1156 Notes on the Botany of Sinde. [Nov. 



both in the hills and plains, I have no specimens, but considered the 

 species to be F. Mysorensis, the flowers are pale purple. 



At Meher and some other places a species of sugar-cane is in culti- 

 vation, which I believe to be unknown in India ; it is called " Buhadoo- 

 ree ;" the stems are slender and trailing ; they grow to ten or fifteen 

 feet in length, the base not being thicker than a finger ; ten or twelve 

 are usually fastened together so as to afford mutual support ; the cane 

 is said to yield the best sugar, but in small quantity. Cleome ruta, 

 Jacqt. is abundant on the rocks at Sukkur, and throughout Sinde. 

 Typha angustifolia is found on most lands subject to the annual flood- 

 ing of the Indus, and from it vast quantities of mats are manufactured. 

 A species of Adenanthera, I believe A. pavonia, is often found near 

 villages in lower Sinde ; this tree has a weeping habit, and at a distance 

 looks not unlike Salix Babylonica. A remarkable species of Acacia is 

 also found near villages. In its mode of growth and appearance it 

 strongly resembles the funereal Cypress. The Sindeans call it " Cauboo- 

 lee Baubool," a name which points to its foreign origin. 



I was not fortunate enough to see this tree either in blossom or fruit. 

 Between Kotree and Kurrachee I noticed a species of wild cotton trail- 

 ing up trees to 20 feet ; I was sick in a Doolee at the time and unable 

 to take specimens. 



Dodonaea Burmanniana, and I believe another species, are found in 

 Lower Sinde. Aristolochea bracteata and a Verbena akin to V. officinalis, 

 but perhaps distinct, exist on the smaller hills of lower Sinde ; Orthan- 

 thera viminea abounds throughout Sinde and is a very useful plant ; 

 like many others of its order, the bark yields a strong fibre ; in this 

 shrub it is of greater length than perhaps in any other Asclepiad. I am 

 not aware of the fibre being used by the Sindeans, but the thin osier- 

 like branches are bruised and twisted into a strong coarse kind of rope 

 in common use. 



There are also numerous well known Indian forms of plants in the 

 plains of Sinde, particularly near the cultivated districts, of which I took 

 neither notes nor specimens ; the date flourishes in several parts of 

 Sinde, but thrives best at Sukkur, and its vicinity, on both banks of 

 the Indus. There are two varieties. One with pale yellow, and the 

 other with brown fruit ; the fruit is smaller than the Egyptian date, but 

 when ripe is very palatable ; only certain trees produce good fruit, about 



