IN ASCENDING REGIONS. 67 



parts of hills from 800 to 1050 yds of elevation, there is 

 a very scanty flora indeed ; many species, which ascend 

 to the subalps in Scotland, failing much earlier in Eng- 

 land. The small extent and little variety of surface for 

 subalpine plants is doubtless adverse to their existence. 

 The only truly subalpine species found in the north of 

 England appear to be Carex rigida and Salix herbacea, 

 plentiful on several of the mountains, and Cerastium 

 alpinum, Poa alpina, and Saxifraga nivalis, seen very 

 locally. Whether Saussurea alpina is found in this or the 

 preceding region I know not. Of species common to the 

 upland and subalpine regions, may be instanced Saxifraga 

 stellaris, which is frequent on the summits, and Saxifraga 

 aizoides and Alchemilla alpina more rarely. Rhodiola 

 rosea and Statice Armeria are common to the shores of 

 the plains, the rocks of the uplands, and the exposed sum- 

 mits of the English subalps. Several upland species, 

 common enough in the subalpine region of Scotland, 

 are rarely or never found so high in England. Thus, 

 Cornus suecica, Juncus triglumis, Silene acaulis, Thalic- 

 trum alpinum and Oxyria reniformis are more frequent 

 in, if not confined to, the lower regions. 



In the Scottish Highlands we find it much otherwise. 

 The subalpine region embraces the rocks and declivities 

 of mountains ascending to the true alpine region, or sum- 

 mits of lower mountains adjacent to such. Here we find 

 rocks and ravines constantly irrigated by cold waters 

 pouring from above; a comparatively wide expanse of 

 heathy declivities, in some places swampy, in others po- 

 rous and quickly drained ; and deep corries sheltered from 

 the excessive violence of winds, concentrating the sun's 

 rays if turned to the south, or if turned to the north pre- 

 serving a cold atmosphere and surface throughout the 

 summer. Such situations are favourable to variety in the 

 flora both as regards descending and ascending species. 



