not unlike those of the Alpine Balsam, at any rate at first sight. But
each Mealy Primrose plant bears but a single leafless flower-stem which
terminates in a cluster of flowers. Moreover, the Mealy Primrose is found
in moist meadows and boggy places, and rarely among rocks, and its leaves
have a grey, powdery bloom on their lower surfaces.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII.
ERINUS ALPINUS. L.
The Alpine Balsam. Erine des Alpes. Alpen-Leberbalsam.]
The Leafy Lousewort
(_PEDICULARIS FOLIOSA_)
The Louseworts as a whole have been exceedingly successful in the Alps.
No less than fourteen different species are to be found, and some of
them are exceedingly common. In spite of their unpleasant name they
are for the most part really beautiful plants, and as a group they are
interesting in several ways. In the first place, they are all in some
degree parasites on other plants. Branches arise from the roots which
attach themselves to the roots of neighbouring plants and absorb from
them water or salts or even organic nourishment. The Leafy Lousewort
is not a great offender in this respect, but other species are capable
of completely destroying many of the surrounding plants. The method of
pollination of the Lousewort flowers is also somewhat remarkable. The
flowers are only visited by humble bees, for no other insect appears to
be strong enough to force an entrance into the flower. As may be made out
from the photograph, the flower consists of two lips. In the upper is a
vertical slit through which the stigma alone projects, but immediately
behind the slit are the four stamens. The lower lip forms practically a
landing stage for insect visitors. When the humble-bee alights on the
flower his head is sure to come in contact with the projecting stigma
and some of the pollen which he unconsciously carries with him will be
removed. As he bends forward and thrusts his head into the flower to
suck the honey the vertical slit in the upper lip will be widened out
and the stamens will protrude and strike the insect’s head. When the
humble-bee at last leaves the flower to continue his journey its various
parts will resume their former relative positions. Should no insects
visit the flower self-pollination will occur. This appears to be the
usual course of events in the North where humble-bees are scarce. In
Spitzbergen, where there are no humble-bees, a nearly-related species,
_Pedicularis lanata_, is said to be regularly self-fertilised without
apparently suffering in any possible way.
The Leafy Lousewort here illustrated is the commonest variety in most
districts. It is a tall, stately plant, often some two feet high, which
is found on grassy slopes and in rocky places between 3500 and 7000 feet,
and grows best on a limestone soil. The large fine-divided leaves are
even found among the pale yellow flowers on the flower-stem. The plant
flowers in June and July, and is found in the Alps, Pyrenees, Vosges, and
Jura. It will be readily recognised by its alternate leaves, and pale
yellow hairy flowers, without any beak-like projection at their summits.
_Pedicularis Oederi_, which is a little like it, has no foliage leaves
between the flowers, which are devoid of hairs, and have a blackish red
spot on either side of the upper lip.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXIV.
PEDICULARIS FOLIOSA. L.
The Leafy Lousewort. Pédiculaire à épi feuillé. Reichbeblättertes
Läusekraut.]
The Yellow Auricula
(_PRIMULA AURICULA_)
Directly the snow melts up come the Auriculas, but only on limestone
soil. The Auricula is really a spring plant, and usually flowers in
May, but where protected by slowly melting masses of snow it may not
bloom till much later; the accompanying photograph was taken in July.
The thick, dense rootstock penetrates deep into the clefts of the rock.
The leaves are smooth, rather fleshy, and of a bluish-green colour. The
upper surface of the leaves, the flower-stalk and the calyx are covered
with a white mealy substance. The leaves appear to serve the plant as a
means of absorbing or storing water. Although the thick, dense cuticle
usually present on leaves which have this function is here absent, they
are found to dry up very slowly. It is probable that the thick cellulose
walls between the individual cells replace the cuticle in the leaves of
this plant. The flowers give forth a pleasant odour, something like that
of the cowslip, but rather sweeter. Like the flowers of the primrose,
they are of two kinds. The one has a long stigma which projects as far
as the opening of the flower, and short stamens, and the converse is the
case in the other. The object of this arrangement is to facilitate the
pollination of the flowers by the agency of insect visitors as they pass
from the one type to the other. Darwin found that very few seeds were
formed when the flowers were self-fertilised.
