THE HIGH ALPINE POTENTILLAS 197 



conspicuous, and the whole flower, though small, is 

 larger than that of Hutchinsia petrcea. H. brevicaulis 

 differs chiefly from H. alpina in the shorter flowering 

 shoot, and the more compact and dwarf habit. In these 

 three species, all of which occur in Switzerland, one 

 can trace each stage in the production of a dwarf 

 High Alpine. 



The Frigid and Smallest Potentillas, 



The genus Potentilla (natural order Rosacese, the 

 Eose family) is well represented in the Alps by 

 numerous species. Several British plants, including 

 the Tormentil {Potentilla tormentilla, Neck.) and the 

 Spring Potentilla {P. verna, Linn.), are frequent in the 

 Alpine zone, where also many non-British species, 

 such as the beautiful Large-flowered Potentilla {Poten- 

 tilla grandiflora, Linn.), are as abundant. In the High 

 Alpine region we find two very dwarf species, both 

 with stems only 1 to 2 inches high, and usually only 

 one or two very small flowers on each shoot. The 

 leaves of the Frigid Potentilla {Potentilla frigida, 

 Vill.) are dull green, and very hairy on both sides. 

 Those of the Smallest Potentilla {Potentilla minima, 

 Hall.) are smooth on the upper surface, and bright green 

 in colour. The Scotch Sibbaldia {Potentilla Sibbaldi, 

 'H.aller, = Sibbaldia procumbens, Linn.) also occurs in 

 the High Alpine region in Switzerland. 



