MOUNTAIN PLANTS. 



1X7 



varied forms of plants allied to Begonia and Melastoma, 

 continually attract the attention in this region. Filling 

 up the spaces l^etween the trees and larf^er plants, on 

 every trunk and stump and branch, are hosts of Orcliids, 

 Ferns and Lycopods, which wave and hang and inter- 

 twine in ever-varying complexity. At about 5,000 feet 

 I first saw horsetails (Equisetum), very like our own 

 species. At 6,000 

 feet, Raspberries f^^^ 

 abonnd, and thence 

 to the summit of the 

 mountain there are 

 three species of eat- 

 able Bubus. At ^,000 

 feet Cypresses ap- 

 pear, and the forest 

 trees become reduced 

 in size, and more 

 covered with mossea 

 and lichens. From 

 this point upward 

 tliese rapidly in- 

 crease, so that the 

 blocks of rock and 

 scoria that form the 

 mountain slope are 

 completely hidden in 

 a mossy vegetation. 

 At about 8,000 feet 

 European forms of 

 plants become abun- 

 dant. Several species 

 of Honey-suckle, Si 

 -Tohn's-wort, and 

 Guelder-rose abound, 

 and at about 9,000 

 ft^et we first meet 

 with the rare and 



beautiful Royal Cowslip (Primiila imperialis), which is 

 said to be found nowhere else in the world but on this 

 solitary mountain summit. It has a tall, stout stem, some- 



PBIUVT.^ IMPEaiAUJI. 



