192 On the Flora of Behar and the mountain Parasnath. [No. 3, 
Dalbergia and Bauhinia occur more frequently than any other. Large 
climbers of Leguminose, such as Pueraria tuberosa, Mucuna, Cana- 
valia, Otosema macrophylla and Bauhinia Vahli, are most abundant 
above 2,000 feet elevation. ‘The undergrowth of these forests con- 
sists principally of Leguminous shrubs ; Rubiacee ; Composite of the 
genera Vernonia and LBlumea; Acanthacee represented principally 
by Strobilanthes auriculatus, Dedalacanthus purpurascens, and Bar- 
leria cristata; Scrophularinee and Labiate occur chiefly as incon- 
spicuous herbs. Among Serophularinee, two species of Alectra 
deserve to be noticed; one of them, a new species, nearly allied 
to the African one A. orobanchoides, Benth. occurs in one locality 
as a lurid, leafless plant, parasitic on the roots of Strobilanthes 
auriculatus. 
About 4,000 feet, three species of Aralia appear, but they are con- 
fined to the cool, dark ravines. From 4,000 feet to the summit, the 
few species representatives of the subtropical vegetation of the moun- 
tain ranges of India are found. These species are Clematis Gouriana, 
and C. nutans, Lhalictrum glyphocarpum, Berberis Asiatica, Gerani- 
um Nepalense, Pygeum lucidum, mihi, Rubia cordifolia, Buchnera 
hispida, Habenaria plantaginea and H. commelinifolia, Disporum sp. 
None of these species are numerous enough in individuals to give 
any character to the vegetation of the summit. Clematis nutans, the 
most tropical of them, is most frequently met with. Of Pygewm 
lucidum only a solitary tree was found on the mountain, on the 
northern side of the central peak. 
The distribution of a few of these species is worthy of notice. Cle- 
matis nutans is found on the Khasia hills distant, 400 miles from. 
Parasnath, and in Kumaon and Gharwal at a distance of 600 miles. 
Thalictrwm glyphocarpum is widely distributed over the mountain 
ranges of India, viz., the Himalaya, Khasia hills, mountains of south- 
ern India and Ceylon. In all these ranges, it never occurs below an 
elevation of 6,000 feet whereas in Parasnath it is met with at 4,000 
feet. 
The nearest point to Parasnath where Berberis Asiatica occurs is 
the outer ranges of Kumaon and Gharwal, Parasnath being the 
southern limit of this species. 
Geranium Nepalense occurs only on a few grassy spots near the 
highest peaks of Parasnath and flowers in the cold season, after the 15th 
