13 DR. HOOKER'S MISSION TO INDIA. 
Darjeeling stands, is called StNcHUL: it is ascended from the saddle, 
crossed by a road from the plains, and lies to the right-hand in coming 
northward. Elevated at least 1,000 or 1,500 feet above Darjeeling, it 
is even more subalpine than Pacheem, but still does not rise into the 
regions of Ranunculacee, Primroses, or herbaceous Sazifrages. A heavy 
forest covers the whole summit, hoary with pendulous Lichens and 
Mosses; and its main feature consists in the groves of the large sil- 
very-leaved white Rhododendron, and the purple-flowered Magnolia. 
A new species of Balanophora (B. cyathoides, MS.), with the leaves 
forming a cup-shaped involucre, or sheath, half-way up the flowering 
stem, grows at an elevation of 8—9,000 feet: it is moncecious, and 
flowers in May and June. B. dioica, Wall., grows above Darjeeling 
(alt. 7,500 feet) and flowers in July and August. ‘Two other species, 
B. typhina, Wall, and B. polyandra, Grift., inhabit lower levels, and 
flower in September. 
.. A narrow path winds to the double summit of Sinehul from the saddle, 
first passing through woods of the trees I described as characteristic 
of Pacheem, and then amongst a greater proportion of Cornea, Hy- 
drangea, and Ilex, mixed with the aforesaid Rhododendron and three 
species of Magnolia. Ferns are very luxuriant, Hymenophylla on the 
trees, Marattia and Spheropteris and many Aspidia and Davallie on the 
ground. The commonest Aspidium is caulescent, like our 4. Filiz-masin 
Wales, and so very abundant as to recall perpetually the latter plant, 
as it lines the avenues and lake-shores on the property of our friend 
Dillwyn Llewellyn, Esq., at Penllegare, South Wales. Several kinds 
of Celastrus are very frequent under-shrubs, but none in greater profu- 
sion than a new species of the Japan genus Helwingia. At this season 
its leaves are only unfolding, the upper ones bearing the flower on the 
midrib, exactly as in Ruscus, Its dark green foliage and bark, and the 
sub-herbaceous ramuli, besides some peculiarity of ramification, at 
once suggested its affinity with Araliacee ; to a reduced form of which 
Order I have now no hesitation in referring it, after a careful examina- 
tion of both its flower and lurid red fleshy drupe. It is a strong bush, 
six to eight feet high, branching from the base, of a heavy aspect, and 
its foliage turns dark in drying: it should be called after my friend 
.. Deeaisne, the founder of the Order; and I never see it now without 
thinking of tke happy hours we spent together at Paris. 
The profusion of 4rums in this region is quite remarkable ; the most 
