N REN ER 
184 ' General Remarks on the High Mountain Vegetation. 
leaves. In many cases, the equality of growth in all directions leads to a 
remarkable ball-like form, so that bushes perhaps ı.5 m high and ı m through 
look as if they had been trimmed by a gardener’s hand‘). The roots do not 
’ descend deeply but form a mat near the surface, any stem in contact with 
‘the ground readily forming adventitious roots. The ball-like form is well- 
suited to combat strong winds, and may be considered a xerophytic adap- 
'tation. The leaves are either patent or sub-imbricating; they are but few 
_ centimetres long, 'moderately thick, sessile, nearly glabrous, coriaceous and 
vary both in the en and in individuals. in the ratio between length and 
. breadth°). | 
The neuen have sealesiike‘ reduced leaves pressed so tightly 
a Ei the stem as to be almost on the same plane as the bark. In outline they 
may be more or less rounded, but the absence of spreading leaves makes 
RE the growth more open. Juvenile plants have thin, flat, pinnatifid, spreading ‚ 
‚ hygrophytic leaves. ‚This class of Veronica ‚numbers 15 species at least all of 
| which are subalpine or alpine. 
The only other class. of rar needing mention here consists of quite 
Sr low-growing shrubs with conspicuous thick, more or less imbricating glaucous 
. leaves and prostrate or subprostrate RR often black stems. Such play a 
h ar in the ae of stony alpine slopes and dry rocks. The number 
of manifold, but most are included under the conceptions 
and V.. Buc, 3 The green-leaved V. decum- 
a which as in en of the glaucous forms, 
