Summer Flowers of the High Alps

Part 1

SUMMER FLOWERS OF THE HIGH ALPS

The Spiny Fuller’s Thistle. Le Chardon le plus épineux. Stachlige Kratzdistel.

FRONTISPIECE, see page 50.]

SUMMER FLOWERS OF THE HIGH ALPS

BY SOMERVILLE HASTINGS M.S. AUTHOR OF “ALPINE PLANTS AT HOME,” SERIES I. AND II.

ILLUSTRATED BY REPRODUCTIONS FROM DIRECT COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR

LONDON: J. M. DENT & SONS, LTD. NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.

Preface

The coloured plates of Alpine plants, which are the special feature of this book, are all reproduced from colour photographs taken directly from nature. The plants were all photographed exactly as they were found, with two exceptions, in the immediate neighbourhood of Rosenlaui in the Bernese Oberland during the month of July 1909; so that the pictures are true portraits of the flowers “at home.”

The Lumière process of colour photography which was used, depends on the action of light on a photographic plate after its passage through various coloured starch grains. The process is entirely beyond the control of the operator, and the exact colours are automatically reproduced. These photographs have in turn been carefully reproduced for this work by the three colour process.

The flowers here photographed were selected as good examples of common and typical species; and, of course, they represent but a very small portion of the rich flora of Switzerland. The present volume is intended as a short introduction to the subject, for the fuller study of which the following works are recommended:—

A. Gremli, “The Flora of Switzerland.” Translated by Paitson.

A. W. Bennett, “The Flora of the Alps.”

G. Hoffmann, “Alpine Flora.” Translated by E. S. Barton.

L. and C. Schröter, “Coloured Vade-mecum to the Alpine Flora.”

C. Schröter, “Das Pflanzenleben der Alpen.”

F. E. Hulme, “Familiar Swiss Flowers.”

“Hints and Notes for Travellers in the Alps,” being the General Introduction to Ball’s Alpine Guide.

They have all been freely referred to in the preparation of the accompanying notes.

Wherever possible the common name of each plant in English, French, and German has been given on the corresponding plate. It is hoped that this may be of use to the reader.

In conclusion I would like to thank the publishers for the great trouble they have taken in the preparation of the plates, and Mr Howard Farmer, of the Polytechnic School of Photography, for much valuable advice.

SOMERVILLE HASTINGS.

NEW CAVENDISH STREET, W. April 1910.

