Leguminosae.) THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 193 
D. tilivfolium, ‘nutans, and multiflorum, with I. heterantha and violacea, may be men- 
tioned as the most ornamental. At lower elevations, a species, which I have called 
I. Arghawan, from its native name, is highly ornamental, from the luxuriance with 
which it flowers before the leaves make their appearance. I know not whether it is to 
this plant, that the same name is applied by Mr. Elphinstone, and described as being 
highly ornamental in the neighbourhood of Caubul. 
In the hills, as in the plains, the cultivated Leguminose belong to different tribes in 
the different seasons of the year; thus the field-pea, called kullae in Sirmore, is culti- 
vated in the summer months, and Dolichos uniflorus, koolut and koolthee, horse gram 
of Europeans in the Peninsula, in the rainy season; Phaseolus torosus, seeta mas, in 
Nepal; and in the Deyra Doon and lower hills, Cajanus bicolor, whether a variety 
or distinct species, is called éor by the natives, and distinguished from the urhur. In 
Cashmere, besides the French bean, other Phaseolee are cultivated, as well as Fenugrec : 
cattle are fed on lucern and clo¥er, which are, however, only found, as far as I have. 
been able to learn, in a wild state. Lieut. Burnes mentions clover at Peshawur and 
Gundamuk ; also that artificial grasses are cultivated at Caubul, and trefoil at Bokhara. 
Among the Mimosee and Cesalpinee we have seen that, with some anomalies, there 
is considerable uniformity in the properties of the plants of these tribes or orders ; but 
in the Papilionacee, which form so considerable a proportion of the Leguminose, indeed 
of the vegetable kitigdom, we find that with some striking conformities to the law of 
uniformity of properties with structure, there are yet considerable exceptions ; but those 
which agree in habit, as the herbaceous species of a tribe, generally also correspond 
in properties, even when miacrepencrs present themselves among the arborescent or 
shrubby species. 
Thus, if we examine the European Papilionacee, to which the Himalayan, as well as 
those which flourish in the cold weather in the plains of India, correspond in form ;* we 
shall find that the Viciee are cultivated in many countries; their seeds being useful as 
pulse, their stalks as fodder. The 77ifoliee afford bland and nourishing food, much relished 
by cattle, and are therefore much cultivated in different countries. The true Hedy- 
sareé and Astragalee, though not cultivated, are greedily cropped by cattle in Europe; 
and as has been mentioned at p. 41, Astragalus Webbianus, with other species, forms 
the principal nourishment of the numerous herds of cattle which are driven in the 
summer months by the Tartar shepherds to the bleak, elevated, and apparently barren 
districts of Kunawur and Hungarung. As much the same climate, as well as similar 
species of Astragali, extend to the Altais and Siberia, we may conclude, that there a4 
they afford food to numerous cattle. The shrubby species, as A. verus, seme. 
creticus, and aristatus, and perhaps others of the section Tragacantha, yield the peculiar 
gum of. that name, which may perhaps also be secreted by some, though it has not yet 
been traced to any, of the Himalayan species; but with these, the officinal species would 
no doubt thrive, if it was expedient to introduce them. It would appear, however, a more 
important matter to teach the natives of the mountains to grow the easier cultivated 
p Trifoliee, 
