20 
former. A Blechnum, which we never noticed before, was 
not unfrequent in this district; Pyrola secunda appeared, now 
and then, with a little Lycopodium, and higher up we found 
a beautiful Convallaria, allied to latifolia, but distinguished 
by its red flowers. A yellow-flowering Viola occupied large 
patches of the ground in the now much thinner wood, where 
we entirely lost sight of the Panax, Rubus, Ribes, with the 
other shrubs. A few straggling Vaccinia and Azaleas alone 
remain; and although the eye should fail to detect it, yet the 
scent would infallibly betray the existence of a Valerian, which 
grows only at this high elevation. It is allied to our officinalis, 
or perhaps more properly to V. Phu; yet it may constitute 
a distinct species. The smell of the root is pungent, and 
more powerful than that sold in our apothecaries' shops; the 
Russians call it Koloschenskiai Koronj (Koloschen root), because 
the aborigines of this country hold it in high repute; employ- 
ing it in almost every complaint, and ascribing to it wonderful 
medicinal virtues. On account of the great difficulty which 
attends the gathering of this plant, it is much prized, and the 
Kaloschans are very unwilling to barter their whole stock 
of it. Here we first saw the singular Pyrola * of Eschscholtz, 
which I had begun to despair of finding: but it was only in 
bud, a few flowers appearing in some sunny situations, while 
the former year's fruit might be seen along with the young 
leaves. The wood is hereabout very thinly scattered: the 
Thuja is of stinted growth, and a Pinus, very similar to our 
P. Mughos, appears associated with it. This species, which 
the people call Tanne (Sosna), is usually of low growth, and 
may also be found in the less elevated spots, not pong the 
woods, but growing in turf moors. 
* But now again we are come to a difficult place, and we 
reach the first cross. It is not safe to cling to the plants of 
Empetrum; a better hold is afforded by the Pyrola, which 
_ strikes root among high stones. At this increased elevation, 
a new vegetation presents itself. The ground is thickly 
* Fruticosa, ramosissima, habitu Azalee aut Menziesic. 
