10 8TJEG.-MAJ. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE FLORA OF 



shade of the cultivated trees, Stipa sibirica is profuse, and is well 

 known as a grass poisonous to horses and cattle. It occurs in 

 similar localities throughout the Kuram district, extending as far 

 west and up to the Pewarkotal. 



The directly 'southern exposure of the Safed-Koh range up 

 to an altitude of 7500 feet is devoid of forest, and nearly bare 

 of any thing like an undergrowth. The few occasional trees 

 which are to be found consist solely of Pistacia integerrima 

 and P. cabulica ; and forming the little scrub-juugle, there are 

 our companions throughout, the Daphne, Sophora, Punica, 

 Cotoneaster, a Berberis, Berchemia, a variety at least (if not> 

 new species) of Cotoneaster nummularia, Rhamnus persica, Rhus 

 Cotinus, Syringa persica, Caragana brevissima, and frequently 

 mixing with them Morina persica. On all other exposures, 

 except that directly facing the south, or when in the vicinity of 

 water, a luxuriant vegetation exists, amongst which are many 

 Himalayan forms. Here we first meet with Quercus Ilex, 

 from a shrub to a large tree, which is found growing in dry 

 localities, often in isolation, as will be hereafter seen; also 

 Fothergilla involucrata, largely employed in the construction of 

 wattle and dab houses and of fences ; Cotoneaster bacillaris, 

 Buddleia, Desmodium tilicefolium, Jasminum officinale and J. 

 revolutum, Lonicera qxdnquelocularis, Abelia trifiora, Vibur- 

 num cotinifolium, Rhamnus purpureas and R. dahuricus, with 

 patches of Amygdalus. Creeping through the above occurs 

 Rosa Webbiana, R. moschata, and Bioscorea deltoidea, several 

 Asparagi ; and close on the ground, in thick clusters, Smilax 

 vaginata and Hedera Helix, which, curiously enough, does not 

 attach itself to the trunks of trees. Occasionally Polygonatum 

 multiflorum and P. verticillatum are to be met with. In the more 

 open and dry localities, but still near water, as along irrigation 

 channels, occur Indigofera Gerardiana, Pleciranthus rugosus, and 

 Perousl-ia atriplicifolia, which is met with frequently in great 

 masses by itself, and when in full blossom presents a most 

 attractive appearance. 



7. Vegetation of the Valleys of Safed Koh. 

 To give an idea of the vegetation of the interior of these bills, 

 I shall allude to a few of the more characteristic forms which 

 occur in the flora of the Shendtoi valley, which opens out upon 

 the plains about four miles to the east of Shalizan. In the ridges 

 and ravines which intersect the country between Shalizan and 



