250 



Remarks on the most Important Plant-Societies of the Island. 



elevation increases, and from the tree-limit upwards it forms 1 — 1 V2 m. high, dense thickets, which because 

 of the arched, long-, tliin and thorny branches are often hard to get throug-h. This berberry copse is a 

 characteristic trait right up to the top of the mountain. On the date of my first ascension of the Chionistra, 

 24 June 1905, the berberry bushes above the tree-limit were in full bloom, whereas those in the woods 

 were mostly deflorate.— Amongst the other shrubs inhabiting the upper part of the mountain, the principal 

 ones are: the beautiful Sorbus Aria subsp. cretica. a briar rose (Rosa caniria subsp, dunialis), and a juniper 

 (Junqwrus foetidissima). The latter, which in the upper part of the forest region grows into a large 



Fig. 92. Copses of Berberis cretica, near the Top of Chionistra. 



tree, in the mountain fields appears as a shrub, bristling with dry branches. The little Cotoneaster 

 Nummularia is comparatively scarce. 



As the most numerous perennial plants some labiates must in the first place be mentioned: Tcucrium 

 cyprium, Satureia Troodi, Nepeta Troodi, and others; further the prickly Astragalus Echinus, Scorzonera 

 troodea, Alyssum Troodi, Onosma Troodi, SiJene venosa, Telephium Imperati subsp. orientals, and a variety 

 without marginal flowers of Anthemis tricolor (var. artemisioides). Annual species are represented by: 

 Alsine brevis and A. tenuifolia subsp. Kotschyana, Cerastium fragillimum, Viola parvida and V. Heldreichiana. 

 Myosotis pusilla and M. stricta, Lithospermum incrassatum, Satureia exigua var. integrifolia, Veronica 

 Ixodes. Amongst the grasses Bromus tectorum grows copiously on the summit; Poa pratensis var. angusti- 

 folia also flourishes between the pieces of rock, besides P. hulhosa f. vivijmra. 



In cavities, where the snow had remained long and the ground was soaked with melting-water, 

 I found great numbers of blossoming Lactuca hispida subsp. Candolleana. Corydalis rutaefolia and Ranunculus 

 cadmicus, at my first visit (24 June). The last-named species was nearly deflorate, whereas the Corydalis 



