160 Brigade-Surguon J. E. T. Aitcliisuii's Notes on Prodnds 



properties, especially in alTcctions of the bowels. Plantago 

 MAiiiTiMA covers the surface of the sand that has been 

 deposited by high winds on the banks of the JIari-rud. 



Platanus orientalis, Linn. Platanace/e. 



The Oriental Plane, chandr, chindr, clmndr. To the east 

 of Meshad, over the country I traversed, this was a cultivated 

 tree. I noticed a few cultivated in Afghanistan ; they were 

 more common in Khorasan. At Maimana I was informed 

 there are numerous and superb trees, but all from cultivation, 

 and from whence most of the wood required for this dis- 

 trict is imported. To the west of Meshad I found it an 

 indigenous tree, occurring on the banks of streams, forming 

 dense groves. The wood is considered by far the best for 

 the construction of the large gates which are fixed at the 

 entrances to villages. I measured the planks that made up 

 one gateway, and found they were 18 feet long, 18 inches 

 broad, and 4 inches thick. This wood, owing to its being 

 easily worked and fairly tough, is more generally employed 

 than any other for doors, lintels, and sometimes for roofing. 



Platter, or Wooden Dish — has, kds-i-chdhi, hashafa. 

 Plum — the fruit of Prunus species. 



Poa bulbosa, Lnm. Graminb^. 



One of the most common and characteristic grasses of the 

 country, called sidl-i-we, a splendid fodder grass, especially 

 profuse on the plains near the Kambao Pass ; at the proper 

 season this could be collected to an unlimited amount for 

 storage as hay. 



Poison — zahr, zahra, zahar, riz. 

 Poisonous^ 



I. The Indigenous Plants that are considered 

 TO BE Poisonous. 



CONIUM MACULATUM, CyNANCHUM ACUTUM, NeEIUM ODORUM' 



the grain of Lolium temulentum, the Ergot on Eye Secale 

 cereale. Goats and sheep grazed on Hyoscyamus pusillus 

 and Hyoscyamus reticulatus without apparent bad effects, 

 and the shepherds did not look upon these herbs as poisonous. 

 Datuka stramonium was known to be poisonous, but owing 