The Auricula grows in rocky places between 3000 and 7000 feet. It is only
found in limestone districts, and is rather local. It is also to be met
with in the Jura, Dauphiny, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, and in one or
two places in the Black Forest.
The Auricula will be readily recognised. From the Oxlip (_Primula
elatior_) and Cowslip (_Primula officinalis_ or _veris_), it is
distinguished by its smooth, not wrinkled, leaves and mealy stem. It is
probable that most of the brilliantly coloured garden Auriculas were
originally derived from this species.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXV.
PRIMULA AURICULA. L.
The Yellow Auricula. Primevère Auricule. Felsen-Aurikel oder
Flühblüemli.]
The Marsh Orchis
(_ORCHIS LATIFOLIA_)
A large number of Orchids are to be found in the Alps. They form a
well-defined group of plants which are particularly interesting in
view of complicated devices which they have adopted to ensure the
fertilisation of their seeds by the agency of insect visitors. Nearly all
the English species are found in Switzerland, and most of them are met
with in much greater abundance there. The beautiful pink Helleborine, the
sweet-scented Butterfly Orchis, may be found in profusion on the lower
mountain slopes, and the dark red Nigritella, with its odour of vanilla,
and the ghost-like Coral-root, in the higher regions.
Of the genus Orchis alone there are no less than seventeen Swiss species.
Many of these are much alike, and by no means easy to distinguish from
one another. One of the most abundant is the Marsh Orchis, which is also
met with in England, but is not nearly so common there. The plant grows
in damp meadows and boggy places, where an average sized plant may be 18
inches or two feet high. Its large purple spotted flowers appear in June
and may last until July.
The methods adopted by the plant to ensure the fertilisation of its
flowers by means of insect visitors are most elaborate and exact, but
without the aid of diagrams they are a little difficult to explain. It is
curious that no honey is contained in the spur. It is probably the cell
sap in it that is attractive to insects.
The Marsh Orchis will be recognised by its spreading spotted leaves,
hollow stem, the palm-shaped tubers of its root, and the thick spur to
the flower.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXVI.
ORCHIS LATIFOLIA. L.
The Marsh Orchis. L’Orchis à Feuilles Larges. Breitblättriges
Knabenkraut.]
The Lady’s Slipper
(_CYPRIPEDIUM CALCEOLUS_)
This is one of the most striking plants of the Swiss flora, and while
nowhere common is pretty widely distributed in the limestone districts of
the Alps. It is a plant of some size, perhaps 12 to 24 inches in height,
and grows in stony woods from the lower mountain region up to 6500 feet.
One to three large yellow flowers are borne by each plant. Their method
of fertilisation is of exceptional interest. Close to the attachment of
the yellow slipper-shaped petal to the rest of the flower is a projection
bearing on each side a stigmatic surface below and a mass of pollen
above. The large yellow petal is smooth inside and has overhanging edges,
rather like those of the familiar beetle-trap that is used for catching
cockroaches, and as we shall see in a moment it acts in a similar manner.
There is no honey in the flower, and it is not quite clear what the small
bees that have been seen visiting it go there for. But at any rate when
they once get in they have the greatest possible difficulty in getting
out again, and only succeed in doing so by climbing up the attached side
of the flower where the edges are not overhanging, that is on either side
of the central projection. In doing this they are sure to brush first
against the stigmatic surface, leaving behind some of the pollen they may
chance to have sticking to them, and then against the viscid mass of
pollen, some of which is sure to become attached to them. This process
has been actually observed by Dr Herman Müller in the Alps.
The Lady’s Slipper Orchid is found also in the Jura, Tyrol, Dauphiny,
Pyrenees, in certain parts of Central and Southern Germany, and even in
the North of England. It is everywhere rather rare, but specially so
in this country. It flowers in May and June, and is sure to be easily
recognised, for there is no other plant in the least like it.
