﻿SHAW— THE SELKIRKS 



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zone and the subalpine zone, the latter beginning at about 1400 m. 

 We shall give attention to the former first. 



The montane zone exhibits considerable diversity. The differ- 

 ences between the eastern and the western portions of the area are 

 so strongly marked that the two might easily be treated separately. 

 The hemlock occurs only in the northern and western portions. 

 Quite a series of herbaceous plants [Lycopodium lucidulum, Chima- 

 phila umbcllata, Corallorhiza Mertensiana, Asarum canadense, Cir- 

 caea alpina) have been found together only in company with the 

 hemlock, and with it they might be said to constitute a distinct 

 "society" or "formation." But, taking a broader view, we see 

 that, since all these species are found in different combinations in 

 various regions, the fact that they occur together under the hem- 

 locks in the Selkirks indicates no more than that they each respec- 

 tively sustain a living relation with the physical factors prevailing 

 there. Doubtless the hemlock is very efficient in bringing about the 

 moist and shady conditions in which the others commonly thrive, 

 but further than this it is not apparent how expressions indicating 

 a social interrelationship throw any light on the physiological 

 problems involved. At this point also the interesting fact comes 

 in that almost all the "shade" plants, the ferns excepted, have been 

 found growing in the burns, largely exposed to sunlight. 



The following are lists of the more conspicuous or noteworthy 

 species of the montane zone arranged approximately in order of 

 their abundance: 



