PREFACE. 
Tuts key is intended chiefly for the use of inquirers who have very little 
knowledge of botany. 
The plan, that has been followed, is to classify all plants according to such 
characteristics as are obvious to all. Amateur botanists often complain. of the 
difficulty they find in tracing out any plant in an ordinary Flora; itis with the 
hope of assisting such persons that this book has been compiled. It has been the 
intention of the author to use as few technical terms as possible. 
The area, dealt with, is bounded on the north and north-east by the snow 
line of the Himalaya, on the east and south-east by the Jumna, on the south by 
Central India and Scinde, and the west and north-west by Afghanistan and Baluchis- 
. tan. The North-West Frontier Province has been included, because it was 
considered as forming part of the Punjab, and until a short time ago the districts 
across the Indus were part of the Punjab. 
Kashmir was included as it is impossible to form a satisfactory boundary in 
that direction, the greater number of the plants found in Kashmir grow in other 
~ parts of the Himalaya that are situated in the Punjab. 
Pee O 1829 
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Bi 
This little book is not intended to take the place of a complete Flora, but 
to be used as a guide in helping to identify with but little difficulty any plant in 
the area. Each plant is supplied with a short description consisting of the 
principal characters differentiating it from other plants. 
This book forms an abbreviated Flora of the area, as in it is included™ 
probably every plant, excepting Grasses and Ferns, that has been found in the area. 
A large proportion of the plants have heen examined by the author while they 
._ were still fresh. 
He is much indebted to such works as the Flora of British India, the 
Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain, the Flora Simlensis, the Forest Flora of the 
School Circle, United Provinces, and the Dictionary of Economic Productions for 
the descriptions and uses of plants with which he is unacquainted. 
This is a suitable opportunity for thanking friends for the assistance which 
they have given to one, who has but a superficial knowledge of the science of 
botany. Mr. I. K. Kaul kindly took the photographs which have been used 
to illustrate the text. My thanks are due to the Bombay Natural History 
Society for allowing me to publish that portion of this book which I supplied 
to its Journal. 
Sruma : ; C. J. BAMBER, 
July 1, 1915. Colenel, Indian Medical Service. 
