THE VEGETATION OF TEMPERATE AND ALPINE SIKHIM. 101 



are hollow and full of pure water, and that, although the root resembles 

 medicinal rhubarb, it is spongy and inert. The dried leaves are used 

 as a substitute for tobacco, according to the same authority. The 

 plant is, in all truth, beautiful to close inspection, but the thought 

 of it will recall to the traveller's mind the barren crags where it 

 delights to grow, and where it heightens the depressingly weird effect 

 of such scenery by its cadaverous stove-like stem. 



A short reprieve from views of desolation is granted by a steep 

 descent into the valley of the Runghi river at Gambothan. The shel- 

 tered position of this place favours the growth of large pine trees, and 

 copses of Salix Wallichiana fringe the river banks. A steep ascent to the 

 summit of the ridge beyond terminates on a broad open plateau called 

 Bokto, which, being covered with grass, is a favourite sheep-grazing sta- 

 tion. Another descent and ascent follow over the valley of the Yang- 

 sap thx'ough dense growths of rhododendrons, Abies Webbiana, Pijrus 

 foliolosa and P. microphylla, &c. Beyond are two small plains and low 

 ridges bearing only closely-cropped grass, with thickets of small rhodo- 

 dendrons here and there in sheltered hollows. Another valley, the 

 E,atong, again intervenes, and we emerge in the elevated tracts close 

 to the eternal snows. The ground is covered thickly with grassy turf. 

 On the high knolls other vegetation is scanty, comprising, however, 

 amongst a few others, a plant of doubtful affinity — Oresolen Watiii — 

 spinose-stemmed Astragali and Anemone. The celebrated collecting 

 ground of Jongri is a good type of the more sheltered situations. Here 

 many plants constitute a luxuriant herbage, such as Potentilla pedun- 

 cularis, P. microplii/lla, P. coriandrifolia, P. albifolia, Geum elatum, Primula 

 reticulata, P. Stiiartii, P. pusilla, P. glabra, Pedicularis siphonantha , Gera- 

 nium polganthes, Ranimciilus affinis, Mcconopsis simplicifoUa and Phloniis 

 sp. Here also can be found that intensely bitter-rooted plant Picrorhisa 

 kurrua, of repute as a febrifuge and tonic amongst the Tibetans ; and 

 Chrysanthemum AtJcinsoni, bearing golden flower heads, and worthy of 

 note as being the only representative of its genus in Sikhim. Various 

 species of Primtda not known to exist elsewhere liave been discovered 

 by several collectors at Jongri and in its vicinity. Another fact 

 worthy of record is that a majestic species of poppy is cultivated near 

 the huts. It is a 31econopsis near 31. simplicifoUa, but grows in dense 

 clusters two to three feet high. The flowers vary in diameter from 

 five to seven inches, are an intensely vivid blue on opening, and 

 change before fading away into purple. 



The superabundance of rhododendrons is the glory of the Singa- 

 lelah Range. The equally moist Chola Range also possesses them in 

 the same abundance, and the whole Alpine region of Sikhim can boast 

 of them in a lesser degree. One, R. nivale, a humble soil-embracing 

 plant inhabiting the desolate slopes of Donkia and Kinchinjhow, 



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