20 DR. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE BOTANY OF 
able to identify are :— Eranthis cilicica, Crocus Korolkovii (the most eastern species of 
the genus), Taraxacum officinale, Merendera persica, and М. sobolifera, the last a 
very pretty creeping herb, growing in damp soil on the margin of water, or where the 
ground was flooded. During February, on the sun coming out brightly, these flowers 
open up like so many stars amongst the short grass. Іп the fields Prosopis Stephaniana, 
Alhagi Camelorum, Редапит Harmala, and a Glycyrrhiza were common. On our 
march to Gulran, with snow occasionally lying on the ground, Merendera persica grew 
in great luxuriance in clumps consisting of numerous flowers from each corm, and 
owing, I suppose, to its arid and colourless surroundings appeared very showy and 
brilliant. In the bed of the Morghab, a tamarisk, some tall grasses, species of Arundo 
and Phragmites formed a dense thicket, which gave excellent cover for pigs and 
numerous pheasants. On the march to Kalla-maur I saw for the first time plants of the 
singular Umbellifer, Ferula oopoda, bearing enormous cup- от bowl-like stipules; and 
though completely dried up, it still showed signs of having been a very handsome plant. 
It was said to be common round Bala-morghab and to enter northwards into the salt 
desert, but, like all the vegetation of these parts during winter, had utterly disappeared. 
Subsequently I found it in all its spring beauty at Gulran, and again in the Hari-rud 
valley and Khorasan. 
The vegetation of the Badghis divides itself naturally into that found upon the 
dunes, which reach an altitude of from 1500 to 3000 feet, with a soil varying from pure 
sand to a rieh alluvial mould; that met with at a similar altitude but upon gravel or 
rock formation; and lastly that which occurs on the Paropamisus range from an 
altitude of 3000 feet to a little above 5000, this being about the highest point at which 
І colleeted. Тһе loose soil of these dunes was covered with a close turf of Carex 
physodes and C. stenophylla, the former of which is remarkable for its largely inflated 
chocolate-coloured utricles. For a short period the hillocks are tinted an exquisite blue 
by the flowers of Gentiana Olivieri, which is, as Boissier noted, the hot-country gentian. 
This is followed by Delphinium Zalil, a perennial which throws up a spike of bright 
yellow flowers two feet in height. Its showy blossoms suddenly cover the downs, 
which they illuminate with their brilliant colouring, affording a sight never to be 
forgotten. Іп some localities, as at Gulran, Ferula galbaniflua was found in great 
luxuriance, its early spring stems and leaves being greedily devoured by our camels; 
and Fritillaria Karelina covered the meadows in all directions with its graceful and 
lovely spikes of flowers. Leontice and Bongardia (genera previously unknown to me), 
with numerous Hremuri, Gagea, a fine Tulipa, several Onobrychides, some of them new, 
with Biebersteinia, and the small dwarf yellow single-leaved Rosa berberifolia, were in 
profusion everywhere. Mixed with them, but occasionally in meadows apart from 
them, were several grasses, the most characteristic of which were Роа bulbosa and, later 
in the лоп, Agropyrum Aucheri. Tanacetum wnbelliferum with large yellow flower- 
heads, displayed occasional fine patches of colour, and Camelina sativa and Gypsophila 
paniculata were abundant everywhere, the latter especially so, over ground which had 
_ been years ago under cultivation. | 
_ It may be noted here that throughout the whole Badghis the remains of a system of 
