pidium, Rumex, the Labiata fruticosa of Jacka, Potentilla
sanguinea, Artemisia, Coronilloid, Androsacea, Gnaphalioid, Epipactis,
Carex, Cnicus, Viola, Valerianum, Jasminum,* Viburnum,* V. aliud,
Populus,* Silene, Mespilus microphyllus, Verbascum, Thapsia, Ilex,
Euonymus, Loniceroid, Acer,* Eriogonoid,* Geranium scandens.*
Bupleuroid, Polytrichum, Rosa, Rubus, Salex fruticosa,* Fragaria,
Crataegus,* Saxifraga crassifolia, Viscum, Rubia cordifolia.
* Means altitudinal.
Viscum has one attachment, but from this many branches spring after the
form of the primary one. Muhassoo is of great extent, because an arm of
the mountain extends to the south, and there assumes a considerable
height, equal to that of Muhassoo itself, and equally well wooded. It is
of all other situations about Simla the proper place for collecting. The
succession of the pines in these regions is as follows:--
P. longifolia, dry barren spots, from 5,000 to 7,500 feet, as
Rhododendrum arboreum.
P. excelsa, from 7,500 to 8,500 feet, no groups occur.
P. Deodars, from 7,500 to 9,000 feet, especially on southern faces.
P. Smithiana, from 9,000 to 10,000 feet, and is in the highest perfection
on north faces.
One thing remarkable is the wide ranges of the above forms, for excepting
those marked with an asterisk, all are found about Simla.
The most common herbaceous family on Muhassoo is Compositae, and very
strange to say, most of its forms, as indeed the others, excepting some
of the trees, are found on the Khasyah Mountains at much lower
elevations, and much lower latitudes. Of birds the _Cone-eater_ of
Bootan occurs.
_7th_.--To Annandale, a pretty level spot, some 2,000 feet below Simla,
remarkable for its beautiful grove of Deodars.
Of the wild grasses they are almost all exclusively tropical forms,
Paniceous or Andropogoneous. The chief cultivation of the hills,
Atriplex sanguinea, _bhatoo vena_, some fine walnut trees, mulberries,
also Celtoidea? _Kirrack ven_, Zanthoxylon.
Passed a herd of red-rumped monkeys; the crooked-tailed _Lungoor_ is also
found here.
Rich vegetation extends down the southern slope, where there is a
waterfall. It is curious that both here and in Annandale the Deodar
grows to a large size, although naturally its range does not extend so
low as this slope. Passed a beautiful temple, surrounded with fine
Deodars.
Ferns occur in more abundance, thence downwards Woodwardia, Dicksonia?
Cyatheoides, a
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