THE VEGETATION OF TEMPERATE AND ALPINE SIKHIM. 107 



peeping from under the leaves. The other plants are a minute 

 Saxlfraga with extensive runners, a small gentian with quadrifai-ious 

 leaves, Pedlciilaris of three species, Fesfuca and Carex. Potentilla 

 fruticosa also exists here, but I have never seen it elsewhere in such 

 an inclement situation. It is in its largest and most developed form, 

 covered with leaves and flowers. 



The Chola Range. — This range commences from the Donkia 

 Mountain and runs southward, forming the political boundary between 

 Sikhim and the Tibetan province of Chumbi. The hills intervening 

 between it and the plains are of low elevation, few exceeding 7 to 

 8,000 feet, so that there is no barrier in front to prevent its receiving 

 the full brunt of the rainy monsoon. 



It is, therefore, exposed to the same influences as the Singalelah 

 Range, and its climate being identical, the features of the vegetation 

 are also similar. We have already seen that the drier air of the 

 Lachen and Lachung valleys is an important factor towards the 

 existence of an unique flora; here, we find, at temperate elevations, 

 a vegetation in every way the same as that of like tracts on the outer 

 hills; and, as the plants of the Singalelah Range have been mentioned 

 in some detail, it is scarcely necessary to reiterate for the sake of this 

 district. 



To reach the Chola Pass, the best route to take is the road 

 followed by the Sikhim rajas on their annual journeys to Chumbi, 

 where they used to go to escajoe the heavy rains of Sikhim so disliked 

 by Tibetans, who are denizens of an almost rainless climate. 



After crossing the river Ryott below Tumiong, the path leads up 

 a continuously steep ridge as far as Pheunggong — 12,130 feet. Up to 

 10,000 feet, there is a dense forest of temjierate trees and shrubs. 

 Ganiblea ciliata, a well-marked Araliad, is common, as is also Quercus 

 semicarpifolia, an oak occurring but rarely in other parts of the country. 

 At 7,000 feet are plants of Decaisnea i?isir/nis, a remarkable plant of 

 which Sir J. D. Hooker gives an excellent description. From 6,000 

 feet upwards, on this ridge, can be found every species of rhododen- 

 dron existing in Sikhim with the exception of Rhododendron nioalc. 

 Such a specific concentration of the genus has absolutely no parallel 

 in any other part of Sikhim. The rainfall of the whole range must 

 be excessive, judging from the manner in which these plants grow. 



At Pheunggong the long continuous ascent tei'minates, and for a 

 short distance the path runs along the level summit. Abies Wcbbiana 

 is first seen here. The two junipers also grow on the range, but no 

 other conifer accompanies them. A descent to the river Rutto follows, 

 and the track runs along its course to the pass. It is a broad grassy 

 valley with scattered pine trees, and is bounded by rocky hills, 

 towards the head being bleak and stony with scanty vegetation. At 



