3 66 
Reviews . 
Passing over—for want of space—the extremely interesting 
“vegetation type” designated the tall herb ground (Hoehstauden- 
flur), with its “ formations ” of “ kar-herbage ” (Karflur *) and “ lair- 
herbage ” (Lagerflur), we come to the “vegetation type” of glass 
grounds (Grasfluren). This is composed of the single “formation 
group ” of grasslands (VViesen), which is divided into three 
formations :—(1) manured grassland (Fettvviese), (2) moist grassland 
(Frischwiese), and (3) dry grassland (Trockenwiese). Here one 
may allude to the conflicting use of the terms Weide and Matte by 
different German-speaking phytogeographers. The Swiss (3) by 
Weide mean pasture or grazed grasslands ; and by Matte they mean 
meadow or mown grassland. On the other hand, Professor Diels 
(4) by Wiese means grassland with tall herbage (4, p. 91), and by 
Matte he means grassland with low herbage (4, p. 96). Brockmann 
(5) makes several sub-divisions of meadow (Matte) depending on 
whether the manuring is regular or intermittent, whether the ground 
is sheltered or not, and whether the ground is siliceous or calcareous. 
Dr. Riibel describes in all twenty-seven “associations” of his three 
grassland “formations.” Here he follows Brockmann (5) closely; 
and we may add that one of the chief points of Brockmann’s 
monograph of the Puschlav region—which adjoins the Engadine— 
is its minute study of grassland “ associations.” Many of these, 
I suppose, would be regarded as “societies” by British plant 
geographers. 
A group of Dr. RubePs associations of moist grasslands deserves 
special comment, namely, the associations named snow hollows 
(Schneetalchen). This term was first used, and the communities 
designated by it, were first described by Oswald Heer. Schroter 
adopted the term, and described the community as an association. 
Brockmann raised the community to the rank of formation ; and 
Riibel uses the term to cover a natural group of associations within 
the “ Frischwiese.” Warming (6, p. 319) refers to the community 
as the “ snow patch flora.” The ground of the “Schneetalchen” 
is gently inclined, flat, or concave; and is in spring and early 
summer saturated with water from contiguous melting snow. As 
may be inferred, the snow hollows occur in Alpine and Arctic 
regions. The soil consists of cold, wet humus. On siliceous soils, 
the associations recognised by Dr. Rtibel are (1) Anthelietum, (2) 
Polytrichetum, (3) Salicetum herbaceae, and (4) Alchemilletum 
pentaphylleae, whilst on calcareous soils, a Salicetum reticulati 
occurs. Three at least of these associations are British, one having 
been first described for this country by Dr. W. G. Smith (7) to 
whom it was pointed out on Ben Lawers by Professor Schroter 
and Dr. Rtibel on the recent International Phytogeographical 
Excursion (1911). 
Brockmann has shown that the members of the association 
have means (hairs, etc.) to prevent water from penetrating the 
tissues even when the plants are submerged in water for two or 
three weeks. 
1 “Kar” is an Austrian geological term to denote hollows dug out by 
glaciers. “ Karflur ” is a term introduced by Kerner to denote the tall herbage 
which often occurs in such places. The word “ Kar ” has been adopted by the 
Swiss, and seems to have no English equivalent. Hence my term “kar- 
herbage.” 
