40 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAF. TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1893. 
feet. I was told by Gujars that the root of this plant is very poisonous 
to cattle, I am indebted to Mr, Bruhl for its correct identification, 
Fagpoyrum esculentum^ Moench.— (Buckwheat) ; vern. PhAp hr 
or ogaL*' — Widely cultivated in Kashmir and Baltistin, 
Fagopyrum tataricum^ Gaertn,— (Buckwheat) ; vern, Trumba^* 
and chtni troma** (Sind valley j. — -A hardier and more robust species 
and grown usually at higher elevations. I have frequently seen both 
kinds in the same field. The buckwheat harvest varies according 
to the elevation ; in the Tilail valley, at 10,000 feet, it was being cut 
on the ist of September. 
Ferula Jaeschkiana^ Vatke ; vern, Apaikanphur (Sind valley), 
kdngwa (Pir Panjil).^ — A tall, handsome, umbelliferous plant, with 
yellow flowers, abundant in most of the valleys in Kashmir. This 
plant was at one time supposed to be a source o^ asafostidaP It 
resembles F, Narthex^ Boiss, but has much larger fruit. The plant 
is said to be eaten by sheep knd goats. 
Ferula Narthex^ Boiss,, Syn, Narikex asafoetida^ Falc.' — ^Abun- 
dant un the Astor valley below Doian. I remember when on my way 
to Gilgit noticing this plant, only the dry bleached stems being then 
visible. There is a specimen in the Saharanpur herbarium collected by 
Dr. Giles in 1886, and probably trom the same locality. I agree with 
Dr. Aitchison in considering this to be the plant v/hich Dr. Falconer 
supposed to be the true source of the drug. The root is full of a 
resin which has a powerful scent of asafmtida. The plant is figured 
in the Botanical Magazine, t., 5168, and in Bentley and Trimen's 
Medicinal Plants, t. 126. 
Fraxinus xanthoxyloidesp Wall*— Called Kasuna^* in the 
Naltar valley north of Gilgit 
Gossypium herbaceum^ .called khaians^* in the Hunza valley 
north of Gilgit, 
Hordeum vulgare, Z. (Barley) ; vern. fFisha” (Sind valley), 
(Raltistin), Ve {Naltar Valley north of Gilgit). 
Indigofera Gerardiana, Wall,, var. heteranatha.-- An abun- 
dant plant in Kashmir up to 9,000 feet, growing gregariously in most 
of the lower valleys. It is called zend^^ in the Sind valley. Its 
twigs are much used for ba ' T-work j and occasionally for the con- 
struction of rope bridges. 
Iris Sisyrinchium^ Z. — This Is the small blue-flowered species so 
common in the valley. The foliage is largely used as fodder. 
Iris Kashmiriana^ Baker.— A large, handsome species, much 
used for planting over graves. 
