558 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
in these woods, but is much surpassed by R. argentum, which here 
becomes a tree forty feet high, with leaves twelve or thirteen inches 
in’length, of a deep green above and silvery green on the lower 
surface, and with flowers, large as those of R. Dalhousia. Oaks, 
Laurels, Maples, Birches, Hydrangeas, a species of Fig which 
grows on the summit of the mountain, and three Chinese and 
Japan genera constitute the chief woodland vegetation of this part 
of the Sinchul. 
‘‘ Beyond this region, that is to say above Dorjelling, the zones 
of vegetation are well characterised between six thousand feet and 
seven thousand one hundred feet, first by Oaks, Chestnuts, and Mag- 
nolias, which equally characterise the vegetation up to ten thousand 
feet ; secondly, immediately above six thousand feet, a tree-fern 
appears (Alsophila gigantea); thirdly, a species of Palm, of the 
genus Calamus, and a Plectocomia; this last shoots up the 
branches of the loftiest trees, extending itself over the forest to 
the distance sometimes of a hundred and twenty feet from its 
stem ; finally, a last characteristic trait of the region is the Wild 
Banana tree, which attains nearly the same height as-the preceding 
species.” 
With some difficulty Dr. Hooker obtained permission of the 
native authorities to go beyond Dorjelling, and, in particular, to 
visit the higher passes of the Himalaya in Thibet, and especially 
the principal mass of the Kinchinjunga. Following his steps in this 
ascent he found at eight thousand one hundred feet the first coni- 
fers; all of them at first Abies Brunonia, a fine species, which assumes 
the form of an obtuse pyramid, with spreading branches like the 
Cedar ; it is unknown in the exterior chain, and occupies in the 
interior a zone less elevated by a thousand feet than the Silver 
Firs (Abies Webbiana). We meet also at this level with a great 
number of sub-Alpine plants belonging to Leycesteria, Thalictrum, 
Rosa, Gnaphalium, Alnus, Betula, Ilex, Berberis, Rubus, and some 
Ferns, Anemones, Strawberries, Alpine Bamboos, and Oaks. 
On the higher level our traveller saw Junipers mingling with 
Silver Firs, which were even superseded by evergreen Rhodo- 
dendrons, spreading along the slopes in immense profusion. 
_ Spiraas, dwarf J unipers, and small Birch-trees, Willows, Honey- . _ 
suckles, Barberries, and a species of Service-tree. At twelve thousand a 
