JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1914. 63 



38991 to 39101— Continued. 



recently introduced from China a Piptanthus almost or quite identical 

 with P. nepalensis, which may, he thinks, prove hardier." (W. J. Bean, 

 Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 19/f.) 



39044. Pittosporum floribundum Wight and Arnott. Pittosporaceae. 

 "A small tree found in the subtropical Himalayas from Sikkim to 



Garhwal, ascending to 5,000 feet in the hills. The medicinal virtues and 

 the utilization of this plant have recently been brought to light. The 

 bark is bitter and aromatic and is said by the natives to possess narcotic 

 properties. The plant contains an aromatic resin, yellow in color, and 

 having very tenacious properties. The wood is light colored, strong and 

 tough, but of small size." (Watt, Dictionary of the Economic Products 

 of India.) 



39045. Pleurospermum apiolens C. B. Clarke. Apiaceae. 

 Distribution. — A low herb with pinnate leaves, belonging to the parsnip 



family and having an odor similar to that of celery, found in the interior 

 valleys of the Sikkim Himalayas in northern India at an altitude of 

 11,000 to 14,000 feet. 



39046. Pleurospermum brunonis (DC.) Bentham. Apiaceae. 

 Distribution. — A low herb with pinnate leaves found on the slopes of 



the Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal in northern India at an altitude 

 of 9,000 to 14,000 feet. 



39047. Pleurospermum hookeri C. B. Clarke. Apiaceae. 

 Distribution. — A low herb belonging to the parsnip family, found on 



the slopes of the Sikkim Himalayas in northern India at an altitude of 

 10,000 to 16,000 feet. 



39048. Polygonum vaccinifolium Meissner. Polygonaceae. 



"This is apparently a common Himalayan plant which has proved 

 sufficiently hardy to bear the open air of this climate [England]. It is a 

 low-growing, neat plant, and by its numerous slender stems trailing along 

 the ground and rooting at the joints it soon forms a spreading, compact 

 patch. The leaves are quite concealed by the copious spikes of bright 

 rose-colored flowers, which continue blooming from August to November 

 uninterruptedly. It is well adapted for the front part of rock work, in 

 situations where it will not be subject to drought in summer. This plant 

 promises to become a great favorite in our gardens as a bedding-out 

 plant, especially where autumn flowers are desired. (Curtis' s Botanical 

 Magazine, pi. J t 622.) 



39049. Rheum acuminatum Hook. f. and Thorns. (?) Polygonaceae. 



Rhubarb. 



"This is the common rhubarb of the Sikkim Himalayas and very 

 closely resembles in most respects the well-known Rheum emodi. It in- 

 habits rocky places, often amongst bushwood in the subalpine and alpine 

 regions of the Himalayas of Sikkim and East Nepal, at elevations of 

 9,000 to 13,000 feet. The stems are pleasantly acid, and, though more dry 

 and stringy than those of R. emodi, may be used for tarts. The root is 

 spongy and but slightly, if at all, medicinal." (Curtis's Botanical Maga- 

 zine, pi. 4877.) 



