COLLECTIONS OF 191 4. 
75 
forest above Satanee, in tight and springy, turfy loam, or vegetable 
mould. 
Forsythia sp. (F 388). — No more of this can be given than its name. 
It is a small stocky bush of 3-5 feet, found occurring in seed 
about the Mo-Ping in the autumn, though previous traverses 
of the path had not fallen in with its flower. 
Fraxinus sp. (F 314) is sent, as Chinese ashes are at present in 
such a state of confusion and so little known. It is a low tree of 
some 20 feet, very heavy in fruit, but in no other way obviously 
remarkable. 
Gentiana sp. (F 25) is abundant all over South Kansu and the 
Tibetan Border, ascending to 8,000 feet, and luxuriating in any 
open sunny position, wet or dry, but especially profuse in river- 
shingles and fallow fields. In its second year the seedling forms 
a glossy crown, like that of some stout G. verna, and in the third 
this becomes from March to November an endless display of 
bright azure stars on long tubes. The ovary matures at the tip 
of an exaggeratedly protruded style, as the flower withers; its 
two lips quickly gape, and the seed is gone. This fashion seems 
common among the better Gentians of the border. 
Gentiana hexaphylla (F 217). — This number covers a most beautiful 
Gentian, very abundant in the higher alpine turf of the Min S'an, 
where it literally turns the turf to a sea of blue with the profusion 
of its pale clear water-blue trumpets, most delicately lined with 
darkness on their outside, and poising each singly at the end 
of the whorled-foliaged stems that spring in such masses from 
the crown. The species either varies or the number includes two 
spp. Seed sent as F 217 was for the most part collected on 
Thundercrown ; the Min S'an type is to all intents and purposes 
the same, but differs conspicuously in having a very much larger 
ovary. This last has also been sent as F 332. Seed is borne 
as in the last, and the heyday of the bloom is in August. 
Gentiana sp. (F 220). — This is quite like G. frigida, but taller and in 
every way better developed, growing about 8 inches tall, with 
six or eight large, long, straw-coloured trumpets in August. It is 
general all along the line of the Min S'an, from 11,000-14,000 feet, 
growing for choice in the cool alpine turf, usually on steeper, 
barer banks than those affected by the luxuriant, mossy-looking 
masses of F 217. Seed very doubtful, and not distributed. 
Gentiana sp. (F 267).— Unfortunately blooms too late in September 
for seed to have been got. It grows only on rock towards the 
highest summits, between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, and there forms 
wads of foliage like Melandrium Elizabethae, close on which lie 
stemless the enormous trumpets of lavender-blue. 
Gentiana sp. (F 303) stands close to G. Kurroo. It is, however, rather 
smaller and more leafy, with flowers much more numerous 
along the flopping 6-8-inch stems in September, rather smaller, 
and of an intense rich sapphire velvet. It grows all along by the 