No doubt such names as the Lady’s Slipper, Lady’s Mantle, and
Lady’s-Tresses refer to the dedication of the plant to the Virgin in
mediæval times. The French name, “Sabot de Vénus,” refers to a very
different personage. A comparison between the English, French, German,
and the scientific names, for the last of which Linneus is responsible,
is a good example of the way in which the goddess Venus and the Virgin
Mary were often confounded with one another in the early days.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXVII.
CYPRIPEDIUM CALCEOLUS. L.
The Lady’s-Slipper Orchid. Sabot de Vénus. Gemeiner Frauenschuh.]
The White Veratrum
(_VERATRUM ALBUM_)
The White Veratrum is a tall weed with large green leaves, very abundant
in moist meadows and pastures in all parts of the Alps between 2000 and
6000 feet. Before the flowers appear it strongly suggests one of the
larger Gentians, but the flowers, which come out in July and August,
are quite different. It is a widely distributed plant, being found in
Russia, Siberia, Lapland, as well as in most of the mountain ranges of
Central and Southern Europe. It appears to have been left as a relic of
the glacial period in the higher parts of Silesia and the Black Forest.
The large green leaves are downy beneath, and the flowers, which are
always green externally, may be pure white (var. _typicum_), or more
commonly yellowish-green (var. _Lobelianum_), internally. Some would
regard these two varieties as distinct species. The whole plant is
extremely poisonous. Sometimes it is eaten by the sheep and goats with
disastrous results to the herdsmen, but the cattle are wiser and rarely
make this mistake. The poison is an alkaloid Veratrin, which is contained
in largest quantities in the root from which it is extracted for medical
purposes. If the root be tasted it will at first appear sweet, but its
acrid, bitter flavour soon overpowers this first impression. The Swiss
herdsmen look upon the White Veratrum as a noxious weed, not only because
of its poisonous properties but also because it grows in the richest
soil and robs the true fodder plants of nourishment. In the Jura, on the
other hand, the farmers rather welcome it. They say that the shade of its
large leaves preserves the grass for the cattle and prevents it becoming
dried up by the scorching sun.
The White Veratrum will be easily recognised. Its nearest relative, the
Black Veratrum (_Veratrum nigrum_), is a much rarer plant that grows in
woods. It has reddish-black or chocolate flowers, which grow in large
spikes like those of the plant here illustrated, but each individual
flower has a relatively longer flower-stalk.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXVIII.
VERATRUM ALBUM. L.
The White Veratrum. Hellébore blanc ou Vératre blanc. Weisser Germer.]
Index
A
_Abies pectinata_, xi
Aconites, 6
_Aconitum Anthora_, 8
_Lycoctonum_, 8
_Napellus_, 6
_paniculatum_, 7
Alpenrose, the Hairy-leaved, 58
the Rusty-leaved, 58
Alpine anemone, 2
Aster, 44
