SALINE AND ALKALI LANDS. 



543 



only to turn away badly disappointed after taking a few bites,' 

 the plant being both bitter and salty. 



FIG. 86. Greasewood (proper) Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook) Torr. 



A. Appearance of a branch when not in blossom. 



B. Spiny-branchlet from the same. 



C. Branchlet bearing cones of male flowers. 



D. Cone of male flowers, enlarged. 



E. Branch bearing fruits. 



F. Cluster of fruits, enlarged. 



G. Vertical section through a fruit, showing the seed with its curved embryo, (enlarged). 



Where a luxuriant growth of this plant is found, the soil 

 may contain from 38,000 to 117,000 pounds of total salts per 

 acre, of which sometimes nearly half is carbonate of soda; 

 the content of common salt is usually low, and Glauber's salt 



