THE KTJEAM YALLEY, ETC., AFGHANISTAN. 57 



Herba perennis, caespitosa, caulibus densissime foliosis interdum usque 

 tripollicaribus sed saepissime vix pollicaribus. Folia dense im- 

 bricata, carnosa, oblonga, 3-4 lineas longa, obtusa, supra parce foveo- 

 lata, margine anguste cartilaginea, infra medium ciliata, caulina spathu- 

 lata vel lineari-oblonga, glandulosa ; caules floriferi glandulosi, vix polli- 

 cares, seepissime triflori. Flores pallide purpurei, circiter 6 lineas dia- 

 metro ; calycis glandulosi segmenta oblonga, obtusa ; petala obovata, 

 5-nervia, staminibus longiora ; styli elongati, demum divergentes. Cap- 

 sula globosa ; semina minuta, oblonga, pilis brevibus debilibus sparsim 

 conspersa. 



Near S. Kotschyi, Boiss., but differing in the colour and size of 

 the flowers, in the relative length of the petals and stamens, and 

 in the seeds, as well as in the cymes being almost constantly 

 three-flowered. A very characteristic rock-plant, covering stones 

 like rich moss ; would prove very effective in a rockery. The 

 flower is a grey- purple, and extremely large for the short mossy 

 stem ; it is borne on a peduncle of an inch in length. Chiefly met 

 with in the Shendtoi gorge at from 7500 to 11,000 feet. Flowers 

 from May to July. 



943. Parnassia ovata, Ledeb. 



In grassy spots at the exits of springs, altitude 9000 to 11,000 

 feet ; common in the vicinity of Sikaram ; August. 



413. Ribes Grossularia, L. 



Very profuse at the base of Sikaram and westward to Seni- 

 tigah, in certain localities, amongst thin forests, altitude 9000 to 

 10,000 feet. In one or two villages of the Hariab district it is 

 employed as a hedge-plant. The fruit is much superior to that 

 produced in Ladak. 



128. B. orientate, Poir. 



A very common shrub in rocky dry situations throughout the 

 Hariab district up to an altitude of 11 ,000 feet. The berries, called 

 "Al-smc'erai" are considered an excellent purgative taken one or 

 two at a time. 



0. R. rubrum, L. var. 



A handsome leafy bush at 9000 to 11,000 feet, under trees in the 

 forest, Shendtoi gorge ; August, in fruit. 



27. Cbassulace^. 

 456. Crassula sp. 



On rocks in the Shendtoi gorge, common ; June. 

 638. Cotyledon (§ Umbilicus I tenuicaulis, Aitchison et Hemsley, n. sp. 



Perennis, minima, foliis radicalibus rosulatis oblongo-spatbulatis vix 



