KOHI-BABA MALFORMATION IN CARTHAMUS. 487 



cled ridges, the interstices from 4 to 5 feet deep, holding water or 

 ice. I saw from the summit a flock of the large grouse, and at 

 14,000 feet, a large hare. 



The peak surmounted is the lowest, and the nearest to Upper 

 Kaloo. The granite on the west side formed a precipitous cliff of 

 200 to 300 feet deep. 



The vegetation of the slope with small fragments, say between 14 

 to 15,000 feet was very scanty, a Cheiranthus, Polygonum scario- 

 sum, Papaveraceae, Phloxoides and Statice, being the only plants ; 

 and perhaps this may be assumed as having no particular plant, all 

 those enumerated being found below. 



The vegetation of the steep rugged portion, which contained many 

 patches of snow and better soil, was more varied ; in the upper parts 

 of this a Carex, two or three Graminse, Cheiranthus, Plectranthus, 

 Sedoides, Arenaria, Potentilla, Primula, Draboides and Brassicacea 

 occurred. A Tanacetoid was perhaps the most common. 



The most alpine forms of these were Carex, Holcoides, Sedoides, 

 Statice densissima, and Papaveracea ; but of these Papaveracea, 

 Phloxoid, Statice densissima, Cheiranthus, and Polygonum are alone 

 found above. Here again the effect of the proximity of a bed of snow 

 in retarding vegetation was most evident. Phloxoides elsewhere 

 partly in flower, being found in full flower near one of the beds of 

 snow. 



It is curious that no green spots are found above, all the water 

 passing down under the soil, the swardy ravines scarcely extend 

 beyond an elevation of 1,500 feet above the camp on Upper Kaloo. 



The limit of the grey shrubby Salix may be taken as 1,000 feet 

 above that, the other plants are precisely the same as those of other 

 swards ; Abelia extends higher than Salix. 



The limit of crops is about the same, the issue of the water obvi- 

 ously being in relation to the extent of cultivation by irrigation. 

 The associated plants present no change. 



23rd. — Cabul. Curious transformation in Carthamus was observed, 

 either affecting the involucrum alone, when those branches that 

 would have become flowers become clavate, covered with very 

 dense aristate leaves, or affecting the florets which become more 

 or less converted in the branches. In these the involucre is little 

 altered, and the receptacle is attacked by larva. In certain of these 

 the florets are submitted to very curious metamorphoses, each enve- 

 lope remaining, but quite green, the stamina being little changed, 



