38 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



A consideration of the latter group is especially interesting when 

 considering the ancestral origin of the more local or endemic portion of 

 the Sinai flora ; and it also gives us a slight clue to the probable nature of 

 the flora of the little known region east and south-east of Mount Hor. 

 Judging from an appendix of species of plants collected by Burton's 

 expedition to ' The Land of Midian,' the flora of the upper regions of 

 Sinai is more nearly allied to that of Edom to the north of east, than to 

 that of Midian in the south-east. The Gulf of 'Akabah has formed a 

 barrier in the latter case. 



Of the bulbous species, here as elsewhere, I can only enumerate a 

 portion. The bulk of those gathered were in leaf, and were brought 

 home to Mr. Burbidge, of the College Botanic Gardens in Dublin, under 

 whose care many retained life, but have not flowered. 



The arboreal vegetation of Mount Hor was confined to the summit, 

 and consisted of a bladder-senna, Colutea aleppica^ Lam.; a turpentine tree, 

 Pistacia palcBstina, Boiss., and a juniper, Juniperus phoenicea, Lmn. Each 

 of these was about lo or 12 feet high. The Rhamnus already mentioned 

 was very much stunted. 



At Petra two new species were discovered, which will be described 

 subsequently. One was a Galium allied to G. jungermannioides, Boiss., 

 and pronounced new by Mons. Boissier, It is a low straggling matted 

 species, with the habit of our Asperula cynanchica. It occurred in the 

 * Sik.' The other new species was a Daphne, an erect shrub 6 or 7 feet 

 high, with long linear leaves, reddish-brown berries, and small cream- 

 coloured flowers. The fibre is remarkably stringy and tough. The 

 Daphne is allied to D. acuminata, and D. mucronata, but differs materially 

 from both these species. It occurred, in flower and fruit, on the slopes 

 of Mount Hor, about a mile from Petra, and again at intervals lower 

 down. The Boucerosia, already mentioned as being an undescribed 

 species, was found on Mount Hor in flower in several places. 



Many unrecognised fragments of Umbellifers, Scrophulariaceous plants, 

 grasses, and others were noticed at Petra, and the botany will yield a good 

 harvest to anyone arriving at a proper season, and with sufficient leisure. 

 My time in Petra was somewhat under an hour ! 



The following plants, not previously met with, were gathered at Petra 

 and Mount Hor: Diplotaxis pendula, D.C.; Ononis vaginalis, Vahl.; 



