196 



88). The year-shoots are erect, stiff, 3 to 7 centimetres long 

 and frequently bear flowers in the upper axils. The distal 

 flower-bearing part of the year-shoot generally seems to die 

 away, though it is lignified and remains as a dry and almost 

 thorny point. The next series of year-shoots arise lower 

 down on the older one, and as these in turn lignify and die 

 away at the tip, a system of short stiff branches is produced 

 spreading in all directions. New shoots may also arise on 

 branches several years old. 



The flowers in Salsola Arbuscula are inconspicuous as in 

 other Chenopodiaceae. Some open in June and July, but the 



Fig. 39. Salsola Arbuscula. 



A, Cross section of a leaf: N, vein; sclerenchyma shown black. B, Hair. 

 C, Surface view of a leaf: beneath the epidermal layer the cells of the 

 crvstal-layer are shown, one of them with a group of crystals. A, X 47; 



and C, X 202. 



majority in August or September. The flower is surrounded by 

 three leaves; in front a subtending foliage leaf with a spoon- 

 shaped base, and at each side a broad thick green prophyll or 

 bract, sometimes scale-like, and sometimes with a short blade. 

 The perianth-segments are thick-walled on both surfaces ; before 

 and after anthesis they fold together forming a pyramid in 

 which the stamens and carpels are enclosed. Such is the 

 protection of these late-expanding flowers. The fruit (a nut) 

 remains enclosed in the perianth the five parts of w^hich 

 form a broad horizontal wing. The fruit is not ripe till 



