104 MR, W. B. HEMSLEY ON TWO SMALL 
of the region in question. In one of his letters he expressly 
points out that the collection includes a specimen of every 
flowering-plant he was able to find. The collection is remark- 
able, too, for its completeness in another sense. With the 
permission of the Director of Kew, I am able this evening to 
exhibit a sample of this wonderful flora; and you will perceive 
that each specimen is an entire plant, usually with a root very 
much longer than the top. The three species figured in the two 
Plates illustrating this paper will give an idea of the plants 
characteristic of this vegetation. 
I will now say a few words respecting the plants generally. 
A very large proportion of them, probably 85 per cent., are her- 
baceous perennials having relatively long thick tap-roots, a rosette 
of leaves lying on the ground, and an inflorescence nestling close 
in the centre of the rosettes of leaves. Examples of this type of 
plant are offered by the species of Saussurea, Crepis sorocephala, 
and Pleurospermum stellatum. I may mention in this connection 
that Saussurea tridactyla is the only flowering-plant recorded from 
the great altitude of 19,000 feet. It is a relatively tall plant, 
even at this altitude being nearly six inches high; but it is 
protected by avery thick woolly covering. Mr. G. A. Gammie, in 
his report of a botanical tour in Sikkim (see ‘ Kew Bulletin, 
no. 82, p. 318), states that this was the last plant found on the 
ascent to the Donkia Pass; and he adds that this and Auten- 
naria muscoides are supposed by the Tibetans to be the most 
esteemed of their gods as incense. 
There is also an annual or monocarpic element in this alpine 
flora, and, singularly enough, the Gentianacewx contribute at least 
four annual species. I have mentioned that woody plants were 
almost unrepresented in the collection. Ephedra Gerardiana 
is the only truly woody plant observed. It has a strong sub- 
terranean development, but only appeared on the surface of 
the ground. The only other plant to which I wish to direct 
special attention is the Meconopsis horridula, from an elevation 
of 15,500 feet. It is a comparatively showy plant, having 
handsome blue flowers. It was first collected by Sir Joseph 
Hooker just within Tibet on the borders of Sikkim; and Mr. 
Franchet, to whom we are indebted for the working out of the 
exceedingly rich collections made by French missionaries in 
Eastern Mongolia and Western China, records it from Mongolia ; 
and Mr. Rockhill found it in Central Tibet. It is difficult to 
