112 [No. 2, 



Notes on the Flora of Manbhum ; by V. Ball, Esq., B. A., Geological 



Survey of India. 



[Read 4th Nov., 1868 ; received 5th Nov., 1868.] 



The district of Manbhum which, until comparatively recent times, 

 formed a portion of those terra incognitce, the jungle mehals, has not 

 been altogether neglected by naturalists. The fauna, first examined 

 by Col. (then Lieut.) Tickell, and more recently by Captain Beavan, 

 is now pretty well known. 



The flora of the northern portion of the district in the vicinity of 

 the grand trunk road, received the attention of several distinguished 

 botanists, but in the southern portion plants never have before been 

 collected. 



Dr. Hooker, in his introductory essay to the Flora Indica, after no- 

 ting the character of the flora of the humid Eastern ghats of Orissa, 

 which, owing to circumstances which he describes, are during both 

 monsoons, daily affected by moist sea breezes, states that the vegeta- 

 tion of the interior of the province (which includes the greater portion 

 of Manbhum) is quite unknown, except from a few notices in Major 

 Kittoe's journey to the Sumbulpur valley. 



Dr. T. Anderson's paper in the journal* is devoted to an account 

 of the flora of northern Manbhum, (in the vicinity of the trunk road), 

 Behar and Parisnath hill, upon which latter, temperate forms, all of 

 Himalayan species, are found. His list contains most of the species 

 which I have met with in the lower portions of Manbhum ; there 

 are, however, some important additions. 



As it is often equally important in botanical examinations to trace 

 a resemblance as well as a difference between the floras of adjoining 

 areas, I have ventured to give the following account of the portions 

 of the district which have been visited by me during my geological 

 Survey. 



As on a previous occasion, I must again acknowledge the assistance 

 which I have ever readily received from Mr. Kurz, who has examined 

 all my collections, and who also paid me a short visit when I was 

 encamped near Beharinath hill. Such assistance is invaluable in 

 Calcutta where, in order to consult the Herbarium and the Botanical 



* J. A. S. B. 



