Part 10

CAMPANULA PUSILLA. HÆNK.

The Dwarf Hair-bell or Bell-flower. Petite Campanule ou Campanule Naine. Kleine Glockenblume.]

The Hairy-Leaved Alpenrose

(RHODODENDRON HIRSUTUM)

The Alpenrose is the commonest and best known of all the Alpine plants. It abounds almost everywhere; were it not so it would have become practically extinct years before, for it is gathered unmercifully. Nor are the visitors to Switzerland alone responsible for this. Every Sunday throughout the summer, crowds of the native peasants, both children and adults, may be seen returning home, each bearing in his arms an immense bunch of the favourite flower, and often with a second and smaller nosegay tied round the top of his alpenstock.

There are really two distinct species of Alpenrose, the Hairy-leaved (Rhododendron hirsutum), and the Rusty-leaved (Rhododendron ferrugineum) varieties, and a hybrid or cross between them is also less commonly found. Both varieties are low evergreen shrubs with thick leathery leaves which only fade after three or four years. Both have raised brown spots on the lower surfaces of the leaves, only they are much more numerous on the Rusty-leaved species, so that the under surface of the leaf is completely covered with them while they are only sparsely scattered on the leaf of the Hairy-leaved variety. They contain a balsam, and are thought to be of use to the plant in preventing its drying up. They may also assist in the absorption of water. The flowers of both species are admirably adapted for cross-fertilisation by the humble-bees which visit them. The stamens first mature, and not until the great part of the pollen is shed does the stigma lengthen and become ready for pollination. The long hairs growing from the stalks which bear the stamens interlock with similar hairs on the inside of the corolla, and thus effectively prevent the entrance of smaller insects which might visit the flower in search of the abundant honey, but which would fail to effect its fertilisation. The flowers of the species here illustrated are usually a little paler in colour, slightly smaller, and open a little later than those of the Rusty-leaved variety. The plant usually forms a lower and more thickly branched shrub, with rather shorter twigs. But the essential distinguishing features between the two are to be found in their leaves. The leaves of Rhododendron hirsutum are usually broader and less pointed, green underneath, and have well-marked hairs all round their edges. In Rhododendron ferrugineum the leaves tend to be narrower, darker green above, and brown underneath, and are entirely devoid of hairs, but have rolled back edges. Both species are found abundantly in rocky places between 4000 and 8000 feet, and flower in June, July, and August, and may be seen at their best in July. The Rusty-leaved variety seems to prefer a rather moister spot and may also be found on peat. It is most abundant on primary granitic rock, while the other species grows best on limestone.

RHODODENDRON HIRSUTUM. L.

The Hairy-leaved Alpenrose. Rhododendron cilié ou hérissé. Bewimperte Alpenrose, oder Wimpern-Alpenrose.]

The Lesser Winter-Green

(PYROLA MINOR)

The plant here photographed derives its English name from the evergreen character of its leaves. It is in fact a British plant, being found somewhat rarely in Scotland and in the North, but is much more common in Switzerland. It grows among the moss in shady woods, from the plains right up to the tree-limit and may even reach 8000 feet or higher, where protected by shrubs and bushes. The plant is widely distributed in Switzerland and is also found in Vosges, Pyrenees, and Jura. It flowers in July.

The Lesser Winter-Green will be recognised by its short, straight style, which does not project beyond the flower and which is closely surrounded by the stamens which converge toward it. Of the four other Swiss Pyrolas which resemble the above, two only are at all common, and these two will alone be mentioned. Pyrola secunda will be recognised by its longer straight style, which projects beyond the petals and by its greenish white flowers, which are all turned in the same direction. Its leaves are more pointed and have deeper notches than those of our plant. Pyrola rotundifolia has also a style that projects beyond the petals, but it is curved so that the stigmatic surface at its extremity is far below the centre of the flower.

PYROLA MINOR. L.

The Lesser Winter-green. Petite Pyrole. Kleines Wintergrün.]

The Stemless Gentian

(GENTIANA ACAULIS)

Many species of Gentian are met with in the Alps. One of the best known of the smaller varieties is the Stemless Gentian or Gentianella, which is a frequent inhabitant of heaths, meadows and pastures all over the higher parts of Switzerland, and is also found in the Jura and Carpathians, being less common on limestone soil and more abundant on primary granitic rock. The plant grows at an altitude of 4000 to 8000 feet, and flowers in June, July, and August. Occasionally it descends much lower and may even be found below 1500 feet in a few special localities. Each plant consists of a small rosette of leaves, a very short stem, and a single bell-shaped flower of deep azure blue. Very often two or three plants are found growing together and a small group such as that photographed is not infrequent. Occasionally also specimens with pale blue, rose red or even white flowers may be seen. When the flower has been fertilised, and while the seeds are maturing, the brightly coloured corolla shrivels up and surrounds the seed vessel, at the same time becoming of a green colour and perhaps taking on a vegetative function. The leaves are rather leathery, narrow, and pointed.

It is often quite a difficult matter to distinguish between the Stemless Gentian, here illustrated, and the Carved Gentian (Gentiana excisa), not only because the two plants are so much alike but also because intermediate forms exist; indeed, it is open to question whether the two plants are really to be regarded as distinct species. In the Carved Gentian the calyx lobes become contracted just above their bases, to widen out again above, and the recesses between the lobes are more rounded and less pointed. The leaves also are broader, less leathery, and not nearly so sharp pointed as those of the so-called stemless variety. The flowers of the Marsh Gentian (Gentiana Pneumonanthe) are also not unlike those of the plant here photographed, but it should be readily distinguished because its leaves are much narrower and several flowers are borne by a single plant.

GENTIANA ACAULIS. L. (GENTIANA CLUSII).

The Stemless Gentian. Gentiane à Tige Courte. Stengelloser Enzian oder Erd-Enzian.]

The Short-Leaved Gentian

(GENTIANA BRACHYPHYLLA)

A particularly fine group of this beautiful little Gentian is here photographed. It is typical of the high Alps or snow region, and is rarely found below 6000 feet, and while scarce above 9000 is to be gathered even at 12,000 feet on the Matterhorn. But a single flower is borne by each little plant at the top of a short stem, which also bears the small, thick, closely packed leaves. The plant is found growing in the turf of mountain pastures and rocky places in the central parts of the whole Alpine chain. It is moderately common particularly on primary rock, and is also met with in Dauphiny and the Pyrenees.

Of the twenty or more species of Gentian that occur in Switzerland, some are tall, stately plants, bearing numerous blue, yellow, or purple flowers. Others are much smaller and bear relatively few flowers, or even one only in small feeble plants. A few never have more than a single blossom to each little plant. Among these last are the Stemless Gentian with its bell-shaped flower, figured on the previous plate, and the Short-leaved Gentian with its star-like flower, which we here illustrate. As a matter of fact, there are really three single-flowered Star-Gentians and to distinguish between them is not easy. Of these the Bavarian Gentian (Gentiana bavarica) is recognised from our plant by its longer stem, perhaps 2 to 3 inches long, on which only two or three pairs of opposite leaves are borne, and by the fact that the lower leaves are smaller than the upper. The Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) has a very short stem, covered by closely packed leaves like the short-leaved variety, and like it, too, the lower leaves are the larger, but its leaves are harder, narrower, and more pointed, and short wing-like projections are found on its calyx.

GENTIANA BRACHYPHYLLA. FROL.

The Short-leaved Gentian. Gentiane à Feuilles Courtes. Kurzblättriger Enzian oder Eiförmiger Enzian.]

The Alpine Toad-Flax

(LINARIA ALPINA)