PREFACE. 



This key is intended chiefly for the nse 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 ; it is 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 noi-th-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. 



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 been examined by the author while they 

 were still fi-esh. 



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. Mv. I. K. Eaul 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. 



Simla . ^ C. J. BAMBER, 



Juli^ 1, 1915. J Colonel J Indian Medical Service. 



