A NOTE ON THE HIMALAYAN SPECIES OF DAPHNE. 
% , 
W. IT. Smith Sf G. TL Cave . 
There has always been some doubt whether the Daphne cannabina, 
Wall, of the Flora of British India (Yol. V, p. 193) contains one or 
more species. Hooker's material was inadequate to settle the point and 
with a critical genus such as Daphne detailed observations in the field are 
necessary. The attention of the writers was directed to the question 
partly by Hooker's note wherein he expresses his doubt and partly by 
the difficulty we found in recognising as conspecific two apparently very 
distinct species occurring freely in the Darjeeling area. The distribution 
areas of the two piants overlap in the neighbourhood of Darjeeling and 
opportunity was thus given for a careful comparison at various seasons. 
Visits to Sandakphu, to the Chola Range and to Northern Sikkim gave 
us acquaintance with other^species and varieties of the genus and some- 
what enlarged the scope of our enquiry. The observations were conti- 
nued for two years and the following notes give our conclusions. In 
addition to the ample East Himalayan material of the genus in* the 
Calcutta Herbarium, the ^erbaria of the Royal Gardens Kew and of the 
British Museum were consulted, as well as the Walliehian sheets in the 
charge of the Linnsean Society. 
The earliest collections from the Himalaya in which we have any 
record of the genus are those of Buchanan-Hamilton who travelled 
in Nepal and Kumaon in 1802 — 3. His material was taken to England 
and upon it and the accompanying notes, with some additions collected 
by Wallich was basec^ Don's description of two species in the Prodro- 
mus Florae nepalensis. Wallich however described his plant first. His 
material under No. 1045 is thus referred to in his Catalogue : — 
" 1045 Daphne cannabina Lour.? Herb. 1824 
1. Napalia 1820 
2. Kamoon R. B. 
p latifolia Wall, an distincta spec.? 
Pundua. F. De Silva." 
But prior to his own visit in 1820-1, Wallich was in touch with 
Nepal. “ Ambng the extensive and constant supplies of plants and seeds 
