Edinburgh journal of natural history and of the physical sciences edinburghjournal01macg Year: 1835 ' AND OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 103 reaches the slopes of the mountains, and ascends to the height of 1600 yards. It degenerates in proportion as it approaches the point where it ceases to vegetate. The Beech (Fagus sylvatica) makes its first appearance at the height of 600 yards above the sea, and its last at 200 yards above the Oak. The Silver-Fir {Pimts picea), and the Ye^ (Taxus communis), show themselves at 1400 yards, and go on to about 2000. The Scotch-Fir (Pinvs st/lvestris), and Mugho
Edinburgh journal of natural history and of the physical sciences edinburghjournal01macg Year: 1835 ' AND OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 103 reaches the slopes of the mountains, and ascends to the height of 1600 yards. It degenerates in proportion as it approaches the point where it ceases to vegetate. The Beech (Fagus sylvatica) makes its first appearance at the height of 600 yards above the sea, and its last at 200 yards above the Oak. The Silver-Fir {Pimts picea), and the Ye^ (Taxus communis), show themselves at 1400 yards, and go on to about 2000. The Scotch-Fir (Pinvs st/lvestris), and Mugho Pine (Pinus pumi- lio)j take their stations between the heights of 2000 and 2400 yards. There the trees stop, and shrubs, with a juiceless foliage, and low or creeping stems, present themselves ; these lie hid beneath the snow in the winter. Among them are some of the Rhododendrons, Daphnes, Passerinas, the Globularia repens, the two species of Salix, herhacea, reticulata, &c. Soon after we meet only small herbs with perennial roots, spreading radical leaves, and a naked stalk. These, with the lichens and Byssi, arrive at the height of 3000, and even 3400 yards. The first that occur are the Gentiana campestris. Primula villosa, Saxifraga longifolia, and Aizoon, &c. ; then Ranunculus alpes- tris, nivalis, parnassifalius, Arctia alpina, and finally, Ranunculus glacialis, Saxi- fraga c<ESpitosQ, oppositifolia, Androsacea, and Groenlandica. The last brings us to the borders of eternal snow. Botanists who have explored the Alps, have remarked phenomena perfectly corre- sponding with those observed by IM. Ramond in the Pyrenees. But it was reserved for Jlessrs Humboldt and Bonpland to demonstrate the succession of modifications in the vegetable structure on the highest mountains yet known, and in one of the hottest and most fertile regions of our globe. In the equinoctial countries of America, vegetation displays itself to the view of the observer as on the gradually rising steps
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