OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1918. 45 



46871 to 46890— Continued. 



nated soils. They are highly valued for districts where little or no other 

 vegetation exists. The following descriptions, unless otherwise indicated, 

 are adapted from Farmers' Bulletin 108, entitled " Saltbushes," l)y Dr. 

 P. B. Kennedy. 



46874. Atriplex campanulata Bentb> 



A perennial, with a hard, almost woody stem and ratlier slender, 

 procumbent branches extending to 1 or 2 feet, the whole plant being 

 nearly glabrous or mealy white. It is closely related to A. lepto- 

 carpa, which it closely approaches in habit, foliage, and Inflorescence. 

 (Adapted from Bentham, Flora Australie7is/8, vol. 5, p. m.) 



46875. Atriplex halimoides Tineo. 



Mealy or gray saltbush. A low-growing, shrubby, robust perennial 

 about 1 foot high, with variable, ovate-lanceolate leaves which are 

 covered with whitish, dustlike scales. It is native to the central 

 desert regions of Australia, and there it affords excellent forage for 

 both sheep and cattle, which fatten remarkably well on it. 



46876. Atriplex holocarpa F. Muell. 



Annual saltbush. A low, densely branching annual about a foot 

 high, with larger and fewer leaves than the Australian saltbush 

 {A. semibaccata) . The seeds are surrounded by a brown, fibrous 

 spongy covering and are readily blown about by the wind, so that 

 . the plant can soon become widely disseminated. It made excellent 

 growth, under adverse conditions, on the experiment grounds at 

 Abilene, Tex. In spite of the worst drought that has ever been known 

 in that part of Texas, this plant continued to mature leaves and 

 seeds throughout the entire summer. 



46877. Atriplex leptocarpa F. Muell. 



Slender saltbush. A much-branched trailing perennial, the whole 

 plant covered with a glaucous bloom. The leaves are variable in 

 shape, but mostly oblong, and from 1 to 2 inches in length. In Aus- 

 tralia it is sometimes found carpeting the ground over considerable 

 areas. Von Mueller says that its drought-resistant qualities are 

 remarkable. 



46878. Atriplex nummularia Lindl. 



Round-leaved saltbush. A tall, shrubby perennial, sometimes 

 reaching a height of 10 feet, and covered all over with downy, whit- 

 ish scales. The leaves are mostly round, rather thick, and toothed 

 along the margins. It is extensively planted and highly valued in 

 central Australia, live stock being exceedingly fond of it, and its 

 drought-resisting qualities are remarkable. 



46879. Atriplex semibaccata R. Br. 



Australian saltbush. A vigorous, rapid-growing, much-branched 

 perennial which forms a dense mat over the ground to the depth of 

 1 to 2 feet. The leaves are small, about an inch long, and coarsely 

 toothed along the margins. This plant has been known to flourish 

 on the poorest and most stubborn arid soil, so impregnated with 

 alkali that no other useful plant could grow. It seems to have a re- 



