426 



forage plant which sheep and cattle thrive on, but it is said that 

 horses never do so, in fact they will seldom eat it unless other 

 forage plants are scarce. 



Kochia planifolia. (F.V.M. " Salt-bush.") This is a divari- 

 cately-branched shrub, growing from two to three or more feet 

 high. The branches and young foliage are covered with a soft and 

 dense woolly tomentum which wears off the older leaves. Th 

 leaves are oblong, obtuse, arranged on short stalks, and rarely mor 

 than half-an-inch long, rather thick, but fiat. This shrub is foun 

 in the most arid parts of the continent, but it is not reported to be 

 very plentiful anywhere. Stock are fond of it, and often eat it 



d 



3 



iiti, HFAV. " Bladder salt-bush." 

 FlG. i. A fruiting branch. FIG. 2. Section of a fruiting perianth. 



close to the ground that it is generally found in a stunted condition, 

 When left undisturbed for a time, however, it grows rapidly and 

 produces an abundance of seed. 



Kochia rillosa. (Lincll. " Salt-bush.") An under-shrub of 

 erect, spreading, or decumbent habit, more or less covered with a 

 silky, villous tomentum. Its leaves are alternate, linear, thick, and 

 soft in the typical form, and about lialt"-an-inch long. There are 

 about half-a-dozen varieties differing more or less from the typical 

 form, though not of sufficient distinction to warrant their being 

 classed as distinct species, notwithstanding their geographical dis- 

 tribution over the continent being considerable. This salt-bush is 



