TIIK r.IM'I'lSll AND SWISS ALriNK I'l.oKAS. 
Gl 
The habit of alpiiu; species is no less remarkable than their form and 
colonrinj^. If we examine the flora of one of the Alpine meadows in an 
upland valley, we lind that it is larj^ely composed of what are popularly 
called " flowers " as distinguished from grasses. The hay, in fact, con- 
sists of species of (J cranium, Ranunculus, llhinanthus, Polygonum, and 
several l^mbellifera^, and other Dicotyledons, many of which are ]5ritish 
plants. The habit of these plants is considerably more vigorous than in 
the lowlands, and the flowers are often larger and more striking. 
In the mountain pastures, high up, in less sheltered situations, the 
habit is altogether different. Here the plants are dwarf. The leaves are 
mostly radical, often in rosettes. The flowers are solitary or umbellate, 
rarely in racemes, and the height of the whole plant does not exceed a few 
inches. Silcne acaulis, L., Saxifraga bryoides, L., and Draba azoides, L., 
are good illustrations. Those plants which grow close to the snow-line 
(8 to 10,000 feet) or above it show this characterislic habit even better. 
Some of these species are quite minute, but at the same time rendered 
conspicuous by their brightly coloured flowers. Such are for example 
Diantlins glacialis, Iliink., and .l7^^7msacc a/jji/za. Lam. 
High mountain plants, such as these, are a good instance of what 
botanists call an okological plant association. In recent years plant 
geography has been studied from two distinct points of view. The study 
of floristic plant geography is concerned with the distribution of species 
over any area, and tries to account for their origin in any particular 
district. On the other hand okological plant geography is concerned 
more especially with the association of species in nature by common 
habits and adaptations due to the life conditions (heat, moisture, &c.) of 
any district. The latter is the scientific study of vegetation as opposed 
to flora : and within the last few years the researches of Warming * and 
Schimpert on the distribution of plants from the okological standpoint 
have done much to establish what must now be regarded as an important 
branch of vegetable biology. In the high Alps Ave have seen that 
the habit of the plants is characteristic, and there can be no doubt 
that this and other adaptations are due to the great extremes of tempera- 
ture, the intense illumination, and the short period during which such 
plants are free from snow. All these species, although many of them 
are not related in any way, are united into a plant association, owing to 
the common characters or adaptations induced by common conditions of 
life. 
In conclusion I may remark-that in this paper I have endeavoured to 
show the close relationship which exists between the Swiss flora and 
that of our own country. This relationship extends to both the lowland 
and alpine sections of these two floras, for, as we have seen, the great 
majority of our alpine species occur at similar elevations in Switzerland. 
The fact that we have an alpine flora in Britain is one which is apt to be 
overlooked, and my object here has been especially to call attention to 
this point. I trust that this short rcsinnr of a large subject has not been 
without interest to those here who are attracted by the study or cultiva- 
tion of alpines. 
'■'Warming, E., Lelwhuch dcr OJcologischen Pflanzenanatomic, Berlin, 1896. 
f Schimper, ibid. 
