35 



rhijnchus sabulosus, Astragalus sp., Erodium oxyrrhynchum, 

 Alhagi camelorum, Senecio coronopifolius , less frequent are 

 Dorema Ammoniacum, Sphaerophysa sp., Rheum sp. 



5. The Promontory-or Stone-steppe is found on 

 hard conglomerate soil at the foot of mountains, between 

 these and the loess -steppe. It is an Artemisia-sieppe , A. 

 nutans being the principal plant. Amongst other species found 

 are: Stipa orientalis, Papaver pavoninum, Cruciferae, Caryo- 

 phyllaceae, Astragalus, Umbelliferae (Zosimia, Ferula), Compo- 

 sitae (Centaurea ovina, pulchella, Balsamita, solstitialis, Cousinia 

 turcomanica, dichotoma, lyrata, Achillea santolina), Labiatae, 

 Liliaceae, grasses and others. Ulmus nuda and occasionally 

 the shrub Zygophyllum eurypterum occur by the streams. 



6. The mountain-flora does not come within the scope 

 of this review. 



Next to be considered is the work of S. KORSHINSKY : 

 "Sketches of the Vegetation of Turkestan" (1896), the first 

 section of which deals with Transcaspia. 



The "normal type" of sand-desert, the most extensive and 

 continuous, is KORSHINSKY considers, "flat or undulating areas 

 of sand" consisting of loose but not drifting sand, and covered 

 by a meagre, yet comparatively rich and rather varied vege- 

 tation. Its most characteristic feature is that it consists chiefly 

 of ligneous species: Haloxylon Ammodendron, Salsola Arbuscula, 

 Calligonum, Ephedra, Ammodendron Karelini, Eremosparton, 

 Astragalus Ammodendron etc. In the spring many herbaceous 

 plants also occur, most of them growing isolated and not 

 forming a carpet. A few species like Carex physodes and 

 Capsella elliptica, are sometimes so luxuriant and dense that a 

 green sward or something approaching one is formed. In the 

 autumn the herbs have disappeared, and one finds then 

 perennial species of Salsola, little bushes covered with hand- 

 some, multicoloured fruits. 



The sandy parts are not so bare as one might imagine, 

 KORSHINSKY says, so that there is really no reason why they 

 should be called deserts. In spring, at least, the soil holds 

 water at a few centimetres depth, and he adds: "I am of 

 opinion that the sharply defined xerophytic character of the 

 vegetation is not so much, a consequence of the dryness of 



