6 STJEG.-MAJ. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE FLOBA OF 



On approaching Badishkhel, Sophora mollis, a true Punjab and 

 Salt-Eange form from an altitude of 2000 ft., Daphne oleoides and 

 Cotoneaster nummularia, outer Himalayan forms from 5000 ft., 

 are seen to mix with the jungle, and at length to form its greater 

 proportion, and they continue characteristic almost to 10,000 ft., 

 in whatever direction I have travelled. Other Salt-Eange forms 

 which have been hitherto gradually associating themselves with 

 the above become here more frequent, namely : — Convolvulus lanu- 

 ginosus, growing in hummocks, Onosma echioides, Salvia Moor- 

 croftiana, Astragalus polyacantha, and Otostegia limoata. 



The cultivation up to Badishkhel is similar to that of the 

 Kohat district, or to such portions of the Punjab as are cultivated 

 by irrigation. Sorghum vulgare and Penicillaria spicata as field 

 crops cease to occur beyond this limit. 



At Badishkhel I noticed one large tree of Pyrus variolosa 

 which was not cultivated. It is to be found probably in some 

 of the valleys in this neighbourhood, as the natives seem well 

 acquainted with it. 



4. Vegetation of the road from Badishkhel to the village of 

 Kuram. 



The valley is much contracted until it turns fairly to the 

 west, when it rapidly widens, admitting of greatly increased 

 cultivation along the banks of the river. I would here remark 

 that there is no cultivation in the whole Kuram district without 

 irrigation. 



The hills on either side of the river consist of boulders, shingle, 

 and conglomerates, interspersed with much broken-up limestone, 

 having on the surface little or no soil, and being scantily clad 

 with a dwarf stunted juugle. This jungle consists chiefly of 

 Zizyphus vulgaris, Periploca, Sageretia, Daphne, Sophora, Cotone- 

 aster, Punica, Dodon&a, Chama?rops, Withania, Otostegia limhata, 

 Astragalus 'polyacantha, and amongst them the new types (8) 

 Caragana ? ulicina and Xiphion Stocksii, remarkable for its hand- 

 some deeply purple-coloured flowers, and in its extending its 

 habitat from this to the Hariab district. Convolvulus lanu- 

 ginosa covers the more open and stoneless ground iu great 

 beds, with an occasional Eremostachys (No. 16), a handsome 

 yellow-flowered species. Near villages, plane-trees from 12 to 

 1G ft. iu girth, Melia Azederach (attaining 8 ft. 6 in. in girth) 



