152 FLORA INDTCA. 



extensive tracts near the river are covered with dense jungle, 

 chiefly of Acacia Arabica and Prosopis spicigera, the greater 

 part of the surface is barren of vegetation, and the driest parts 

 are an absolute desert. In the lower part of the delta, within 

 reach of the tides, a low jungle of mangroves occupies the 

 swampy islets. 



The vegetation of Sindh was first made known to science 

 by Grifiith, who traversed the upper part of the province on 

 his way to Afghanistan, and has recorded in his private jour- 

 nals and literary notes the most characteristic plants which 

 he observed. It has also been explored by Major Vicary, who 

 has published in the Asiatic Society's Journal a list of its 

 plants. For our very complete knowledge of its flora we are, 

 however, mainly indebted to the late Dr. Stocks*, whose la- 

 bours in this interesting province throw much light on Indian 

 botany. Dr. Stocks' collections amount to little more than 

 four hundred species, so that the flora is a very poor one. 

 No doubt, as he has himself stated, a careful exploration of the 

 hiUy districts would considerably increase this number ; but 

 we feel confident that the novelties would be almost if not 

 entirely western forms, and would therefore increase the pro- 

 portion, already great, which these bear to forms characteristic 

 of Eastern India vegetation. 



More than nine-tenths of the Sindh vegetation, on a rough 

 estimate, consists of plants which are indigenous in Africa. 

 At least one-half of these are common Nubian or Egyptian 

 plants, but which, from being indifferent to moisture, are dif- 

 fused over aU parts of India. As examples we may mention 

 Gynandropsis pentaphylla, Abutilonlndicum, Tribidvs terrestris, 

 Tephrosia purpurea, Glinus lotoides, G^-angea Maderaspatana, 



* Since the printing of the earlier part of this Introduction, Indian botany 

 has sustained an irreparable loss by the death of Dr. Stocks, fi-om whose labours 

 much was expected, and to whom we had ourselTcs looked for valuable assist- 

 ance in the preparation of these notes on the vegetation of Western India. 

 Fortunately for science a very complete series of Ms collections exists in the 

 Hookerian and Benthamian Herbaria, accompanied by a catalogue very care- 

 fully drawn up, and many important notes, of which we have made use above. 



