64
WILDBAD.
CHAPT. IV.
As has been said in the geological part of tliis chapter, the Black Forest presents the stränge phenomenon tliat the summit of its mountains is the part most impregnated with moisture, the valleys being generally dry and but irrigated so far as necessary. There the nieadows are clothed with a beautiful carpet of graniinese and flowers, embalmed by Meum alhamanlicum and caraway (Carum carvi), there you find dry gravel walks, and clear brooks, rnshing over granite and sandstone rocks: as one ascends to their sources however, the moss-veil becomes denser, the trees decrease in size, tili at last the dwarf-pine (pinus monlana ) appears, attaining to scareely wan’s lieight, and rarely scattered over the surface of a peat-nioss, or the banks of a dcad brown lake.
These turf-Iakes are entirely devoid of such aquatic plants as require warinth, yet on the otlier hand their ac- cesses are covered with a fine, smooth carpet of sea-green Sphagnum, interlaced with the roseate blossoms of the-rran- berry ( Vaccinium oxyconcos ), rosemary, (Apdromeda polyfolia), the purple, rose likc Ieaf-bunehes of sun-dew (Drusera ro- lundifoiia and lonyifolia), and the black Empelrum. The seams of these carpets, towards the forest, consist of a tliick sod composed of dwarf-rushes (Scirpus cespitosus ); Jun- cus squarrosus ; and of Aiardus slricla, the surc indicator of a sterile soil. — Such a lake is the Wild-lake near Wildbad.
The subjoined list will present a tolerably correct picture of the indigenous Flora of Wildbad; and in Order to farilitate research, the stand of the plants nanied, has been given whereever it appeared necessary. The Classification is that of the Linnean System.
Pinguicula vulgaris. Valeriana tripteris.
Circsea alpina. (Emkltisterle, Calmbach.)
Crocus vernus (7,avelstein). Scirpus cespitosus.