Be 
represented by stripes in which Nepeta kokanica, and two 
grasses, Bromus Paulsenii, and Poa attenuata var. versicolor 
dominated. Besides these, Acantholimon alatavicum, Psychro- 
geton turcestanicum, Arenaria Meyeri and Artemisia minor were 
seen. These plants, forming a rather mesophytic community, 
yet with xerophytic traces, (Acantholimon, Nepeta), grow on 
stony brown soil rich in humus, which at a depth of 10—30 
cm is dark with moisture. I consider it an association of the 
Poa attenuata-formation. 
The third kind of stripe (another association of Poa 
attenuata-formation), is the most luxuriant, and the soil is 
dark with moisture a few centimètres below the surface. The 
vegetation is green and dense and formed by Geranium col- 
linum, Cerastium trigynum, Swertia marginata, a white-flower- 
ing Gentianacea, Pedicularis, Kobresia schoenoides, Isopyrum 
anemonoides, and Nepeta kokanica. 
These vertical stripes alternate with each other many 
times; Eurotia-stripes are always on the dry ridges, and 
Geranium-stripes in the flat furrows. In one of these was a 
spring now dry. Water wearing down through a subter- 
ranean '/s mètre thick layer of stones about as large as 
one’s fist, had washed away the plant-bearing layer of soil 
(about 30 cm thick) lying on top, and then continued its 
course carrying stones, plants and soil in its way. At the 
mouth of the spring there was a hollow in the mountain- 
side about 7 mètres broad with a perpendicular wall about 
1 mètre high. The soil strata were visible in this wall. 
Highest up the brown soil in which plants grow, then a 
layer of stones, from which most of the soil was washed 
out, and where there were many fine well-rinsed roots, and 
lowest a very moist, soft, brown layer of soil. This pro- 
file is interesting, showing that the mesophytic vegetation is 
apparently due to the stony layer containing water close 
below the surface of the ground. The moist soil, rich in 
humus, above the stones seemed to contain much nourish- 
ment. 
This vegetation, somewhat dense and surprisingly abundant 
in a country like Pamir, must then be due to glacial water, 
which from above oozes through the layer of stones and is 
