lii 
INTRODUCTION 
been carefully planted with willows, poplars and other trees, 
and more especially with the false acacia, Robinia Pseud-acacia. 
CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE FLORA OF SIMLA 
The comparisons made with the British flora will prepare the 
student for even greater affinities when the whole of Europe is 
considered, and such is indeed the case. But, taking the data on 
distribution given in this book, which possibly are susceptible of 
some emendation and augmentation, just one third (432) of the 
species are restricted to the Himalaya ; yet such characteristic 
Himalayan genera as Meconopsis, Cathcartia and Stylophorum 
(Papaveracece) ; Codonopsis, Leptocodon and Cyananthus ( Cam - 
panulacece) ; Rhododendron ( Ericacece ) ; Primula ( Primulacece ) ; 
Gentiana (Gentianacece) , and Pedicularis (Scrophulariacece) are 
either not represented at all or only by very few species. But the 
paucity of essentially Himalayan types is partly due to the fact 
that absolutely alpine elevations are not reached in Simla. That 
it is not so altogether is proved by the fact that Meconopsis 
.robusta ranges from Nepal to Kumaon at 8,000 to 10,000 ft., 
Codonopsis rotundifolia from Kumaon to Kashmir at 7,000 to 
11.000 ft., and many of the species of Rhododendron grow much 
below 10,000 ft. On the other hand many of the characteristic 
Simla plants extend westward into the Mediterranean region, and 
nearly all of the Coniferse extend to Afghanistan, whilst a variety 
of Pinus excelsa is found in Rumelia and Montenegro. There are 
no quite local species in the Flora of Simla, but probably about 
half of the 432 species peculiar to the Himalaya are only found 
west of Simla. The entire absence of epiphytic and rock orchids 
is remarkable, especially as the climatic conditions do not seem to 
be altogether unfavourable. Ferns are abundant, and many of 
them are epiphytic. In Sikkim epiphytic orchids are common 
between 5,000 and 6,000 ft., and various species of Dendrobium, 
Bulbophyllum, Codogyne , &c. are recorded from altitudes of 7,000 
to 8,000 ft. Among palms Plectocomia himalayana ascends to 
7.000 ft., and Calamus montanus to 6,000 ft. 
