396 MR. M. P, PRICE ON THE VEGETATION OF 
and early autumn snow falls. It is probable that the latter determined the 
limit of the Larch forest. 
South of the Darmen mountains on the plains of Achit Nor (4500 feet), 
which drains into the Upper Kobdo River, concentric rings of vegetation 
were to be observed. In the marshes and shallow lagoons immediately 
round the lake were to be seen (Гана maritima, Chenopodium glaucum, 
Suwda maritima, Triglochin palustre, Juncus Gerardi, and Agrostis vulgaris. 
Beyond the marshes on moist, sandy loam, where vegetation was just above 
the water-table, the following flora was seen: Salicornia herbacea, Carex 
cespitosa, Carew capillaris, Hordeum pratense, and Lris ensata. On the stony 
desert, out of reach of the water-table, were found representatives of the 
Plateau-desert association, particularly Stipa capillata. 
Leaving the plain of Achit Nor and ascending the Kobdo River by its 
affluent tributary the Suok River, the expedition crossed the tableland, 
averaging 5000 feet alt. and rising in rolling downs to 8000 feet. After 
crossing the Suok valley, those of the Taharty, Olonor, and Tsagangol were 
each traversed in turn, till finally, the Kobdo Lakes were reached. 
Between 7000 and 8000 feet the rolling downs were covered with 
vegetation of the Plateau-desert association, represented by Oxytropis tra- 
gacanthoides, Artemisia argyrefolia, Stipa capillata, Chenopodium frutescens, 
Tanacetum frutieulosum, Elymus dasystachys, Allium fistulosum. At 8000 feet 
Alpine association began to take the place of Plateau-desert association. On 
that part of the valley with northern and shady aspects this type consisted 
largely of Polygonum Bistorta, P. viviparum, and Betula nana. In. the 
upper part of the Alpine meadows, between 8300 and 9000 feet, the Alpine 
association was spread out over a large area of rolling downs in the Upper 
Olonor valley. The characteristic species here were Papaver nudicaule, 
Saxifraga Mirculus, and Gentiana prostrata. 
On reaching the IXobdo Lakes, which lie just to the north of the Great 
Altai range, the Plateau-desert association was found between 6300 and 
7500 feet, represented by Stipa capillata, Owytropls tragacanthoides, Cheno- 
podium frutescens. Round the Kobdo Lakes, at 7000 feet, Larch forest again 
was to be seen in shady places all over the northern slopes of the Great Altai 
range. The Larch forest contained Betula nana, Potentilla bifurca, and 
reached to the height of 8500 feet. Between 8000 and 9000 feet there was 
a large development of Alpine meadow which reached to 9500 feet. The 
expedition crossed the Great or Chinese Altai mountains by the Urkhogaitu 
Pass, 9500 feet, and following the valley of the Kran River on the south side 
of the range, reached the plains of the Upper or Black Irtish in Dzungaria. 
On the Kran River there was a considerable development of Siberian Larch 
forest between 3000 and 6700 feet in shady places, accompanied by Aconitum 
sp., Spiræa, Vaccinium Vitis-ldiea, Rosa acicularis, Rosa spinosissima, Sam- 
bucus racemosa, Thalictrum petaloideum, Lonicera ewrulea, Cotoneaster 
melanocarpa, Berberis heteropoda, Althwa rosea, and Potentilla chrysantha. 
