Fippocastanee. ] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 135 
on the loftiest mountains, which are for many months covered with snow. A. sterculia- 
ceum (Wall. Pl. As. Rar. t. 105) is closely allied to A. villosum, which differs but little 
from A. pseudo-platanus, or sycamore ; and as this affords timber which, from being light 
and tough, is much used by turners, and for making the trees of saddles, so it is 
probable that both the Himalayan species would answer equally well for the same 
purposes. The wood of A. cultratum is white, light and fine-grained, and might be 
turned to the same uses as that of the maple, which is esteemed by turners, and also 
occasionally for making gun-stocks. A. caudatum is also found in Kunawur, and 
A. sterculiaceum extends to Cashmere. Though this family contains only another genus, 
Negundo, which has been separated from Acer, a new one, Dobinea, has been discovered 
in Nepal by Dr. Hamilton ; and is distinguished, according to Mr. Don, by its monecious 
flowers, companulate 4-toothed calyx, with the eight stamens united into a column 
round the sterile style. It is only a shrub of six feet in height, but judging from the 
dried specimens, it must, when in flower, have a very light and elegant appearance. 
Acer oblongum and Negundo fraxinifolium, the latter a native of North America, from 
which sugar is said to be made, succeed remarkably well in the plains of Northern India ; 
and there is no doubt that Acer saccharinum, or sugar maple, would succeed equally 
well in the valleys and slopes of the Himalaya, if it should be thought worthy of being 
introduced ; and it might be a valuable gift to the people of the Hills, who are often 
too poor to How i sugar, and cannot grow the cane. 
38. HIPPOCASTANEZ. 
The few plants which compose this order are confined: to the temperate parts of 
North America, and mountainous parts of Asia. The native country of Asculus 
Hippocastanum, or the common horse chestnut, is yet unknown, though: stated in some 
works to be the north of India, but it is not enumerated in Dr.Wallich’s Catalogue, 
nor has: it ever been distributed by him. I have never met with it, though often 
visiting the lofty mountains of Northern India, where, if any where, it was likely to be’ 
found, and where the nearly allied Indian Pavia is so abundant.. The genus Pavia, 
common to North America and the Himalayas, frequently included in Zsculus, is 
distinguished from it by the surface of its. fruit being destitute of the spines with which 
that of the horse chestnut is covered. Pavia indica, or Indian horse chestnut, called by 
the Hill people kunowr and: pangia, is found on mountains at elevations of from 8,000 
to 10,000 feet in Kemaon, Gurhwal, and Sirmore ; also near the sources of the Ganges 
and in Kunawur. It is a lofty and not less ornamental tree than the common horse 
chestnut. The bulky seed of this species containing a large proportion of fecula, 
though combined with some bitter principle, is eaten in the. Himalayas, as those of the 
horse chestnut have been in other parts of the world; in times.of famine. The bark of tlie 
latter, from its astringent properties, being employed as a tonic and febrifuge, it is 
worthy of inquiry whether the Himalayan species of Pavia is possessed of any of the 
same properties. 
39. SAPINDACEA. 
