ALPINE PLANTS 
i8 3 
and the plants growing near them are thus subjected in a 
more marked degree than elsewhere to a cold wet soil and 
atmosphere. In such places are found chiefly Salix herbacea 
and reticulata , Oxyria digyna , Saxifraga stellar is, &c. 
Most of these have thin round deciduous leaves, with serrated 
edges. These are termed alpine snow-leaves by Jungner ; 
they are well able to survive burial in snow. 
The open slopes, where the ground is not very wet, are 
chiefly covered by Alchemilla alpina , Erica, Calluna and 
Vaccinium, with patches of grasses, Potentilla Tormentilla , 
Polygala, Trientalis, and other flowers. The wet places by 
the sides of streams are occupied by mosses, liverworts, 
and a few flowering plants, e.g. Saxifraga sp. (especially A. 
stellaris and aizoides ), Chrysosplenium, Caltha, Geranium, 
Geum rivale , &c. Many of these are lowland species which 
in sheltered glens ascend to great heights and mingle with 
the descending alpine forms. 
Upon precipitous rocks a different flora appears. Here 
the soil is even more shallow than on the gentler slopes, 
and only those species with good tap-roots, or with rhizomes, 
runners, or tufted growth are usually able to live in such 
situations. The xerophytism is very marked, for the water 
supply is very limited. Here occur Thalictrum alpinum , 
Silene acaulis, Arenaria Cherleria , Cerastium alpinum (hairy), 
Sedum rhodiola (fleshy), Saxifraga oppositifolia (fleshy), 
Saussurea (hairy), Hieracium sp., Juniperus, and others. 
In wet places other forms occur, and many lowland species 
also, such as Alchemilla vulgaris , Lychnis dioica , Oxalis, 
Lotus corniculatus, &c. 
All these alpine forms show more or less marked xero- 
phytic characters — hairiness, fleshiness, reduction of surface, 
tufted and compacted growth, &c. On the Alps and on 
other mountains similar conditions of life occur at similar 
distances below the snow line, and the flora, though differing 
in composition, exhibits similar biological features. Details 
must be sought elsewhere. 
Many plants of the shore-flora occur at high levels in 
the Grampians and other mountains, e.g. Armeria, Plantago 
sp., Cochlearia sp. (see below). 
In the mountains of Britain and Norway insects are 
scarce at high levels, and are chiefly humble-bees and flies. 
