202 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



which is the most prominent range on the route from Tengyueh to 

 Tali, a flora is found much akin to that of the Lichiang and 

 higher ranges in the extreme north-west. To take Rhododendron 

 alone, such species as R. Soidiei, R. sulfureum, R. crassum, R. 

 bullatum (fig. 68), R. trichocladum, R. neriiflorum , R. campylogynum, 

 and R. lacteum var. macrophyllum are common to both ; as well as 

 many shrubs of other genera, and numerous alpines. 



As the western slopes of the Tali range are approached the 

 character of the flora changes, becoming distinctly more alpine. Rhodo- 

 dendron ciliicalyx in many places covers the hillsides with masses of 

 blooms, and there, also, is found a very tall-growing and free-flowering 

 form of R. racemosum. Another Rhododendron, a new species, as yet 

 unnamed, is more rare. It is an ally of R. ciliicalyx, but quite dis- 

 tinct from that species, with bolder foliage, more symmetrical and 

 compact in form, and producing a greater number of larger flowers. 

 These are sweetly and strongly fragrant, in colour white, shaded rose 

 on exterior, with a blotch of bright lemon-yellow on the base of the 

 interior. 



Here is first met Primula sinolisteri Balf. fil., a plant difficult 

 to place in the genus. It might pass equally well as the extreme 

 western type of P. obconica or the eastern form of P. Listeri. The 

 blooms range from rose-lilac to the purest white. It is a beautiful 

 species and well worthy of cultivation (fig. 69). 



At the extreme southern point of the Tali range the route turns 

 north, leading through the Tali valley, between the base of the mountains 

 and the beautiful Tali lake on the east. The altitude of the plain 

 is 6,500 feet, only 1,000 feet more than Tengyueh, but, lying so much 

 to the east and north, and with the proximity of such a huge range, 

 the climate is more rigorous. The winter is quite severe ; for at least 

 four months of the year the snows descend to about 1,000 feet above 

 the valley, occasionally even that is coated for days, and the atmosphere 

 is dry and frosty. In summer the rainfall is fairly heavy, though 

 there is no excessive heat. 



The range stretches north and south for some seventy miles, 

 and, with the exception of one or two small peaks, rises to a uniform 

 height of about 14,000 feet. In the north it tapers off into the 

 numerous broken ranges which form the eastern watershed of the 

 Mekong. The eastern flank of the range is scored from base to sum- 

 mit with numerous deep gorge-like lateral valleys, almost all of which 

 carry a flora peculiar to themselves. The lower slopes have been 

 denuded of timber, even brushwood, by the inhabitants of the valley 

 for domestic purposes ; the middle slopes are heavily clothed with 

 mixed and pine forests, whilst the gorges are almost closed with 

 dense undergrowth of shrubs. 



This area was the scene of Pere Delavay's labours, and will always 

 be associated with his name. 



The cliffs, ridges, and the higher alps are the homes of many fine 

 species of Primula. In the valley itself P. malacoides flowers to 



