THE KUBAM VALLEY, ETC., AFGHANISTAN. 7 



Zizypfius, Moms, Elceagnus, and Diospyros, of ordinary size, are 

 all numerous. 



On approaching Kuram, gardens become more common around 

 villages, and enclosing them hedges are composed of Elceagnus and 

 Buddleia crispa, Benth. Between the fields Ficus caricoides and an 

 occasional Geltis occur. In the fields themselves Tulipa stellata 

 is to be seen, from its typical form gradually changing to what it 

 is impossible to distinguish from T. chrysantha, Boiss., the deeper 

 yellow form being more common on the dry conglomerate forma- 

 tion. In clay-fields Morea Sisyrynchium abounds, and amongst 

 stems and under bushes, wherever a little soil may have accumu- 

 lated, the turnip-rooted Nepeta with its pretty purplish flowers 

 constantly appears. 



5. Vegetation of the Kuram Plains. 



Beyond the cultivation to the north extend the Kuram plains, 

 the vegetation of which I shall now describe. These plains, 

 formed from mountain debris deposited to a great depth, are in 

 summer totally devoid of water, whether from permeation or rain. 

 In winter they are covered with snow to a greater or less extent ; 

 and, being also exposed to the extreme heat of a subtropical suu, 

 alternating with blasts of cold wind from the snow-clad hills, their 

 flora must be limited and of a peculiar type. 



The plants which occur most frequently are : — Othonopsis inter- 

 media, a large-flowered yellow composite, with fleshy vertical leaves ; 

 Stachys parviflora, in a very woolly state ; Gypsophila Stewartii, 

 occurring in small dense prickly tufts, which in its spring costume 

 is of a mossy green colour, thickly covered with purplish flowers ; 

 several Astragali, namely, anfractuosus, decemjugus, hippocrepidis, 

 leucocephalus, poly acanthus, psilacanthus, strobiliferus, kuramensis, 

 Baker, anganus, ptilocephalus, Baker, and susianus, Boiss., var. 

 (this last occurs in dense clumps, which present a very showy 

 appearance when in full blossom, owing to its bright pink corolla) ; 

 two new species of Onobrychis, viz. dasycephala, Baker, and mi- 

 croptera, Baker, with very handsome flowers ; a large-flowered 

 Scabiosa (no. 82), also probably new, and equally common with it 

 Scabiosa Olivierii and Aster altaicus. "Where there is much clay 

 and fewer stones Gymnandra armena carpets the ground with its 

 exquisite little flowers ; it is common from this to the Pewar- 

 kotal, where it will be again noticed. Thymus Serpyllum and 

 Convolvulus lanuginosus are common, and here and there the large 