Balsam, 68
Carline Thistle, 50
Clover, 22
Fleabane, 44
Honeysuckle, x
Region, xii
Rose, 32
Sainfoin, 28
Starwort, 44
Toad-flax, 66
_Alps_, xii
Altitude, x
_Anemone alpina_, 2
_Narcissiflora_, 2
_nemorosa_, 2
_Pulsatilla_, 2
_Antennaria carpathica_, 47
_dioica_, 46
_Arnica montana_, 48
Arnica, 48
Arolla, xii
Aronics, 49
_Aster alpinus_, 44
_Amellus_, 45
Aster, the Alpine, 44
_Astrantia major_, 42
_Astrantia minor_, 43
Astrantia, the Large, 42
the Small, 43
Auricula, the Yellow, 72
Auriculas, garden, 73
B
Ball, John, xxii
Balsam, the Alpine, 68
Bavarian Gentian, 64
Bearded Bell-flower, 54
Bell-flower, the Bearded, 54
the Dwarf, 56
Bird’s-eye, 68
Biting Stonecrop, 41
Black Veratrum, 79
Blood Geranium, 20
Bonnier, Professor, xv
Box-leaved Milkwort, 14
Brook Crane’s-bill, 20
Brown Clover, 24
_Bupleurum ranunculoides_, 43
C
_Campanula barbata_, 54
_excisa_, 56
_pusilla_, 56
_rotundifolia_, 57
_Scheuchzeri_, 57
_Zoysii_, 55
Campanula, the Bearded, 54
Campion, the Moss, 18
_Carlina acaulis_, 50
Carline Thistle, the Alpine, 50
Carpathians Cudweed, 47
Carved Gentian, 62
Cat’s-foot, 46
“Chamois’ beards,” 2
Chickweed, 16
Christmas tree, xi
_Circium oloraceum_, 51
_spinosissimum_, 50
Climate of Alps, xi
Clover, the Alpine, 22
Brown, 24
Dull-flowered Sweet, 28
Cobweb House-leek, 37
Cold Milk-Vetch, 26
Mountain-lentil, 26
Colours of Alpine flowers, xix
Common Fuller’s Thistle, 51
Milk wort, 14
Monk’s-Hood, 6
Cowslip, 73
Crane’s-bill, Brook, 20
Meadow, 20
Creeping Gypsophila, 16
Crocuses, xv
Cudweed, Carpathian, 47
Mountain, 46
Cultivation of Alpine plants, xxiv
Cushion Pink, 18
“Cushion plant,” 18
_Cypripedium calceolus_, 76
D
Destruction of Alpine plants, xxiii
Dog-Rose, 32
Doronicum, 49
_Dryas octopetala_, 30
Dryas, the White, 30
Dull-flowered Sweet Clover, 26
Dwarf Bell-flower, 56
Hair-Bell, 56
E
Edelweiss, xv, xviii, 46
_Epilobium angustifolium_, 34
_Fleischeri_, 34
_rosmarinifolium_, 35
_Erigeron alpina_, 44
_Erinus alpinus_, 68
_Eritrichium nanum_, xiii
Evergreen Saxifrage, 40
Everlasting, the Mountain, 46
Eyebright, xix
F
Fleabane, the Alpine, 44
Fleischer’s Willow-herb, 34
Flowers of Alpine plants, xix
Forget-me-not, xix
Fuller’s Thistle, the Common, 51
the Spiny, 50
G
Gentian, the Bavarian, 64
the Carved, 63
the Marsh, 36
the Short-leaved, 64
the Spring, 65
the Stemless, 62
_Gentiana acaulis_, 62
_bavarica_, 64
_brachyphylla_, 64
_Gentiana excisa_, 63
_Pneumonanthe_, 63
_verna_, 65
Geranium, the Blood, 20
the Wood, 20
_Geranium pratense_, 20
_rivulare_, 20
_sanguinum_, 20
_sylvaticum_, 20
Glacial period, xxii
Glacier Crowfoot, xiii
_Glaucium luteum_, xiii
Globe Flower, 4
Gypsophila, the Creeping, 16
_Gypsophila repens_, 16
H
Hair-bell, the Common, 57
the Dwarf, 56
Hairy-leaved Alpenrose, 58
Hare’s-ear, 43
_Hedysarum obscurum_, 28
Horned Sea-poppy, xiii
House-leek, the Cobweb, 37
the Common, 38
the Mountain, 36
I
Insects in the Alps, xx
L
Lady’s Mantle, 77
Slipper, 76
Tresses, 77
Larch, xi
Large Astrantia, 42
_Larix Europæa_, x
Leafy Lousewort, 70
