140 SURG.-MAJ. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE FLORA OF 
assistance, especially in the descriptions of the new species, the 
work could not have been completed so thoroughly and at such 
an early date. 
The new ground I went over includes :—the low hillsin the vici- 
nity of Shinak and the country between that and Badish-khél, up 
to an altitude of over 5000 feet; similar hills to the south of the 
Kuram river, opposite Kuram ; the valleys of the Zérán and 
Malána streams, up to their respective passes on the Saféd-koh 
range ; the valley of the Darbán river, which is the eastern tribu- 
tary of the Shálizán stream; and, lastly, some ground at the 
western base of Mount Sika-Râm towards the Tarüki-Kanda 
pass. During August and September I twice travelled over the 
subtropical region, viz. the portion of the country between Thal 
and Badish-khél, which gave me a further insight into its flora 
than it was possible for me to obtain last year. 
Vegetation between Thal and Badish-khél. 
Dalbergia Sissoo is common as a good timber-producing tree 
along the banks of the Kuram, as well as its numerous tributaries, 
as far north as the village of Jelamai, at the base of Mount 
Kákúta, and is certainly indigenous to the country. It is also 
seen as a protected, or even planted, tree at holy shrines and 
ziarets. I saw no specimens of either Phenix sylvestris or P. 
dactylifera at Thal or beyond it northwards. Ephedra ciliata, a 
semiscandent shrub, the main stem of which has very peculiar 
lozenge-shaped markings, grows up through trees of 12 to 16 
feet in height; it then spreads out its branches, hanging 
over the tree upon which it is scandent until it quite 
hides its support. It is usually dicecious; but female fertile 
flowers frequently occur amongst the staminate ones. Periploca 
hydaspidis, by no means common in this country, simulates Ephe- 
dra ciliata so closely that, unless there is flower or fruit by which 
to distinguish it, I should say that even museum-specimens of 
the two plants might easily be mistaken for each other. At Alizai 
I succeeded in procuring for the Museum at Kew a branching 
specimen of Nannorrhops Ritchieana, which I should not have been 
able to convey away, had it not been for the assistance I received 
from Lieut. F. Beauclerk, R.E., whom I here thank. The pro- 
