File:Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory, vol. 12 (1934) (20679199932).jpg

Title: Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory, vol. 12
Identifier: contributionsfro12univ (find matches)
Year: 1934 (1930s)
Authors: University of Pennsylvania. Botanical Laboratory; University of Pennsylvania. Morris Arboretum
Subjects: Botany; Botany
Publisher: Philadelphia : (s. n. )
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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William Skifkiz 153 ⢠I V
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>â ' *W' t,m* â¢^ m* J*Ii()l. J. An almost pure stand of Popu/its tycniitla at Tavrari. Phot. 2. Approaching Hctcho, witli ^It I'shba in the left background; slopes cijvered with Picca, Abies, Popit/its, Ih'tiila, OuercKs, Acer, etc. Phot. 3. Picea-Abies forest on the Zagari Ridge, Mestia. Phot. 4. Populus-Picea-Abies association on the Zagari Kidge, Mestia. SIHFRIZâSketches oe the Vegetation oe some Southern Provinces oe Soviet Russia. VII. Plant-life of Svanetia, Trans-Caucasus Face p. 153 witness to an intensely hot midday in August. Precipitation is GOO-700 cm. annually. Irrigation is generally practised. It is at Tavrari that one first realises how conspicuous a feature of the Svanetian forests is Poj)ulus tremula. It usually occurs scattered among ever- green trees, its tall pale grey trunk and crown of delicate green foliage standmg out in strong contrast to the dark colour of the conifers, though it may often form almost pure stands (PI. XIV, phot. 1). The night, if not several days, should be spent at Tavrari, food permittmg; the Soviet Base, housed in the school, supplies nothing except roof and mattress. One may proceed to the nearby and larger village of Lahamuli, where living conditions are but little better, though the village is very pic- turesque. The journey of 25 km. from Tavrari to Betcho, easily made in a day, is one of magnificent scenery with Picea-Ahies forests covering the northern slopes of the Ingur Valley throughout the way. The larcre fern Struthiopteris with its interesting fruiting frond, later to be met with In abundance, borders the trail to Betcho, with an occasional specimen of Vincetoxicum officinale. At Betcho, a stay for the mght or longer should be made, if for no other reason than to admire the majestic summit of Mount Ushba (4700 m.), a favourite peak among the natives and visitors, its massive monolith having been ascended but four times (PI. XIV phot 2). The plant life at Betcho is very fine, almost equalling that of the Nakra Valley The trail continues to Mestia, the capital of Svanetia. It is a village of striking appearance with its many towers (PL XV, phot. 1), but it lacks the charm of the smaller villages and suffers from some of the less desirable features of civilisation. It is the starting point for a number of trips of con- siderable botanical interest. _ ,,,. . ^ x-i â¢^⢠At Mestia, I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Paul Vinogradoff-Mkitn of the Institute of Forestry at Tiflis, who continued the journey with us. Much ot theinformationgivenhereinregardtotheidentification,distribution,andecology of the trees of Svanetia and the Caucasus in general was received from aim. The following is a list of the trees and tree-shrubs of Svanetui. (Synonyms are in parentheses.) Taxus baccata l*icea orientalis Abies nordnianniana Pi 11 us excelsa (P. eaucasica, P. hamata) Junipcrus oblonga var. reHexa J. nana Tamus communis Populus tremula Salix caprea Ulmus eUiptica Bcrberis integerrima Pirus communis P. malus Sorbus glabra Crataegus sp. Prunus officinalis P. avium P. divaricata ilex aquifolium Acer pseudoplatanus A. trautvetteri A. platanoides A. cam pest re A. laetum A. hyrcanum Juglans regia Corylus avellana Betula pubescens (B. pendula) Alnus barbata A. incana Fagus orientalis h\ orientalis var. microphylla Quercus iberica Q. pontica Q. sessilitiora Khamnus microcarpa \i. frangula Tilia eaucasica Cornus australis Rhododendron caucasicum R. ponticum R. Havum (Azalea ))ontica) Fraxinus excelsior F. oxycarpa Lonicera capritblium INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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