50 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



lovely Soldanella. Indeed, at times the latter plant 

 actually pierces through the snow. Kerner has so 

 vividly described what takes place that a quotation may 

 be taken from his pages, it being remembered that in its 

 habits the Soldanella is but an example of other Alpines. 

 "As the snow melts/' he says, " the tricklings there- 

 from moisten the earth below, the Soldanella plants are 

 aroused from their winter's rest. Their Httle arched 

 flower stalks begin to elongate and come into contact 

 with the hard under-surf ace of the snow, though the 

 temperature here is zero. Growth is carried on at the 

 expense of the suppUes of materials obtained by the 

 Soldanella in the previous summer, which have been 

 stored up partly in the evergreen leathery leaves lying 

 flat on the ground, and partly in the short root stock 

 imbedded in the soil. The reserves are employed as 

 substances for building, and a portion of them is respired | 

 in order that it may be possible to resolve the rest, to 

 bring them to the places where they are required, an< 

 to obtain the force necessary for the work. The heal 

 obtained by this respiration melts the granular ic< 

 covering in the immediate neighbourhood of the flowei 

 buds. In consequence of this a cavity is formed in the 

 ice above each bud, or rather each bud becomes over- 

 arched as if by a tiny dome of ice. But the stei 

 continues to grow in height ; and the flower bud borne oi 

 it, which is respiring and giving out heat, is accordingly 

 raised up in the dome-shaped hollow space and pushed! 

 into it.'' This process being continued the Soldanellal 

 which looks so frail eventually bores for itself a way 

 through the snow, and its lovely Ulac purple bells come 



