Distribution of the Flora in the Alpine Zone. 45 
Fig. 2 shows clearly that quite generally in the alpine zone the 
number of rare species is much the greatest and that of common 
species the least. 
Fig, 2. Graph showing relative proportion of species which are very rare 
(rr), rare (r), somewhat rare (at ), somewhat common (ac), common (c) and very 
common (cc). 
A, in 240 species of the southern Jura. 
B, in 370 species of the region W.T.D. 
C, in 178 species of the Graian Alps (upper alpine zone). 
It is impossible not to be struck by the resemblance between 
these graphs and the curves representing organic variation (Galtonian 
curves, binomial curves). This resemblance would doubtless be 
still more marked if the number of species and localities considered 
were greater, and it may be supposed that in that case the curve 
expressing the different degrees of frequency of the associated 
species would correspond with a Galtonian “half-curve.” While 
awaiting its verification on a larger scale, the relation revealed 
derives special validity from the fact that it appears even in the 
distribution of a small number of species. 
For the 92 species of the Ormonts meadow already mentioned 
the following figures are obtained : rare species, 60% : somewhat 
rare and somewhat common, 23% s common, \0/j. 
