20 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



throughout the year, and consequently the plants 

 are what we should term " evergreens/* although the 

 silvery tints of many kinds make that term somewhat 

 of a misnomer. 



Alpine plants differ from lowland species in their 

 special provision for a short summer and a long winter. 

 They differ physically in producing rosettes of short, 

 small basal leaves ; and low, unbranched flower-stems. 

 When we see a plant with tall stems, the leaves large 

 and disposed at clear intervals, the flowers borne on 

 long, branching peduncles, we know at once that it is 

 not Alpine. 



The plants of the mountains cling to the face of the 

 stones, often growing in sandy, arid soil and drawing 

 sustenance by thrusting their roots far down into the 

 crevices, where rain and melting snow have accumu- 

 lated a store of moisture. The air is cool and dry. 

 The conditions of light are also very different from 

 those which affect lowland plants, being much more 

 intense. 



Alpine plants are true creatures of their environment. 

 They are a type developed to meet the peculiar con- 

 ditions of light, climate, soil and moisture which 

 prevail in high altitudes. As such they stand apart. 

 Differing considerably from each other, the various 

 species nevertheless have common characteristics. 



Fortunately the Alpines do not sulk and die when 

 transplanted to lowland gardens. A few, it is true, 

 miss the covering of dry snow which is their natural 

 protection in the mountains, and suffer from the 

 heavy winter rains. This is particularly the case 



