Soldanella Alpina and Montana. 151 



characters, however, advantageous as they are to the 

 Soldanella of the forest-district, whose existence they 

 render possible, are of no value to the Soldanella of the 

 alpine region, and are even in some measure injurious 

 to it. For the development of a longer stem, and of a 

 larger number of flowers, implies more time ; and on 

 the mountain heights, where the period during which 

 vegetation is possible is very limited, time is most 

 precious. The taller the growth of a plant, the later 

 will it be in coming into flower ; the longer also will the 

 ripening of its seeds be delayed, and there will even be 

 some risk of their never ripening at aU. It need 

 hardly, however, be said, that when individuals with 

 these unsuitable characters make their appearance in 

 the alpine region, they never become the starting-point 

 for the development of a new species, but quickly 

 vanish from the scene. And a similar extinction must 

 be the fate of any variety with the characters of 

 8. alpiTia, should such present itself amongst the 

 progeny of 8. montana in the forest-region. 



Iknsbetjck, Jan. 30, 1876. 



