VEGETATION OF BRITISH BALUCHISTAN. 303 
In the western part of the valley there are several thousand 
acres covered with a variety of Tamaris gallica, which is usually 
cut down by the people every second or third year for fuel or 
for making mats used in roofing houses; yet, if left to grow, this 
species becomes a fair-sized tree, 20 to 30 feet high, with a trunk 
over 7 feet in girth, Examples of such trees can be seen on the 
north side of the valley, where there are some sacred groves. 
This tamarisk often flowers twice in the year, once in March 
and April before the leaves appear, and again in September 
and October. In these jungles very few plants are found: 
the most striking being a large Orobanche with purple flowers, 
which appears as a parasite on the roots of the tamarisk. Cam- 
phorosma monspeliaca is occasionally abundant in saline soil 
amongst the tamarisk bushes, and Cowsinia tenella is common 
beneath them, while Asparagus monophyllus occurs as a climber. 
In saline soil, very frequent towards the west, Atriplex lepto- 
clada, Suede, Salsola lanata, S. verrucosa, and Halocharis sul- 
phurea grow luxuriantly. 
During March and April the ground is carpeted with small 
flowers ; Papaver cornigerum, with bright scarlet flowers, and the 
daisy-like heads of Matricaria lasiocarpa are the most abundant 
and conspicuous. The order of Cruciferæ is largely represented, 
most of them small, unimportant-looking plants, but which no 
doubt account ina great degree for the excellent condition of 
the sheep. Of the Cruciferz, Malcolmia Bungei and Cheiranthus 
Stocksianus are the most striking, though both are rather local 
in sandy soil; several species of Alyssum and Isatis minima are 
abundant, and sheep and goats seem very fond of the last, also of 
Cheiranthus Stocksianus. 
A very minute form of Ranunculus faleatus, often barely half 
an inch high, is extremely plentiful early in the spring, usually 
under Artemisia and other small bushes. There are many species 
of Astragalus, of which the most noteworthy are A. auganus, 
A. kahiricus, and A. hyrcanus; and Onobrychis tavernieræfolia, 
whose seed-pod remains adherent to the root after germination, 
is common in sandy soil. Eremostachys thyrsiflora, a handsome 
plant, one to two feet high, is common on gravelly soil, and 
Arnebia linearifolia is abundant everywhere. 
Carex physodes forms a turf in many places, and is much 
grazed by sheep and goats when it first shoots up. In the 
fruiting-stage this sedge is very conspicuous, owing to its large 
LINN. JOURN.—BOTANY, VOL. XXVIII. 2B 
