File:The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution; (1902) (14597007747).jpg

Identifier: naturalhistoryof01kern (find matches)
Title: The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution;
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Kerner von Marilaun, Anton, 1831-1898 Oliver, Francis Wall, 1864- Macdonald, Mary Frances Ewart Busk, Marian Balfour, Lady
Subjects: Botany
Publisher: London, Blackie
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

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mple crown in an erect position, grow almostparallel to the ground without, however, directly resting upon it. In this respectit is very remarkable that on the slope of the mountain the growing end of thestem is always directed towards the valley, and it is also noticeable that thispeculiar habit of growth occurs not only in the mountain pines growing wild inthe Alps, but also in those raised from seed in the botanic gardens of towns, andmust therefore be regarded as an inherent peculiarity. The boughs and twigs whichcurve upwards from the main stems are exceedingly elastic, and when presseddown stretch themselves out along the ground. Since all the boughs of the crownare turned upwards, we get here a considerable accumulation, so that in many old ,clumps of mountain pines the numerous boughs are so thickly crowded and so closelyinterwoven that progress through them is almost impossible. The extensive tracts , FREEZING AND BURNING. 549 ,:i;!>ii!;!:iili!llli;;ili!lliliii:iil!ill!l!!
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550 FREEZING AND BURNING. of mountain pines are therefore avoided and left alone, and many of them havenever been penetrated by the foot of man during their whole existence. Woe tohim who has the misfortune to lose his way in such a tangled wood! The difficultiesone has to encounter in a tropical primeval forest beset with lianes are not greaterthan those with which one must struggle in attempting to press forward here.Frequently the mountain pines grow so high that one is considerably overtoppedeven when standing upright by the highest prickly branches. It is perhaps pos-sible to make a little progress by climbing over the horizontal, arm-thick stems, butit is vain to endeavour to find ones way and to gain an outlook. If we mount onone of the curved ascending boughs in order to see above the highest branches,the bough bends down to the earth under our weight, along with the stem fromwhich it arises, and we again sink despairingly into the sea of the dark-greencrowns. Just such a down

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