42 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1893 
Physochlaiana prcealta^ Hook. /.—Abundant in the vicinity of 
villages. Captain Yielding informs me that several ponies belonging 
to one of his contractors died last year from eating a certain plant 
called at the village of Minawar near Gilgit. Judging 
from the description given to me, I am inclined to believe that this 
is the plant alluded to. 
Pinus excelsUf Wall — (Blue pine or Abundant all over 
Kashmir, and usually forming the outer or lower belt of the forests 
of spruce and silver fir. In almost every instance where I have seen 
this tree growing in any quantity, the minute Loranthaceous para- 
site, Arceuthobium minutissimum, has been detected. The native 
name for Pinus excelsob in the Astor valley is “ chui '* ; and in the 
Shigar valley in Baltistdn it is called “ ShowiJ* 
Pinus Gerardiana^ Wall. — Abundant between 8,000 and 9,000 
feet in the Astor valley, where it is called ^ GaroL 
Pisum sativum L, (Pea). —Called ‘‘ Kukan'' in the Satpur 
valley above Skardu ; also stranma in other parts of Baltist^n, 
Podophyllum emodi^ Wall.— -Common in forests. The fruit is 
eaten ; vern. WanwanganuP In the Naltar valley beyond 
Gilgit it is called “ ichiyaP 
Populus alba^ L. poplar); vern. Pras ” “(Sind valley), 
naumer'* (Indus valley near Skardu). See page 34 for a descrip- 
tion of the remarkable forest of white poplar in the Gurais valley. 
Populus ciliata^ Wall. — Called Berpar’’ in the Shingo valley, 
Baltistdn. 
Prangos pabularia, Lindl,— Common in the dry valleys of Bal- 
tistdn. In the neighbourhood of Drds I have seen large stacks 
composed entirely of this plant which had been collected as fodder 
for winter use. It is also very abundant in the Tilail valley. 
Rheum e modi ^V^diW. — ^Called Pombak^^ in the Liddar valley. 
Rhus succedaneUy Z.— vern. arkoraP — The wood of this tree 
is used in the Liddar valley for the manufacture of spoons. 
Rihes nigrum^ L. (Black currant).— Not uncommon in the drier 
parts of Kashmir and Baltist^n. Fruit large and well-flavoured. 
Rosa Webbianaa, Wall.— Vern. “ Sermang** (Shingo valley, Bal- 
tistdn), Singai (Gilgit district). Abundant in Baltistan and the 
drier parts of Kashmir. Very showy when in flower. 
Rubus niveus^ Wall. — Several varieties of this occur in Kashmir. 
One with a large red fruit, and flavoured like a raspberry forms a 
large portion of the undergrowth in a forest at Minimarg near the 
Burzil pass. 
Salix, — Several species of willow re found in Kashmir at vari- 
