86 DB. AITCIIISON ON THE FLOEA OF LAHL'L. 



meadows witli their varylng-coloured flowers, Potentilla, SihhaU 

 dia, and no fewer than nine species of Pedicularis^ besides Gna- 

 pTialia^ Valeriana^ Artemisia, ^pilohmm, Galium^ Aconites, Del- 

 phi7iium, Aquilegia^ &c. PrimulcB are very common in spring, and 

 Gentians in the summer, with Androsace, one of which is one of the 

 commonest flowers in Lahul, as well as Geranium WalUcJiianwn 

 (Sweet), No. 317. Tussilago Farfara flowers throughout the 

 winter, Leontodon Taraxacum is common in the extreme, with 

 several of the Boraglnacete, &c. ; and creeping over many of them 

 we have no less than three kinds of Cuscuta. 



Characteristic of the second region we have, first of all, an 

 absence of trees, the Juniper, an Andromdra and a Rhododendron 

 as shrubs. Here the Gentians grow in great luxuriance, with the 

 Bhubarbs and No. 103, Polygonum affine, Don. The two latter 

 are not unfrequently to be seen in great masses or beds, covering 

 the ground, becoming in autumn of a deep brick-red colour, pro- 

 ducing a striking efiect in the landscape. There are yellow and 

 orange-coloured Potentillce, with several of the Saxifrages and one 

 or two of the Salices in an Alpine form. Some of the Primulce 

 occur in extensive beds recognizable at a very great distance. 



In the third region, viz. at and above 16,000 feet, the most 

 characteristic plant is No. Ill, Pheum moorcroftianum, Meis., 

 which does not occur below this height. 



"VVe have some plants, again, especially characteristic not so 

 much of elevation as of position — such as for instance grow more 

 luxuriantly on the crests of hills, the most exposed, bleak situa- 

 tions, or uj)on a northern or southern exposure. 



Upon the crests of hills. No, 6, Iris Jcamaonensis, AVall., grows 

 in great luxuriance, although it apparently does well enough in 

 more sheltered localities and at low elevations. But Nos. 263, 

 Pohmicea macrocepTiala, DC, and 264, Saussurea sorocejpTiala, Schr., 

 may be regarded as the typical plants occurring on these crests ; 

 No. 12, Ilierochloe laxa, Eoyle, is met with in similar localities, 

 and is valued as a good grass for fodder, and several of the Pri- 

 mulce — Nos. 24, P. purpurea^ Eoyle, 25, P. elliptical Eoyle, 26, P* 

 mimitissima, AV'^all. 



Of those that prefer a northern situation, occurring on the 

 northern slopes of the hills, are : — No. 25, Primula elliptica^ Eoyle ; 

 27, Primula denticulata, Sm.; 30, Eritricheum elongatum, DC; 

 50, Codonopsis ovata, Benth.; 02, Gentiana decumbens, L.; 63, Ge?i- 

 tiana, unnamed sp. ; 65, Swertia, new sp. ; 93, Podophyllum Emodh 

 Wall.; \00,Epilohium montanam^lj.', E. roseum^lj.) 101, Polygonum 



