396 ME. BI. 1'. I'KICE OX THE VKGETATION 01" 



and early autumn snow falls. It is probable that the latter determined tlie- 

 limit of the Larch forest. 



South of the Barmen mountain.^ on the plains of Achit Nor (i.iiOO feet), 

 which drains into the Upper Kobdo River, concentric rings of vegetation 

 were to be observed. In the marshes and shallow lagoons immediately 

 round the lake were to be seen Ghiux maritlniu, (Jhenopodium glaucwn, 

 Siuvda maritima, Triglocliin pahistre, Juiwais Gerardi, and Agrostis vulgaris.. 

 Beyond the marshes on moist, sandy loam, where vegetation was just above 

 the water-table, the following flora was seen : Salicornia herhacea, Carex. 

 ccespitosa, Carex oujnllari.s, TJordeum pratense, and Irits ensata. On the stony 

 desert, out of reach of the water-table, were found representatives of the 

 Plateau-desert as>ociation, particularly Stipu ca/dllata. 



Leaving the plain of Achit Nor and ascending the Kobdo River by its 

 aflfluent tributary the Suok River, the expedition crossed the tableland,, 

 averaging 5000 feet alt. and rising in rolling downs to 8000 feet. After 

 crossing the Suok valley, those of the Taharty, Olonor, and T.^agangol were- 

 each traversed in turn, till finally, the Kobdo Lakes were reached. 



Between 7000 and 8000 feet the rolling downs wore covered withi 

 vegetation of the Plateau-desert association, represented by Oxi/tropis tra- 

 gacantlioides, Artomisia argj/ra'/oIii(, Sti^nt cajnllata, < 'henopodium frutescena, 

 J'anaceiinn fruticidosimi, Eli/mus dasystachi/fi, Allium fistidotmm. At 8000 feet 

 Alpine association began to take the place of Plateau-desert association. On 

 that part of the valley with northern and shady aspects this type consisted 

 largely of Polijijonuin JBisiorta, P. vicipurum, and Betula nana. In the- 

 upper part of the Alpine meadows, between 8300 and 9000 feet, the Alpine 

 association was spread out over a large area of rolling downs in the Upper 

 Olonor valley. The characteristic species here were Papacer jiudicaule,. 

 Saccifraga .Hircuhts, and Gentiana prostrata. 



On reaching the Kobdo Lakes, which lie just to the north of the Great 

 Altai range, the Plateau-desert association was found between 6300 and 

 7500 feet, represented by Stipa capillata, Oxytropis fragacanthoides, Cheno- 

 podium frutescens. Round the Kobdo Lakes, at 7000 feet. Larch forest again 

 was to be seen in shady places all over the northern slopes of the Great Altai, 

 range. The Larch forest contained Betxda nana, Fotentilla hifurca, and 

 reached to the height of 8500 feet. Between 8000 and 9000 feet there vvas- 

 a large development of Alpine meadow which reached to 9500 feet. The 

 expedition crossed the Great or C'hinese Altai mountains by the Urkhogaitu 

 Pass, 9500 feet, and following the valley of the Kran River on the south side 

 of the range, reached the plains of the Upper or Black Irtish in Dzungaria. 

 On the Kran River there was a considerable development of Siberian Larch 

 forest between 3000 and G700 feet in shady places, accompanied b-^- Aconituin 

 sp., Spira-a, Vacciniuin Vitis-ldwa, Rosa acicularis, Rosa spinosissima, Sam- 

 huciis racemosa, ThaiiGtrum peialoideuni, Lonicera cwruha, Cotoneaster 

 melanocarpa, Berheris heteropoda, Althwa rosea, and Potentilla chrgsantlia. 



