6 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



Pteroceltis, and Emmenopterys. Cultivation is less general in 

 this region, and the winter crop especially is of less importance. 

 The crops are similar to those of the belt below except that 

 maize is the staple and displaces rice. In Hupeh this zone is 

 much less extensive and can hardly be said to exist when 

 comparison with its development in western Szechuan is 

 made. 



Division 3. — " Cool-temperature belt — 5000 to 10,000 feet 

 altitude." From 5000 to 10,000 feet is the largest and most 

 important zone of all. It is composed principally of deciduous 

 flowering trees and shrubs characteristic of a cool-temperate 

 flora and belonging to familiar genera. To these must be 

 added forests of Conifers and many ornamental tall-growing 

 herbs. It is in this zone that is found the astonishing variety 

 of flowering trees and shrubs so pre-eminent a feature of this 

 flora : of Clematis 60 species are recorded from China ; of 

 Lonicera, 60 ; of Rubus, 100 ; of Vitis, 35 ; of Evonymus, 30 ; 

 of Berberis, 50 ; of Deutzia, 40 ; of Hydrangea, 25 ; of Acer, 40; 

 of Viburnum, 70 ; of Ilex, 30 ; of Prunus, 80 ; of Senecio, no ; 

 and the enumeration might be further extended. Pyrus (in- 

 cluding Malus, Sorbus, Micromeles, and Eriolobus) is a promi- 

 nent family in the belt, and behaves in China in the same 

 manner as Crataegus does in the United States of America. 



Amongst such botanical wealth it is difficult to make 

 selections, but if any one genus has outstanding claims it is 

 Rhododendron. As in the Himalayan region, so in Western 

 China, the Rhododendrons are a special feature. The genus is 

 the largest recorded from China, no fewer than 160 species being 

 known. I, myself, have collected about 80 species and have 

 introduced upwards of 60 into cultivation. Rhododendrons 

 commence at sea-level, but do not become really abundant 

 until 8000 feet is reached. They extend up to the limits of 

 ligneous vegetation (15,000 feet, circa). These plants are 

 gregarious in habit and nearly every species has a well-defined 

 altitudinal limit. In size they vary from alpine plants only a 

 few inches high to trees 40 feet and more tall. The colour of 

 their flowers ranges from pure white, tlirough clear yellow to 

 the deepest and richest shades of scarlet and crimson. In late 

 June they are one mass of colom", and no finer sight can possibly 



