iv 



LETTERS OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH 



plants are, without exception epiphytical. My last best plant is 

 Wallich's Gymnobotrys, order according to him unknown, but 

 which I refer sine dubio, to Stilaginese, which it connects closely 

 with Euphorbiacese. 



Gowricpore: May, 21th, 1838. 



We reached the plains about a week ago, and arrived at this place 

 yesterday, having made a series of long marches to escape the rains. 

 This we have succeeded in doing, and our further progress will be in 

 boats. As you may suppose, at this season we suffered much from 

 heat since we descended to the plains, and the more so, as no 

 arrangements had been made with regard to houses, owing to our 

 betters having been either miscarried, or detained by the suspicious 

 Bootanees Since reaching the plains, I may say I have done no- 

 thing, as the vegetation is precisely the same as that of Lower 

 Assam. Neither did I get many plants during the four last marches 

 in the Hills, for although the elevation of some ridges still amounted 

 to 5,500 ft., yet the vegetation was almost quite tropical. 



I regretted leaving the higher ranges, tlie climate being so ex- 

 quisite, and the spring vegetation so beautiful. AtChupcha I availed 

 myself of a halt to ascend 10,000 ft., and was well rewarded for 

 my pains. But I saw enough to make me wish to remain there 

 during the rains, at which period the flora of such places can only be 

 said to exist. Anemones, Bistortae, Morina, Iris, Eetula, Saxifraga, 

 Primula exquisitissima, Trillium, Abelia ? Cerasus, Salix, Abies, Pi- 

 nus, Papaveracese, Aconitum^ Rhododendrons, Aquilegia, etc. were 

 all observed in some stage or other. Of the Rhododendrons, I cannot 

 speak in terms of sufficient ecstasy. I have upwards of 15 species, 

 which number might perhaps be doubled by a longer residence. 

 My collection will amount to between 14, and 1500 species, including 

 Mosses and Hepaticse. Congratulate me on having found Lyellia, re- 

 garding which I was led to suppose that it was a native of high 

 altitudes, whereas I find it no higher than 400 ft. I have only 

 brought away about 3 lbs. of specimens. Bootan from altitudes 

 of 6 to 10,000 ft. is a lovely country; defined open woods, interrupted 

 by large patches of sward, with here and there marshy spots give 



