DEOUGHT EESISTING PLANTS IN THE DECCAN. 31 



The species seems to vary much as regards the size of the plant 

 or its leanness. It also shows some variation as regards having two 

 kinds of roots, viz. fibrous roots in addition to the tap root in various 

 situations, (possibly this is also true in the case of several other plants 

 mentioned in this list, though perhaps to a less extent than in the 

 present case). 



As collected here the plant had a diffuse woody stem covered 

 with very small cuspidate leafy bracts provided with rough hairs. The 

 tap root was woody, about 6 — 8 inches long and ^ inch in diameter 

 with numerous fine rootlets or feeding roots near the surface of the 

 soil where they came in contact with the dust. The plant was in fruit. 



In the present instance the practical absence of leaves, presence 

 of numerous feeding roots in addition to the woody tap root and the 

 possession of hairs on the minute leafy organs (reduced bracts ?) 

 seems to be the plant's response to the drought conditions. 



6. Tephrosia purpurea Pers.— The plant is common in the 

 tract. It was found in light grey coarse soil (murum) in an open 

 barren situation, at Belapur, on May 6, 1919. The soil round the 

 roots contained 1*38 per cent, of available moisture. 



The species varies to some extent as regards the size of the plant, 

 the size and number of leaflets, and the hairiness of the plant in differ- 

 ent situations. 



In the present instance reduced size and some suppression of the 

 leaflets seems to be the only response of the plant. The root of the 

 plant was a tap root 8 — 9 inches long, about \ inch in diameter, with 

 several small lateral branches. 



7. Zizyphus xylopyra Willd.— This prickly plant is very com- 

 mon in the tract. It was found at Belapur on May 6, 1919 on light 

 grey poor soil in an uncultivable place. The soil round the roots 

 contained 1'89 per cent, of available moisture. 



It varies a great deal as regards the size of the plant and of the 

 leaves according to situation. In favourable situations it grows into 

 a tree. 



In the present instance the plant was scarcely three feet high 

 and had very small loaves about | — f inch in diameter. It was much 

 branched from near the base. It had a long tap root f inch in dia- 

 meter with several laterals which spread somewhat horizontally. 



A mere reduction in size was therefore the response though not 

 necessarily an unusual response of this plant. Often in ordinary 

 times also the species does not assume larger dimensions in this tract. 



8. Tragia cannabina L. — This occurred at Belapur on May 6, 

 1919, in deep black very sticky soil, which round the roots of this 

 plant contained 3.36 per cent, of available moisture. 



