250 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



the remnant and offspring of giants which once clothed this 

 magnificent mountain alternating with glades carpeted with 

 Anemones and Primulas and tiny streamlets meandering 

 hither and thither. Baber aptly describes it as " the most 

 charming natural park in the world." 



In times past several temples existed on the summit, 

 of which ruins only now remain. At present there is but 

 one temple, which contains an image of P'u-hsien Pu'ssa 

 seated on a plaster elephant. It is built of the timber of the 

 Silver Fir {A hies Delavayi) and was in excellent repair. Near 

 the temple a small patch of medicinal Rhubarb, a few 

 cabbages, and Irish potatoes are cultivated. 



The partly shrubby Sambucus adnata and several herbs, 

 including Pedicularis, Microula, Fragaria fiUpendula, and F. 

 elatior, range from base to summit. Fragaria fiUpendula is a 

 new Strawberry worthy of note ; the fruit is red, more or 

 less cylindrical in shape, often an inch in length, and of very 

 good flavour. It is widely distributed in Western China, and 

 at Tachienlu I have enjoyed many a dish of this fruit with 

 cream from yak's milk. 



Two days later I ascended a lofty spur (10,000 feet) of this 

 mountain and added several new plants to my collection. 

 Of these I may mention Pceonia Veitchii, Rubus tricolor, 

 Clematis Faherii, Ribes laurifolium, Potentilla Veitchii, Pyrola 

 rotundifolia, Styrax PerkinsicB, Aristolochia moufinensis, Acer, 

 Anemone, Pyrus, Sorbus, Berberis, and Primula. High up 

 on the cliff Leontopodium aipinum and several species of 

 Anaphalis abound. Amongst the Sphagnum at least three 

 species of Lycopodium occur. On dripping, shady rocks and 

 trunks of the Rhododendrons, a filmy Fern {Hymenophyllum 

 omeiense) is abundant. 



During the four days I botanized on this mountain I added 

 some 220 odd species to my collection. On each of these 

 days the work was excessively hard, and " drenched to the 

 skin " but mildly describes our condition each evening as we 

 reached our inn. On one occasion, through treading on some 

 loose debris, I was only saved from being precipitated over 

 a steep cliff by the presence of mind of a coolie who happened 

 to be near me at the moment. 



