1 08 STEPPES AND DESERTS. 



are found, interspersed among the G-ramineae, a few herbaceous, 

 dicotyledonous plants, consisting of two very low -growing species 

 of Mimosa (Sensitive Plant), Mimosa intermedia, and Mimosa 

 dormiens, which are great favorites with the wild horses and 

 cattle. The natives give to this group of plants, which close their 

 delicate feathery leaves on being touched, the expressive name of 

 Dormideras sleepy plants. For many square miles not a tree is 

 seen ; but where solitary trees are found, they are, in moist places, 

 the Mauritia Palm; in arid districts, a Proteacea, described by 

 Bonpland and myself, the Rhopala complicata (Chaparro bobo), 

 which Wildenow regarded as an Embothrium; also the highly 

 useful Palma de Covija, or de Sombrero; and our Corypha inermis, 

 an umbrella palm allied to Chamaerops, which is used to cover the 

 roofs of huts. How far more varied is the aspect of the Asiatic 

 plains ! Throughout a large portion of the Kirghis and Calmuck 

 Steppes, which I have traversed from the Don, the Caspian, and 

 the Orenburg Ural river to the Jaik, to the Obi and the Upper Irtysh 

 near Lake Dsaisang, through a space of 40 degrees of longitude, I 

 have never seen, as in the Llanos, the Pampas, and the Prairies, 

 an horizon like that of the ocean, where the vault of heaven 

 appears to rest on the unbroken plain. At the utmost this appear- 

 ance presented itself in one direction, or towards one quarter of the 

 heavens. The Asiatic Steppes are often crossed by ranges of hills, 

 or clothed with coniferous woods or forests. Even in the most 

 fruitful pastures the vegetation is by no means limited to grasses ; 

 there is a great variety of herbaceous plants and shrubs. In 

 spring-time small snow-white and Ted flowering rosaceae and amyg- 

 daleae (Spiraea, Crataegus, Prunus spinosa, and Amygdalus nana) 

 present a smiling aspect. I have already mentioned the tall and 

 luxuriant SynantheraB (Saussurea amara, S. salsa, Artemisias, and 

 Centaureas), and of leguminous plants, species of Astragalus, Cy- 

 tisus f , and Caragana. Grown Imperials (Fritillaria ruthenica, and 

 F. meleagroides), Cypripedias, and tulips, rejoice the eye by the 

 bright variety of their colors. 



A contrast to the pleasing vegetation of these Asiatic plains is 

 presented by the desolate salt Steppes, particularly by the part of 

 the Barabinski Steppe which is at the foot of the Altai mountains, 



