11G 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ALPINE PLANTS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



By Monsieur Henri Correvon, Jardin d'Acclimatation, Geneva, 

 Corresponding Member R.H.S.) 



[Read April 25, 1893.] 



The vegetation which grows upon the flanks of the Swiss Alps, 

 or of the other high mountains of the world, is of a most distinct 

 character — quite sui generis; so much so that the most casual 

 tourist is at once struck with its peculiarity. At these high 

 altitudes the plants are of a very dwarf habit, almost stunted, 

 and the higher we ascend the dwarfer they seem to become, so 

 that at G,000 feet in the Swiss Alps we find nothing but dwarf 

 or stunted perennial plants, presenting often the appearance of 

 little carpets. Even the genera which in the lowlands appear 

 as trees or shrubs, are represented here only by dwarf or creep- 

 ing varieties. Salix, Azalea, Betula, Arbutus, for instance, instead 

 of growing to their more usual height, spread themselves out 

 upon the ground. They seem to shrink from the coldness of the 

 air, and cling to the ground on account of the sun-heat which it 

 retains. 



Alpine plants are generally perennials, and only a few Gentians 

 (G. tenella, obtusifolia, nivalis, utriculosa, campestris), Lomato- 

 (jonium carinthiacum, and some Rhinanthacere are annual. They 

 are for the most part stoloniferous, crcspitose, and send shoots in 

 all directions. The flowers are very numerous, and relatively 

 large ; the colours bright, brilliant, and pure ; the stems, if not 

 altogether absent, are short; and the flowers, owing to the 

 suddenness of the change from winter to summer, appear 

 all together at the same time. 



There are no Fungi in the Swiss Alps ; the bright and intense 

 light which reigns there does not permit their development. 



Take a plant of Dianthus alpinus, and compare it with the 

 Pinks of the plains. You will be surprised at the brightness of 

 the colouring, the large size of the flowers, and the shortness of 

 the stems ; the whole life of the plant seems to be concentrated 

 in the flower (which is, of course, its most important part). And 

 these flowery carpets are the most enchanting amongst all the 



