FLORA OF THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS. 157 



Caryophylew, outnumber all other orders in the 

 yailahs. 



Region IV. Above the yailahs, and bounding 

 them is the region of mountain peaks. These 

 reach to various heights from six to ten thou- 

 sand feet, and are bare and treeless towards their 

 summits. The snow rests in crevices throughout 

 the year, and during winter and spring forms 

 extensive and conspicuous masses. Below the 

 snow, the pale yellow and bare limestone is 

 speckled here and there by the gloomy foliage 

 of the Janiperus excelsa, a clumpy and cedar- 

 like tree, which becomes more abundant as 

 we descend, until at between six and eight 

 thousand feet, it forms a dark zone round 

 the mountain and again diminishes to give 

 place to pines. It is the tree called " cedar " 

 by travellers in Asia Minor. Near the snow 

 and above the junipers, alpine fritillaries, and 

 violets, Fumaria rutwfolia, Scilla bifolia, Draba 

 aizoides, Achillea umbellata, Crocus nivalis, Ane- 

 mone Appenina, and some species of Gagea, Orni- 

 thogalum, Veronica, Alyssum, and Draba, are the 

 characteristic plants. Where the snow occupies 

 crevices considerably lower down, these plants 

 may be often found growing beside it. In the 



