STANDLEY TREES AND SHRUBS OF MEXICO. 253 



The plant is of some importance for forage. Tlie closely related E. lanata 

 (Pursh) Moq., of the western United States, is often known as " winter- fat." 



3. ALLENROLFEA Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 54.5. 1891. 

 1, Allenrolfea occidentalis (S. Wats.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 1: 546. 1891. 



Halostachys occidentalis S. Wats, in King, Geol. Expl. 40tli Par. 5: 293. 

 1871. 



Spirostachys occidentalis S. Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 9: 125. 1874. 



In alkaline soil, Souora and Baja California ; probably also in Chihuahua. 

 Northward in the United States to Oregon ; type from Utah. 



Shrub, 1.5 meters high or less, much branched, green, with very succulent, 

 fragile, jointed branches; flowers arranged spirally by 3's or 5's in the axils 

 of fleshy peltate bracts. " Hierba del burro" (New Mexico). 



Eaten sparingly by stock. Known in New Mexico as " buri'oweed." 



4. ARTHROCNEMUM Moq. Chenop. 111. 1840. 

 1. Arthrocnemum subterminale (Parish) Standi. Journ. Washington Acad. 

 Sci. 4: 399. 1914. 



Salicornia subterminalis Parish, Erythea 6: 87. 1898. 



In alkaline soil, Baja California and Siualoa. California ; type from River- 

 side County. 



Low leafless shrub with succulent jointed branches ; flowers in groups of 3 

 on the opposite sides of the joints, the flowering joints forming terminal 

 spikes. 



The seeds were ground into meal and eaten by the Coahuilla Indians of 

 southern California.^ 



5. DONDIA Adans. Fam. PI. 2: 261. 1763. 

 Low shrubs or herbs, glabrous or pubescent, often glaucous ; leaves short, 

 terete or semiterete, very succulent ; flowers small, perfect, axillary. 



The plants perhaps scarcely deserve to be classed as shrubs. They are 

 sometimes burned to secure ashes from which lye for soap making is made. 

 The Coahuilla Indians of California are said to use the plants for dyeing 

 baskets black. The salty-flavored leaves were cooked and eaten by the Pimas 

 and other Indians of the arid regions. The following names are said to be 

 applied to various species of doubtful identification : " Romerito " ; " romerillo " : 

 " jauja " (Durango, Tamaulipas) ; " sosa " (Sonora) ; " quelite salado " (Chi- 

 huahua). 

 Stems and leaves glabrous or nearly so. 



Seed 1.5 to 2 mm. broad 1. D. calif ornica. 



Seed 0.8 mm. broad 2. D. fruticosa. 



Stems and leaves densely villous or tomentulose, at least when young. 

 Branches of the inflorescence very slender, spreading or divaricate, flexuous, 



elongate ; leaves flattened 3. D. ramosissima. 



Branches of the inflorescence stout, ascending or erect, not flexuous, short ; 

 leaves terete. 



Calyx densely pubescent 4. D. brevifolia. 



Calyx nearly or quite glabrous. 



Leaves glaucous, 3 to 7 mm. long, rounded at apex ; seed 1.5 nun. broad. 



5. D. palmeri. 

 Leaves green, 7 to 15 nun. long, acute ; seed 1 mm. broad. 



6. D. tampicensis. 



* See D. P. Barrows, The ethno-botany of the Coahuilla Indians of southern 

 California, pp. 1-82. 1900. Doctorate thesis of the University of Chicago. 



