J^ocJ^y Mountains. 27 



talum., Fh.) is almost the only herbaceous plant >vhich oc-, 

 curs. X)i^ boundary of the region of forests, is a defined 

 line encircling ihe peak in a part which, when seen from the 

 plain, appeared near the summit, but when we arrived at 

 it, a greater part of the whole elevation of the mountain, 

 seemed still before us. Above the timber the ascent is steeper, 

 but less difficult than below, the surface being so highly in- 

 clined, that the large masses when loosened roll down, meet- 

 ing no obstruction, until they arrive at the commencement of 

 the timber. The red cedar, and the flexile pine,* are the 

 trees which appear at the greatest elevation. These are small, 

 having thick and extremely rigid trunks, and near the com- 

 mencement of the woodless part of the mountain, they have 

 neither limbs nor bark on the side exposed to the descending 

 masses of rocks. These trees have not probably grown in a 

 situation so exposed, as to be unable to produce or retain 

 bark or limbs on one side; the timber must formerly have 

 extended to a greater elevation on the sides of this peak, 

 than at present, so that those trees, which are now on the 

 outskirts of the forest, were formerly protected by their more 

 exposed neighbours. 



A few trees were seen above the commencement of snow, 

 but these are very small and entirely procumbent, being shel- 

 tered in the crevices and fissures of the rock« There are also 

 the roots of trees to be seen at some distance, above the part 

 where any are now standing. 



A little above the point where the timber disappears en- 

 tirely, commences a region of astonishing beauty, and of great 

 interest on account of its productions; the intervals of soil 

 are sometimes extensive, and are covered witli a carpet ol 

 low but brillianily flowering alpine plants. Most of these 

 have either matted procumbent stems, or such as including 

 the flower, rarely rise more than an inch in height. In many 



* Finns Jlexilis, J. 