Lesser Winter-Green, 60
_Linaria alpina_, 66
Long-Spurred Pansy, 12
_Lonicera alpigena_, x
Lousewort, the Leafy, 70
Low stature of Alpine plants, xvii
M
_Maianthemum bifolium_, x
Marsh Gentian, 63
Orchis, 74
May-Lily, x
Meadow Crane’s-bill, 20
Mealy Primrose, 68
Milk-Vetch, the Cold, 26
Milkwort, the Box-leaved, 14
the Common, 14
Monk’s-Hood, the Common, 6
Moss Campion, 18
Moss-like Saxifrage, 41
Mountain Cudweed, 46
Everlasting, 46
House-leek, 36
-lentil, the Cold, 26
Müller, H., xx, xxi, 13
N
Narcissus-flowered Anemone, 2
O
_Orchis latifolia_, 74
Orchis, the Marsh, 74
Origin of Alpine flora, xxi
Oxlip, 73
P
Panicled Monk’s-hood, 7
Pansy, the Long-Spurred, 12
Pasque Flower, 2
_Pedicularis foliosa_, 70
_lanata_, 71
_Oederi_, 71
Perennials in the Alps, xvi
_Phaca alpina_, 26
_frigida_, 26
Photography of Alpine plants, xxv
_Phyteuma orbicular_, 52
_Scheuchzeri_, 53
_spicatum_, x
_Picea excelsa_, xi
_Pinus Cembra_, xii
_sylvestris_, xii
_Poa annua_, xvi
_Polygala calcarea_, 15
_chamæbuxus_, 14
_vulgaris_, 14
Preserving Alpine plants, xxiii
Pressing Alpine plants, xxiii
Primrose, the Mealy, 68
_Primula auricula_, 72
_elatior_, 73
_farinosa_, 68
_officinalis_, 73
_veris_, 73
_Pyrola minor_, 60
_rotundifolia_, 60
_secunda_, 60
R
Rampion, the Round-headed, 52
the White-flowered, x
_Ranunculaceæ_, 4
_Ranunculus acris_, 5
_glacialis_, xiii
_montanus_, 4
Red-berried Elder, x
Region of forest trees, xi
_Rhododendron ferrugineum_, 58
_hirsutum_, 58
Rock gardens, xxiv
_Rosa alpina_, 32
Rose-bay, 34
Rose, the Alpine, 32
Rosemary-leaved Willow-herb, 3
Rough Saxifrage, 41
Round-headed Rampion, 52
Rusty-leaved Alpenrose, 58
S
“Sabot de Vénus,” 77
Sainfoin, the Alpine, 28
_Sambucus racemosa_, x
Sandwort, 16
_Saxifraga Aizoides_, 40
_aspera_, 41
_bryoides_, 41
_Hirculus_, 41
_Sequieri_, 41
Saxifrage, the Evergreen, 40
the Moss-like, 41
the Rough, 41
Scotch Fir, xii
_Sedum acre_, 41
_Sempervivum arachnoideum_, 37
_Funckii_, 38
_montanum_, 36
_tectorum_, 38
_Wulfeni_, 38
Short-leaved Gentian, 64
_Silene acaulis_, 18
_exscapa_, 19
Silver Fir, xi
Silver-herb, 30
Slipper, the Lady’s, 76
Small Astrantia, 43
Snowbells, xv
Spiny Fuller’s Thistle, 50
_Spiræa Aruncus_, x
_Spiræa_, x
Spring Gentian, 65
Spruce, xi
Star-Gentians, 64
Starwort, the Alpine, 44
Stemless Carline Thistle, 50
Gentian, 62
Stonecrops, 41
Stunted character of Alpine plants, xvii
Subalpine Region, xi
Sweet Clover, the Dull-flowered, 28
T
Toad-flax, the Alpine, 66
_Trifolium alpinum_, 22
_badium_, 24
_pallescens_, 23
_spadiceum_, 25
_Trollius Europæus_, 4
Two-flowered Violet, 10
U
Underground stem of Alpine plants, xv
V
_Veratrum album_, 78
_nigrum_, 79
Veratrum, the Black, 79
the White, 78
_Viola biflora_, 10
_calcarata_, 12
Violet, the Two-flowered, 10
W
White Dryas, 30
Veratrum, 78
Willow-herb, Fleischer’s, 34
the Rosemary-leaved, 35
Winter-Green, the Lesser, 60
Wolf’s-bane, the Yellow, 8
Wood Anemone, 2
Geranium, 20
Y
Yellow Auricula, 72
Wolf’s-bane, 8
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