FLORA OF TIBET OR HIGH ASIA. 215 
of the interior and south-west, various species cover vast areas 
and are commonly called “sage bushes.” Artemisia and the 
much smaller genus Yanacetum combined are represented in 
Tibet by about a dozen species ; possibly more, because they are 
so similar that only a trained eye would detect the differences. 
In appearance they do not differ greatly from the British species, 
except ina more stunted habit and less development of leaf. 
Some of them are woody, but the wood is mostly produced under- 
ground, or under stones, or in densely matted ramifications close 
to the surface of the ground. In the drier parts they constitute 
one of the predominating elements in the vegetation of Tibet. 
Tanacetum tibeticum furnishes, according to Mr. Arnold Pike, 
the only vegetable * fuel in some parts of the country. The 
Ladak name of this plant is “ boortze,” which is mentioned, though 
variously spelt, by nearly all travellers ; yet Pike and Hedin are 
the only ones who collected specimens. Pike collected it in 
flower at an elevation of 16,200 ft. in North-west, and Hedin in 
North Central Tibet. Tanacetum fruticulosum is another woody 
species, and is known to the Ladakis as “ techiktchtk”’; and Arte- 
misia macrocephala as “ cumtchen.”’ Therefore it is evident that 
they distinguish some of the species. At the same time it seems 
probable that the name “ boortze” is applied to more than one 
species of these strongly scented plants. 
‘ 
Taraxacum and CREPIS. 
There are three or four species of each of these genera, some 
of which must be rather common in widely separated damp 
situations and will be alluded to again under “ Useful Plants.” 
Pike collected specimens of Zaraxacum bicolor, DC., at an 
elevation of 16,100 ft., having roots at least a foot long, whilst 
the portion above ground was less than two inches. 
Several other genera of Composite are probably more con- 
spicuous from their colour, but they will be dealt with under 
that head. 
AsTRAGALUS and OXYTROPIS. 
As components of the vegetation these two genera of the 
Leguminose, like Artemisia and Tanacetum of the Composite, 
may be treated as one, because they are indistinguishable, except 
* In explanation of this it may be mentioned that the only fuel to be had in 
many parts of Tibet is yak dung, of which the travellers usually found 
abundance. 
LINN. JOURN.—BOTANY, VOL, XXXV. 8 
