S30 
THE ALPINE AND SUB-ALPINE VEGETATION 
of Chaugu provide in greater profusion all that is to be found at the 
passes. The number of shepheixk’ clearings in the Dikchu valley is very- 
limited and makes no appreciable difference to the mass of Khododendrons. 
If it were not tor their narrow tracks and rough bridges, these areas 
would be impossible to traverse without a party of pioneers to clear the 
way. These clearings, give an oy^portunity to many plants which other- 
wise would be overwhelmed by the Rhododendrons. 
The next two days \vere spent at work in the valley. The most 
interesting plant obtained was a red flowered Saxifraga (S. Gageana sp. 
nov.). Here also was found a species of Car ag ana the first leguminous 
plant I had seen on these ranges. This absence of LeguminoscR is 
remarkable as at the same elevation in the drier north Astragali with 
allied genera abound while in the equally wet south-west Tiptantlius at 
least is common. 
The €hakuu|^ Chu Valley. 
On the 29th we struck north to the Chakung Chu and marched amid 
a downpour to the morass which was our camping ground. It was fair 
for the first time in the month from two to six oTdock in the afternoon. 
This event transformed our camp and cheered us with the hope that 
another ridge between us and the rains might give us better weather. 
Our finds in this region included Meconopsis hella, hitherto recorded 
only from one spot near Megu in Western Sikkim, Saxifraga odonto- 
phglla^ new to the East Himalayas. It is noteworthy that of the many 
species of Saxifraga known from the Himalayas, all with one or two 
exceptions apy'^ear in Sikkim. 
The Chakung Chu takes a precipitous course to the Tista which it 
reaches ultimately near Tong. Aboufc one mile of its course is decked by 
luxuriant plants of Meconopsis napaulensis DC. One fine specimen had 
224 flowers and flower buds and stood over 7 feet high. A new 
Saxifraga ( S. pluviarum) was found on the higher ridges about 14,000 
feet. 
The next few days were spent in exploring the ridges and slopes of 
Gaoring and the Chakung valley.- The flora is that of the Dikchu 
valley, but as the area is not quite so exposed to the rainstorms, there is 
an approximation to the drier Lachung flora. On August 4th we 
crossed the north affluent of the Chakung Chu and ascended the ridge 
known as Ningbil which rises to about 15,000 feet and affords an 
extensive view of the whole of the Sikkim Himalaya from the Singalela 
in the west to Donkia and Tanka La in the east. The slopes from 
Ningbil to the torrent known as the Ong Chu are very precipitous and 
covered with dense rhododendron wherever the slopes are less abrupt. 
