99 
Engle 
identify it with Balsamodendron Playfairii, pe source of Gum Hotai. 
In ain Ps are certainly mistaken, As stated in the Kew Bulletin 
(l.c., 87):—“ It is apparently closely allied to Balsamodendron (Com- 
miphora) Schimperi.” Holmes objects that this pee a turpentiny but not 
a bitter taste. Schweinfurth, however, regar - Schinperi (Kew 
Bulletin, 1896, p. 89) as one o of the sources of peres n myrrh. Inan 
case the origin of Somali myrrh eannot be said to be sa satisfactorily 
cleared up. “As the country is now often visited by travellers it is much 
to be desired that the plant really yielding ite myrrh may be conelneively 
determined by the collection and examination of adequate speci 
6. In the oe Bulletin (Lc. p. 91) it was i icti that B. simplici 
folium may be accepted as the source of Yemen myrrh, It since 
appears that under the names Commiphora simplicifolia, Schweinfurth 
inadvertently distributed two species :— B. Sc chimpert and B. simplici- 
folium ; the latter is now reduced by him to a variety of B. abyssinicum. 
remarks in a letter that “the simple leaves are only due to the 
he Kew 
Bulletin (l.c. p. 90), this co set yields myrrh both in the Fadhli and 
Yemen districts. Schweinfurth, however, adds in the leiter with which 
he has kindly furnished | me :—“ Fadhli myrrh is partly yielded by 
C. abyssinica as proved by M. Deflers; but a// Fadhli myrrh may not 
be yielded by it. We cannot accept this plant ss its only source. I 
did not visit the districts where myrrh is collected in Yemen; this was 
to the north of the region explored by myself. M. Deflers did visit it, 
but he did not colleet specimens of the myrrh plant there.” 
7. Whether B. abyssinicum is really a source of myrrh is not of very 
great importance as, thanks to Mr. Holmes, we seem to be on safe 
ground in accepting its old attribution to B. Myrrhc. 
W. 1.: D: 
DXLVIII.— BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN YUNNAN. 
Dr. Henry, tke well-known Chinese botanist, is now stationed in 
Yunnan, The following extract from a letter recently received from 
him gives some interesting particulars of this botanically rich region :— 
Customs, "A E Laokay, Tonking. 
1896. 
* As regards botany, e.g., this reion—on ie outskirts of which I 
was stationed at Ichang, and now am here again on another border of it 
at Mengtse—is, I ima agine, the vri interesting in the world. It is 
ev idently the headquarters of most of the genera which are rel spread 
all over Europe and Asia in great part. e geology is quite unknown 
and it is a combination of knowledge of the ancient history of the region 
geologically, and of the flora, which will = much that is obscure 
in the present distribution of species. J have told you of the immense, 
universal and peculiar den of red cut which covers Yunnan 
extending into the Shan States. This perhaps speaks of glaciation and 
perhaps it is to glacial phenomena that the present richness of the flor 
is due. 
