SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF ALPINES. 49 



and the Pyrenees, there are variations between 4,000 

 and 7,000 feet. And this large margin is, of course, 

 increased in the great mountain chains of the Himalayas 

 and the Andes ; and again in Lapland, Siberia and the 

 most northern regions of Canada. Frequently it will 

 be found that Alpine flowers descend lowest along the 

 course of a mountain stream. Their seeds are carried 

 down, and the coldness of the water renders the 

 temperature by the stream lower. Hence it is that on 

 the stony islands in the beds of the rivers some species 

 may be gathered many hundred feet below their 

 natural home. 



Turning to a few of the characteristics of Alpine 

 plants it will be found that they are mostly perennials, 

 often with tough stems and abnormally long roots ; that 

 they are of dwarf habit, and compact growth ; and 

 that for their size they give a marvellous display of 

 glowing colour. Their period of beauty is almost as 

 short as the season of the hotel keeper, who has set up 

 his holiday house in their home. No spring or autumn 

 — long months of winter, when they are covered with 

 a deep coating of snow, and a short three months of 

 summer. Into this brief space all their flowering season 

 has to be crowded. And how gloriously they make the 

 most of it ! They take every advantage of the short 

 summer which breaks the long winter of the high 

 mountain regions. Hardly has the snow melted before 

 they begin to flower ; and often the black, sloppy 

 ground which is exposed as the snow melts is studded 

 with white Crocuses, with Anemones, or with the delicate 

 white-flowered Ranunculus pyrenaeus, and the ever 



