AUSTRAL-AMERICAN REGIONS. 



89 



florus, was frequent all over the upland; not in crowded clusters like 

 our Northern species, but diverging in long straight soldier-like files 

 of upright pointed steins, as though marching to take military posses- 

 sion. Besides this rush, scattered grasses rose here and there out of 

 the spongy turf ; with an occasional herbaceous plant, several inches 

 high and rather showy, as a white-flowered Cinera7'ioid and some 

 other CompositcB: scattered shrubs, one or two feet high, being usually 

 in sight, as the Cratsegus-like Escallonia serrata, Cldliotriclmm amello- 

 ides, Pernettya acuminata, Empetrum rubrivm, and stocks of the "beech" 

 and "evergreen birch" dwarfed and reduced to the stature of shrubs. 



Higher up, as we ascended the mountain-slopes, the bushes and 

 dwarfed trees were observed to diminish very regularly in height, and 

 at length grew only in abrupt depressions, and in the lee of projecting 

 ledges of rock ; where their interlaced summits were all kept at the 

 level of protection by the overpowering winds, as though sheared off 

 by art. The dwarfed " beech" abounding in these situations, imparted 

 to them a dark-green hue in the distance : while in the open country, 

 in certain exposed situations, the wet turf presented the illusive ap- 

 pearance of having been burned, from the abundance of the hlacTc- 

 colored moss, already-mentioned. 



On the mountain-crest and summits, twelve to fifteen hundred feet 

 in elevation, we met with a few banks of accumulated snow ; and 

 obtained a view beyond and inland, of higher mountain-peaks, having 

 more of their surface streaked and covered with snow ; one situated 

 Northwest by compass, and perhaps the Mount Darwin of King, 

 being entirely white, with the exception of a few projecting rocks. 

 At our feet, the vegetable growth presented an even carpet-like sur- 

 face; where, if there remained an occasional stock of "beech," Fagus 

 Antarctica, it was reduced to the form of a short prostrate vine. The 

 sod had become more densely impacted, and species of plants not seen 

 below made their appearance : as, a one-flowered Plantago, with short 

 resisting leaves, parting the surface into stellated areas, like beds of 

 beautiful green Actiniae ; two or more species of congested alpine 

 UinhelUferoe : and growing in clefts of the projecting jagged rocks, 

 where the sod was hardened, dry and grey, three species of Saxi- 

 fraga : in sheltering clefts, and the fragmentary stony ground around 

 patches of melting snow, many plants not having the alpine habit, 

 a second Aira, a Luzala resembling L. spicata, gen. Anthericum- 

 like, an Armeria nearly stemless, two or three Senecios and perhaps 



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