12 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN SIKKIM, 1892. 
associated with Rosccea alpina and Drosera peltata. At 9,500 feet 
we passed through a fine grove of small trees of Rhododendrons, 
Maples, Roses, Lindera Neesiana^ Betula utilis^ and the laurel-like 
Daphniphyllum himaiayense. In a mossy hollow within this wood, 
I found a large quantity of the delicate little fern. Polypodium tri- 
chomanoides. Goniophlebium subamanum depends from the trunks 
of silver Fir ; and Goniophlebium erythtocarpum^ another epiphytic 
fern, accompanies arboreal vegetation to the end. Passing the 
grove we entered the magnificent forest of pines which extends 
without a break to 12,500 feet. We marched to its upper skirts, 
where we camped after clearing a sufficiently large plot of ground 
near a stream winding through an expanse of Rhododendrons. 
Two species of Cremanthodium^ Polygonum vaccinijoliumy Oxyria 
digyna^ Pedlcularis of various species, Potentilla fruticosa^ beautiful 
yellow and white Saxifrages, EpilobiumSy Lactuca macrantha 
Parnassia and Aconites were the commonest plants observed. 
The following day we held on our course upwards. The region 
of trees was soon left in the rear, and a low growth of Rhododen- 
dron campanulutum succeeded, showing the dark glaucous tints of 
its unfolding leaves. The bladder headed Saussurea {S. obvallata) 
thrives on the damp margins of watercourses, and bumble bees were 
busy amongst its foetid flower heads. These are in clusters of a 
dark brown colour, enclosed in inflated white papery bracts forming 
an ovate head, and yielding sufficiently to allow' insects to insinuate 
themselves with ease. The wooily Saussurea {S. gossypt- 
phora) delighting to grow in sandy debris appeared at first sightTo 
be only a ball of w hite fleecy wool The flower heads when young 
are completely enveloped ; but on the approach of maturity a ring 
opens on the top disclosing the inflorescence inside. Another 
remarkable plant, in similar situations, is Crepis glomt^rutay whose 
carrot-like stem buried in the ground is flattened on a level with 
its surface, and bears a broad head of yellow flowers, surrounded by 
small radiating leaves pressed closely to the soil. Rheum nootle is 
visible on the faces of all the cliffs around, and ascends to 17,000 
feet. 
Our third day's camp was pitched below the ascent to Kanko La, 
which passes at the gorge, cut by the river through a lew line of 
cliffs, forming a barrier across the head of the Tankra Choo Valley. 
The next day we crossed this by the frequented path, and followed 
the track to the lankra pass, which is at an elevation of 16,000 feet. 
The terminal valley slopes gently to the pass, is exceedingly rocky^ 
and is bounded by snowy ridges; and much snow lay in its hollows. 
The rounded surface of the pass is a conglomeraiior. of sand and 
