NOTES ON THE FLORA OF NORTH-WESTERN YUNNAN. 41 
On both flanks of the range, in common with all the mountains 
of north-west Yunnan, above the pine belt there is a distinct zone 
of Rhododendron forest, commencing first as isolated specimens 
among the outlying groups of conifers, and then as dense thickets 
20 to 40 feet in height, composed of such species as Rhododendron 
taliense (fig. 10) , R. ficto-lacteum (fig. n) ,R.anthosphaerum, R. Beesianum, 
R. rubiginosum, R. irroratum, and the true R. lacteuni, with its huge 
trusses of beautiful canary-yellow blooms. Again this belt gradually 
gives way to dwarf species and forms of the R. intricatum group 
which carpet the upland pasture with their fragrant foliage and 
purple flowers, dominating large stretches of the alps to the exclusion 
of all other vegetation. 
Most species of Rhododendron are in greatest luxuriance and 
perfection of bloom in April and May, and are seen to best advantage 
in some of the lower and more sheltered passes ; one such col, named 
the Sungkwei Pass, is on the divide between the Lang-kong and Hoching 
valleys, three days' journey north of Tali-fu. Of 11,000 to 12,000 feet 
altitude, it is a comparatively shallow depression, a broad cleft running 
almost east and west on the summit of the divide, two miles in extent 
by half a mile in breadth. The centre is occupied by a small lake, 
with open pasture on both sides for a short distance up the slopes. 
From the margins of this pasture to the tops of the low hills, about 
1,000 feet higher, which enclose the pass on the south, is Rhododen- 
dron forest. The foreground is occupied extensively by matted 
masses of innumerable colour forms of R. intricatum, in habit re- 
sembling the Calluna of our own moors. Behind are thickets of 
R. chartophyllum, in a variety of shades, forming a colour belt from 
deepest lavender to almost white. From there to the verge of the 
pasture on the summit of the pass is an impenetrable forest of tree 
Rhododendrons, 20 to 45 feet in height, of such species as R. lacteuni, 
R. Bureavii, R. irroratum, R. vernicosum, R. ficto-lacteum &c, with 
a dense undergrowth of dwarf bamboo. On the hills forming the 
northern side of the pass is open forest of lichen-clad evergreen oak 
trees 50 to 90 feet in height, and, interspersed with them, numerous 
superb specimens of R. ficto-lacteum and others. Some measured 
were found to be almost 50 feet high. 
As one travels north of Tali the scenery increases in grandeur, 
many peaks of the higher ranges being capped with perpetual snow, 
especially those of the Lichiang system. This range, north of the 
Yangtze, is more contracted and rugged, forming the eastern boundary 
of the Chungtien plateau. The peak of Lichiang is some 20,000 feet 
in height, but in the Haba range, the name of the extension north 
of the Yangtze, there are peaks exceeding that, flanked by enormous 
glaciers. In 1913-14 I collected there, and amongst other things 
secured fully forty new species and forms of Rhododendron, the 
majority rock and cliff shrubs of dwarf form. 
The contour of the Lichiang peak is, however, quite distinct from 
all others in the region. Rising gradually from a southern base of 