Illustrations

THE SPINY FULLER’S THISTLE Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

THE NARCISSUS-FLOWERED ANEMONE 2

THE GLOBE FLOWER 4

Part 2

THE COMMON MONK’S-HOOD 6

THE YELLOW WOLF’S-BANE 8

THE TWO-FLOWERED VIOLET 10

THE LONG-SPURRED PANSY 12

THE BOX-LEAVED MILKWORT 14

THE CREEPING GYPSOPHILA 16

THE MOSS CAMPION OR CUSHION PINK 18

THE WOOD GERANIUM 20

THE ALPINE CLOVER 22

THE BROWN CLOVER 24

THE COLD MOUNTAIN-LENTIL 26

THE DULL-FLOWERED SWEET CLOVER OR ALPINE SAINFOIN 28

THE WHITE DRYAS 30

THE ALPINE ROSE 32

FLEISCHER’S WILLOW-HERB 34

THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE-LEEK 36

SEMPERVIVUM FUNCKII 38

THE EVERGREEN SAXIFRAGE 40

THE LARGE ASTRANTIA 42

THE ALPINE STARWORT OR ALPINE ASTER 44

THE CAT’S-FOOT, MOUNTAIN EVERLASTING OR MOUNTAIN CUDWEED 46

THE ARNICA 48

THE ROUND-HEADED RAMPION 52

THE BEARDED BELL-FLOWER OR CAMPANULA 54

THE DWARF HAIR-BELL OR BELL-FLOWER 56

THE HAIRY-LEAVED ALPENROSE 58

THE LESSER WINTER-GREEN 60

THE STEMLESS GENTIAN 62

Part 3

THE SHORT-LEAVED GENTIAN 64

THE ALPINE TOAD-FLAX 66

THE ALPINE BALSAM 68

THE LEAFY LOUSEWORT 70

THE YELLOW AURICULA 72

THE MARSH ORCHIS 74

THE LADY’S SLIPPER 76

THE WHITE VERATRUM 78

Introduction

No one can visit Switzerland for the first time without being struck with the singular beauty of its wild flowers. In the early summer the whole country from the lowland meadows right up to the snowline is ablaze with beauty. Probably in no other part of the world are the forms of the flowers more pleasing and their colours more brilliant. Hence it is that almost everyone who visits the Alps, however little interest he may take in the wild flowers of his own home, desires to know something of the wonderful new forms that everywhere meet his gaze. Here the charm of novelty also comes in, for at least half the flowers met with in the Alps are absent from the plains, and many of the species that occur in both situations have, as we shall see later, acquired such different characters at high altitudes as to be with difficulty at first sight recognised. Those who would see Switzerland in all its beauty, and as far as its floral treasures are concerned, at its best, must visit it in early June before the hay is cut. Otherwise they will miss the glory of the unmown meadows, and although many of the spring flowers, like the Crocuses and Primulas (Plate 35), may still be found in small quantities at high altitudes even in July, the striking effect of the large masses of these flowers will be entirely wanting.

If we travel to Switzerland by the ordinary tourist route, across Germany or France, and then ascend the mountain peaks, we shall, in the first part of our journey, notice but few differences in the vegetation from that to which we are accustomed. The wild flowers of France and Germany are very like those of the South of England and, except that perhaps the yellow Fuller’s Thistle (Circium oloraceum) may be seen in damp places near the railway, very little of botanical interest will be observed until the customs are passed and Switzerland itself is reached. Even here the traveller may be for a time a little disappointed. The first unfamiliar plant to be noticed will very likely be the Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa). A little later, in some shady wood, the tall feathery Spiræa (Spiræa Aruncus), or the beautiful little May-Lily (Maianthemum bifolium), may be seen. Or a glimpse of the white-flowered Rampion (Phyteuma spicatum) or the Alpine Honeysuckle (Lonicera alpigena), with its twin red berries, may be had in passing. But not until the mountains themselves are reached will the tourist discover that he has entered into an entirely new plant world.

The main factor which determines the character of the flora of any given region in the Alps is its altitude. But we must not forget that there are other things to be considered beside the absolute height above the sea level, and the local conditions of exposure to the sun and protection from the cold winds are quite important factors. Generally speaking, it may be said that the climate is a good deal milder on the southern slopes of the Alps than in the north. Olives can be grown in some of the lower mountain regions of the south, and with them are found many of the plants of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region which are never seen in places of the same altitude on the northern slopes. It is exceedingly probable that most of the lower parts of the Alps were originally covered to a large extent by forest trees. The oak, ash, and beech still flourish in many parts, although much of the original forest has been removed long ago, and used for building purposes or as fuel, and large areas have been thus cleared for meadow and pasture land. In many districts the spruce and the pine appear to be usurping the place of the other forest trees mainly because the young plants are less eagerly devoured by browsing animals, especially the goats. Below 4000 feet on the northern slopes and 5000 feet or a little over on the south side of the Alps may be described as the REGION OF FOREST TREES, and above this level the ordinary deciduous trees become dwarfed and scarce. That this altitude corresponds fairly well with a transition to a colder climate is seen by the change in the character of the herbaceous plants also. For the next 2000 feet we have the SUBALPINE REGION covered mainly by Coniferous trees. Here are vast forests, particularly of Spruce (Picea excelsa) and Silver Fir (Abies pectinata). The former is the familiar “Christmas tree,” which grows to a great height on the mountain sides, its lower branches festooned with grey lichens. Besides these trees the Larch (Larix Europæa) on primary rock, and the Scotch Fir (Pinus sylvestris) and the Arolla (Pinus Cembra) are also to be seen.

Above 6000 feet in the north and 7000 in the south the Conifers become dwarfed and stunted, and gradually disappear to give place to the ALPINE REGION. Sometimes as we look along a valley the line of transition is seen to be abrupt and straight, at other times irregular and undulating. Bushes of Alpenrose, Juniper, and Alpine Willow extend upward to the Alpine region, but larger trees are entirely absent. Here are found in profusion the greater number of the plants and flowers peculiar to the Alps. Many of the species may of course be found in sheltered or secluded spots at much lower levels, but here are to be seen in abundance the bright-coloured Saxifrages, Gentians, Anemones, and Pansies, which make the Alps their particular home. Here are the alps or upland pasture grounds of the Swiss, and here are situated the châlets or summer homes of Swiss herdsmen. In June or July, when the pasture is becoming scarce in the valleys and when all the snow is melted on the mountain slopes, the native farmer packs a large copper caldron and whatever else he may require for making cheese into his bullock waggon, and accompanied by his cattle, and often by his family as well, treks upward. The “alps” may be two or three days’ journey from his home, so that he must take with him all that he will probably require for his two or three months’ stay.

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