30 THE JOUBNAL OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



than in the case of Nos. 1 and 2 at Talegaon, on May 1, 1919. The 

 available moisture round the roots was about 3*50 per cent. 



In different situations the plant shows slight variation as regards 

 the size of the leaves and their prickliness. 



In the present instance it showed practically no deviation from 

 the average plant. It had a tap root 9 — 10 inches long and i inch in 

 diameter. 



4. Argemone mexicana L. — Bather common. This spiny 

 leafed plant was found under similar conditions to No. 3 at Talegaon 

 on May 1, 1919. Available moisture round the roots was about 3'50 

 per cent. 



Except for the size, the plant shows no appreciable difference in 

 different situations. 



In the present instance also it did not show any deviation from 

 the normal type. The root was a tap root about 9 — 10 inches long and 

 3 — 2 inch in diameter, divided in the lower half into two slender 

 branches about 5 — i inch in diameter. 



At Talegaon and on the same day as the above plants were 

 examined, the following plants were also noticed occupying a rugged 

 place ; no samples of soil were however taken in their case : — 



Euphorbia neriifolia Linn, — Several plants showing a sickly 

 yellow colour and no leaves. 



Bombax malabaricum DC— In a leafless condition. 



Opuntia nigricans Haw, — Several plants with a yellowish 

 colour and thin flaccid looking phylloclades. 



Gymnosporia Rothiana Laws. — In a practically leafless con- 

 dition. 



Flueggia leucopyrus Willcl.— -In a practically leafless condi- 

 tion. 



Lantana indica Boxb. — In a practically leafless condition. 



Vitis Woodrowii Stapf. — In a leafless condition, but the young 

 leafbuds were just sprouting. 



A.cacia arabica Willd. — Practically in the normal condition. 



It may be noted that all these plants are perennial and with the 

 exception of the Acacia and Opuntia (in which latter the leaves are 

 absent) loss of leaves was their chief device for tiding over the drought. 



5. Lepidagathis trinervis Nees — var. asperrima ?— Bather 

 common in the place. It was found in a light grey coarse soil (murum) 

 with a layer of dust above, in an open barren situation, at Belapur* 

 on May 6, 1919. The soil round the roots contained 1*28 per cent. 

 of available moisture. 



* The rainfall here is not unlike that at Ahmednagar or at Snevgaon 

 above recorded. 



