400 



BOTANICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Of herh.ioeous plants, the only ones generally spread are Boraginese 

 and Oriiciferae, Anciuisa, Myosotis, Onosma Echium, Lithospermum, 

 Criiciferae, Hesperis, Cheirantlms, Sinapis Arabis, and Raphanus. 

 Secondary feature presented by small bulbous plants of the genera Hy- 

 poxis, Iris, Tulipa, Anthericum, Allium, Ornithogalum, and Asphodelus. 



Among all these plants, or rather every where occur sculent plants 

 such as Sedum, Seinpervioms and Euphorbise. The Calligonum of 

 Pallas, with the habit of Galenia africana, is constantly found in the 

 sandy tracts, and constitutes the principal part of the food of Camels, 

 which also feed on a large fruited Carex covering large Plains to the 

 north of Bokhara, and on the South of Kezil-Coum desert. 



Amygdalus nana, found on the north of the Moughoudgar mountains. 

 Rosa simplifoiia, allied to R. berberifolia between the Kezil Coum 

 desert and the N. E. point of the Aral. 



Two Spiraea, (not found however beyond the eastern sides of Mou- 

 ghoudgar mountains north of the Aral, towards the Russian frontier) in 

 fertile lands also Scorzonera, Leontodon Valeriana, Phlomis, and Aspa- 

 ragus. 



On the opposite side of the Moughoudgar range Robinia frutescens, 

 Atraplaxis frutescens, Verbascum phaeniceum, Alhagali, Cheiranthi, 

 Hesperis, Onosma, Allium, Fritillaria, Meleagris. In some places on 

 the western side of same range (How does this agree with the vegeta- 

 tion of steppe of Kirghiz) ? Alopecurus pratensis the only gramineous 

 plant the mission met with, between Orenburgh and Bokhara. On the 

 Ijorders of the Ilek river alone, Populus alba, Salix, a remarkably 

 beautiful one, Lonicera tatarica. The least frequent plants along the 

 coasts of Aral, were Leontice, Ephedra, Tragopogon. Tamarix songa- 

 rica, was of general occurrence. The vegetation of the sceppes in- 

 creases in richness as one approaches Bokhara after passing the D'jan 

 Daria. Ferula persica is the only Umbillitiferous plants in Eversmann's 

 Journal. Around Bokhara, Thlaspi bursa, Draba verna. Lithospermum 

 arvense, Alopecurus agrestis, Adonis autumnalis. Sisymbrium tenuifo- 

 lium, Euphorbia helioscopia, and others of the same genus. Several 

 species of Poppy, Hygrophylla, Alyssum, Rheum, an crassinerve in Gar- 

 dens. In the canals of Bokhara Ranunculus aequalitis falcatus, Vero- 

 nica Persica. The animals present an affinity with Siberian Zoology in 

 the comparative abundance of Rodentia, such as Arctomys, Dipus, Me- 

 riones, Oncetus, Georychus, Hypudaeus, Mus, Sorex, Erinaccus. Ab- 

 sinthia seems to have iformed a principal feature after passing Bassagha. 

 The Kauvul (p. 18) a herb previously very common begins to be rare. 

 The Salsola commences at Akh-chekodousa lat. 47, 30, Longt. E. 57, 30. 

 Melons cultivated along the Gir, Lat. 45, 30. also Plane trees, Willows, 

 and Whest. 



The season are here very regular : fruit trees flower in the middle of 

 February, Rain begins 7th to 15th February, and last to end of the 

 month ; sun powerful even in winter. Heat excessive, clouds of dust, no 

 squalls, rains in October, 15 days or 21. Slight frosts in November, De- 

 cember, and some snow, announcing winter. January the coldest 

 month : ordinary cold 2° Reaum. varies to 8^. Water freezes to 3 or 4 

 inches thick. Snow known to fall 15 days. In January ; the heat in 

 shade 10°, in sun 22", violent winds in winter and in summer climate 

 much, milder to the South than north of the Moughoudgar range. 



