SACRED OMEI SHAN 223 



On leaving Liang-ho-kou the ascent began, and journeying 

 slowly three days' hard climbing brought us to the " Golden 

 Summit." 



For the purpose of grouping the flora it is convenient to 

 divide the mountain into two regions — (i) from the base to 

 6000 feet, and (2) 6000 feet to the summit (10,800 feet). Thus 

 divided the flora falls into two well-defined altitudinal zones. 

 The lower zone is made up of such plants as enjoy a warm- 

 temperate climate. Evergreen trees and shrubs predominate, 

 and in the shady glens and ravines SelagineUas and Ferns 

 luxuriate. Of these latter I, in one day, collected over sixty 

 species ! The upper zone consists entirely of plants requiring 

 a cool-temperate climate. With the exception of Rhododendron 

 and Silver Fir it is composed almost entirely of deciduous 

 trees and shrubs and herbaceous plants. The belt between 

 4500 feet and 5500 feet may be termed the Hinterland. 

 Here the struggle for supremacy is most keen and the fusion 

 of the zones most marked. At 6000 feet the boundary line 

 is unusually well defined. 



Cultivation extends up to 4000 feet, maize and pulse 

 being the principal crops, with rice relegated to the valleys 

 and bottom-lands. Plantations of Ash trees for the culture of 

 insect-wax extend up to 2600 feet. The foot-hills around the 

 base of the mountain are covered with Pine [Pimis Massoniana), 

 Cypress (Cupressus funebris), and Oak {Quercus serrata). The 

 sides of the streams which meander among these hills are 

 clothed with Alder [Alnus cremastogyne) , Pterocarya stenoptera, 

 and the curious Camptotheca acuminata. Around the temples 

 and farmsteads Nanmu and tall-growing Bamboos abound ; 

 on the more exposed hillsides the climbing fern Gleichenia lin- 

 earis forms impenetrable thickets, and Onychium japonicum, 

 Melastoma Candida, Musscendra pubescens, are common road- 

 side plants. At 3000 feet all these plants drop out and give 

 place toothers. Cunninghamialanceolata, which, occurs sparingly 

 in the valleys, gradually increases in number, and between 

 2500 and 4500 feet large areas are covered solely with this 

 invaluable Conifer. Apart from the Cunninghamia, the family 

 of Laurinece forms, between 2000 and 5000 feet, fully 75 per 

 cent, of the arborescent vegetation. This " Laurel zone," 



