68 NATIVE VEGETATION AS AN INDICATOR 



lion of sodium chloride, and 19,627 parts per million of 

 sodium sulphate. Thus, it resists larger quantities of 

 .sodium chloride and sodium sulphate than most other 

 plants. Both the seashore and the inland species indicate 

 land which is useless for farming until reclaimed by pro- 

 longed draining, which in many cases is at present un- 

 economical. 



Greasewood (Sarcobatus vcrmiculatus) is one of the most 

 common alkali-indicating plants found on moist saline 



Fig. 11. The Border between Greasewood and Salt Grass. 

 The Land Increases in Alkali toward the Salt Grass. 



flats of the intermountain country. Viewed at a distance 

 the patches of greasewood have a pleasant bright-green 

 color decidedly in contrast to much of the darker or gray- 

 ish alkali vegetation. Besides the numerous sharp spines 

 which protect the small fleshy leaves from browsing ani- 

 mals, the plant is bitter and salty so that no useful animal 

 will eat it. Although it has not been found on soil con- 

 taining more than 8000 (4) parts per million of total salts 

 in the upper feet, its large taproot has been found pene- 

 trating soil with nearly double this amount of salt (mostly 



