File:Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory, vol. 9 (1892) (20065397424).jpg

Title: Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory, vol. 9
Identifier: contributionsfro09univ (find matches)
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: University of Pennsylvania. Botanical Laboratory
Subjects: Botany; Botany
Publisher: Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
Phot. 3. Pinits silucstris forming the tree-Hne at 1200 metres.
Text Appearing After Image:
Phot. 4. ragiis tauvica creeping down on tlic south slope; siunmit of Yaila to the right. SEIFRIZ—Sketches of the Vegetation of some Southern Provinces OF Soviet Russia: I, Altitudinal Distribution in the Crimean Mountains 77/ Vegetation of some Southern Provinces of Soviet Russia 368 the world-wide Epilobium angustifolium (not a typical Crimean plant); Echium vulgaTe\ Cirsium incanum\ Linaria vulgaris (it is always of interest to find in far corners of the world species identical with those so familiar at home); Melam/pyrufri nemorosum (Scrophulariaceae); Ranunculus polyanthemos ) Salvia glutinosa, with its ingenious automatic spring for cross pollination; the endemic, Melilotus tauricus) and Lappa (Arctium) tomentosa (Corapositae), with huge (maximum 18 inch) heart-shaped leaves. One fern is met with, Dryoptcris filix-mas. Zone IV. The tree line (1000-1250 m.). As one climbs on to the first shelf of the high Yaila plateau at about 1000 m. or more, there is a sudden change in the type of vegetation. The change may be clear cut or not, depending upon the topography of the imme- diate surroundings. Alpine plants make their first appearance. Trees are much reduced in size, more irregular in shape, and occur in smaller groups of close formation. Typical Krummholz is met with. Here occurs the tree line, formed by Pinus silvestris (PI. XV, Phot. 3) and Fagus taurica (Phot. 4); the two species rarely occur together. On the western slope of the Nikita spur the pine alone forms the tree line. On the eastern slope the beech predominates. The fourth zone does not form a continuous belt, nor is it extensive in width. It consists of scattered areas whc^re the trees of the third zone, more dwarfed in size, get up into the alpine pastures. The tree line region is essentially composite in character, consisting of small woods and meadows; floristically it is subalpine. Among the meadow plants the typically Crimean umbelliferous Seseli gummiferum and its cousin S. Ichmanni are to be found, as also the endemic Cachrys alpina and Cistus tauricus. Zone V. Alpine pastures (1250 1540 m.). The (Crimean coastal mountains do not rise to peaks but culminate in flat meadows which form one long continuous plateau, the Yaila. Only an occa- sional small rocky summit is to be found. The Yaila is some 30 km. long with a maximum width of 5 km. and an altitude ranging from 1250 to over 1500 m. The few rocky mounds on top rise to maximum heights of 152G and 1540 m. The open wind-swept meadows of Yaila form the alpine pastures of the fifth zone. The ground is well covered with grass and herbaceous species. Rock plants such as Saxifraga are not numerous. Before the Soviet Government put an end to pasturing on Yaila, these meadows were overrun by hordes of cattle, with the result that relics of the original Crimean alpine flora were to be found only on rocky summits. The plants are now gradually spreading to the floor of the plateau. Among them is the most striking and picturesque of the alpine flowers on Yaila, the Crimean "Edelweiss" Cerastium biebersteini, one of the Caryophyllaceae (PL XVI, INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

Note About Images