62 DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS 



portance in this region. Their appearance or absence is 

 more in connection with the proximity of their stations to 

 high hills, or to the north-western coasts ; the general 

 result being a very rapid descent of upland plants towards 

 the north and west coasts and the centres of mountain 

 groups. Isolated hills or moors of 500 yds in elevation, 

 rising in the region of the plains (Dartmoor, Exmoor, 

 Egton moor, &c), scarcely show any upland species ; but 

 deep valleys lying between hills attaining 800 or 1000 

 yds (Caernarvon and Cumberland) exhibit upland 

 species almost down to the sea level. The name of up- 

 lands may hence appear not very happily chosen, but it 

 sufficiently expresses the usual, although not the invariable 

 position of the species. The upland species are always in 

 the upper part of a line drawn from south to north, from 

 flat to mountainous tracts, from low to high grounds. In 

 particular situations the terms boreal, inferalpine, submon- 

 tane, or moorland region might be preferred, but they 

 would be less applicable generally. 



Taking localities in open places, not along mountain 

 streams or under the shade of rocks, Saxifraga aizoides is 

 one of the first upland species met with after quitting the 

 plains, leaving out of consideration those mentioned to 

 appear about the confines or junction of the two regions. 

 Saxifraga stellaris succeeds. Alchemilla alpina and Epi- 

 lobium alsinifolium come next. Thalictrum alpinum and 

 Carex capillaris are usually above these. Tofieldia pa- 

 lustris, Juncus triglumis, Luzula spicata, and Oxyria 

 reniformis appear to occupy higher situations ; but the 

 last descends very low along the course of streams. Saxi- 

 fraga oppositifolia, Dryas octopetala, Draba incana and 

 Sesleria cserulea sometimes begin yet higher, sometimes 

 appear to take a middle station ; excepting the last, they 

 descend to the sea coast in the north of Sutherland, but 

 in England are scarcely seen below 500 or 600 yds. 

 On getting completely within the upland region, we are 



