512 



SIMLA. 



The first to cease is Euphorbia. 



At the summit Berberis, Polygonum of Chugur, Rubus deltoi- 

 deus, Conyza and Prinsepia may be found, but to no extent. From 

 this to Simla the vegetation is chiefly northern. 



Nothing definite is observable with regard to the distribution of 

 forests about Simla. The principal secondary ranges, including the 

 Choor, which is quite void of shrubby vegetation, is about north-east 

 and south-west ; generally the southern aspects of those ridges on 

 which forests occur is bare ; of this, there is a notable instance — 

 Muhassoo. 



Mount Jacka, which looks east and west by its broad faces, has 

 both densely enough wooded with oak, Euonymus, Rhododendron, 

 Gaultheria, and Ilex, but the ridge which looks to the plains is bare. 



Some ridges again are quite bare, as that lowish one between 

 Mounts Jacka and Muhassoo. 



The thicket and moist humid woods decidedly occur on the nor- 

 thern faces of the ridges ; and all about Simla instances of this occur. 

 Such spots are at Simla so much sheltered from the sun, that the 

 snow which fell on the 23rd November is scarcely diminished. 



Even in these there is no comparison in luxuriance and variety of 

 vegetation with the Mishmee or Bootan portions of the same stupen- 

 dous chain. 



The trees are few in number as regards species, the only ones I 

 have observed are a species of oak which is very common, forming 

 the chief vegetation of the northern faces, and of both those of mount 

 Jacka. 



The scarlet Rhododendron which occurs in the highest parts of the 

 woods, an occasional Pyrus, Benthamia, Euonymus, Gaultheria very 

 common, also Pinus Deodara, longifolia, and excelsa ; of these the Deo- 

 dar is most common. Ilex, a pretty tree, occurring on Mount Jacka. 



The following forms also I have noticed — Saxifraga ciliata, Berbe- 

 ris asiatica, and Gnaphalia three or four species, which are chiefly 

 confined to grassy naked ridges. Thymus is also confined to these. 



Ruta albiflora is very common in woods ; Dipsacea and Artemisia 

 on exposed grassy spots ; Swertia is common in damp places ; Spiresea 

 bella, Ledum, Stemodia, Epilobium, Viola, Saccharum rubrum, Vale- 

 riana, Fragaria, Galium, Clematis, Rosa, Rubus, Rumex, Legumi- 

 nosse, Coronilloid, Smilax. 



Acanthacese, Androsacese, particularly a Gnaphalioides common on 

 the exposed ridge of Mount Jacka ; Myrsinea frutex, Parnassia 



