OBSERVATIONS ON HIMALAYAN OONIFEES. 



233 



II. Pintis excelsa. — Under the temporary name of P. pen- 

 dula, Dr. Griffith {Journals of Travels, pp. 211, 237, 239, 

 264, 265, 287, 293, compared with Journal of Asiatic Society, 

 March 1839, pp. 217, 218) describes this species as being com- 

 mon in Bhotan, forming large and beautiful woods on southern 

 aspects, next above P. longifolia, and below Abies Smithiana, 

 or from 6,000 to 10,000 feet, but becoming stunted at this last 

 elevation. This is the species, No. 398, p. 123 of Dr. Griffith's 

 Itinerary Notes. In Nepal it is stated to occur at Narain- 

 hetty and Bunipa (probably planted), and wild on Sheopoor and 

 Gosainthan ; but Dr. Hooker has not met with it in the eastern 

 part of that country or in Sikhim. We next find the tree in 

 Byans, on the Upper Kalee, where Kumaoon borders on the 

 Nepal province of Dotee ; here it is common, and was found by 

 Captain H. Strachey, under the Khusiya name Raisulla, and 

 the Bhotiya Lumshing, identical with those given by Loudon, 

 Lamshing and Raesulla, the former being the Leem of Koona- 

 wur ; and Raisulla (applied in Lower Kumaoon to the black 

 fir and cypress), denoting " king of the pines," as Raibanj, 

 Reeanj, king of the oaks (Quercus la?iata), may possibly 

 have led to the specific name excelsa ; which Dr. Hoffmeister 

 misunderstands of the stature instead of the site of the tree. 

 This, lie says, " is most unworthy of its name, for specimens of 

 more than 40 to 50 feet in height are great rarities." Large 

 woods no doubt occur in which many of the trees are about this 

 height ; but Don mentions 90 to 120 feet as the stature ; between 

 the Shatool Pass and Pan wee, as well as below Chansoo in Koo- 

 nawur, there are magnificent forests, containing many trees cer- 

 tainly not under 150 feet. 



P. excelsa appears to be wholly wanting in central and N. W. 

 Kumaoon. In Gurhwal, native report places it on the great 

 mountain Rikholee Goodree (a spur from Trisool), and about 

 Kunol, near Ramree ; but it has not been observed so far to the 

 S.E. by Europeans. Lt. P. Strachey and myself first came on it 

 below Abies Smithiana and Picea Pindrow, on the descent from 

 the Pilgvventa Pass to Josheemuth, between Toongasee andMirg, 

 whence it occurs on the mountains on the south side of the 

 Uluknunda, as far down as the Patal Gunga, behind Lungsee 

 Ghat. Dr. Jameson, Lt. P. Strachey, and Mr. Commissioner 

 Batten, inform me that it continues thence up the course of the 

 Dhoulee, and is the uppermost and only pine met in the ascent 

 of the Neetee Pass ; the latter observer fixing its upper limit 

 near Bumpa at 11,800 feet, and stating that it is not unlike the 

 Cheer at a distance (J. A. Society, April, 1838, p. 312). In 

 Dr. HofTrneister's Travels, the first mention of it in Gurhwal is 

 on the Kaleekhal, a spur of Toongnath, associated with Abies 



