16 DR. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE BOTANY OF 
I saw Datura alba as an introduced weed near dwellings at Khusan. Of Cannabis 
sativa I never saw a single plant, except a little cultivated in Khorasan. The weeds of 
field-cultivation were Prosopis, Capparis, Rosa berberifolia, rye amongst growing wheat 
only, and in some instances outnumbering the wheat-crop, Avena fatua, Adonis 
estivalis, which was a much more luxuriant and larger-flowered plant than when it grew 
in the adjoining plains, Isatis Boisseriana, Neslia, Sisymbrium, Arenaria holosteoides, 
Centaurea depressa, Cnicus, Anchsua italica, a splendid herb when in full blossom, 
having superb blue flowers, Orobanche egyptiaca in many localities, colouring the 
melon- and tobacco-fields with its bright purple flowers. Ina few places І met with 
Cynomorium. coccineum, a blood-red species of the Balanophoreve, which altogether capti- 
vated my Indian followers, who collected portions to take home for purposes of medi- 
cine. Here also I found a very handsome new yellow Centaurea (C. plumosa, Aitch. et ` 
Hemsl.). 
Тһе indigenous flora of the Hari-rud valley consists of annuals and perennial herbs and 
shrubs with large root-stocks, bulbous roots, bulbs, or rhizomes— structural developments 
which enable them to рае and survive through the extremes of temperature and climate. 
Umbelliferze are characteristic of this flora; and many of them are of large dimensions, 
including Ferula fetida (Asafcetida), Ferula galbaniflua (Galbanum), and Dorema Ammo- 
тасит (Gum Ammoniacum). In four months these large plants have come and gone; 
suddenly appearing in the beginning of May, when their root-foliage is fully developed, 
covering the whole country with a carpet of the richest verdure, they as completely by 
the end of August have disappeared. If there is anything at all to be seen of them 
subsequent to this period it consists merely of a few dried stems, with an occasional 
bunch of ripe fruit. Usually these three plants grow gregariously and unmixed; 
sometimes, however, the Asafcetida and the Ammoniacum are associated together. Of 
the Asafcetida, only one plant out of a hundred met with was in flower, and in that 
state it is remarkable for the cabbage-like head at first thrown up, the flowers being 
enclosed in the enormous sheathing stipules, of which the stem-leaves almost entirely 
consist. As development progresses, these are thrown off, and for a short time the flower- 
head presents the appearance of a large cauliflower. From this period the stem bearing 
the inflorescence rapidly shoots upwards to a height of from four to five feet, its propor- 
tions being singularly massive and pillar-like. Тһе Ammoniacum and Galbanum seem 
to me to differ from the Asafcetida in throwing up from their perennial roots a flowering 
stem annually, whereas the Asafcetida after several years’ growth throws up à flowering 
Stem and then dies. This view may appear unsound, but the facts that all the plants of 
. the Ammoniacum and Galbanum were seen to be either in flower or in fruit, and that 
! : 22. their stems and roots were found to vary greatly as to size, go a long way to support 
_ Шу opinion; but this remains a subject for future investigation. 
> _ The Galbanum, from its youngest stage, has a slight tinge of yellow all through Из 
~ Stems and leaves, and there is a general semitransparency about the plant which gives it- 
_ the appearance of being made of wax. When a great bed of this is in full but young 
D x blossom, the sight is a most striking one, the whole plant, at that period of its 
growth, being of an orange colour. 'The Ammoniacum is more remarkable for the great 
