larch is a very lovely tree. It is not an evergreen. 

 In September, if you look up to where the conifers greet the 

 edge of the great white neves, you will see a zone of glorious 

 flaming yellow foliage adorning the crags and cliffs, and 

 separating the rich green Hemlock, Spruce, Pine, and Fir 

 from the purity of the perpetual snows. This yellow sheen 



