398 THE FUTURE OF ARID LANDS 
rooted pasture-shrubs, and legumes. The most promising species 
were found to be: 
Local perennial grasses: Hordeum bulbosum, Oryzopsis miliacea, 
Cynodon dactylon. 
Perennial grasses introduced from neighboring regions in Is- 
rael: Phalaris bulbosa, Oryzopsis holciformis, Agropyrum junceum. 
Annual grasses: dvena sterilts. 
Annual broad-leaved herbs: Medicago spp., Trifolium spp. 
Malva spp. 
The extremely drought-resistant Panicum turgidum deserves 
special mention as it is at the same time an excellent binder of 
shifting sands and a recognized pasture plant. 
Of the shrubs suitable for pastures we mention Atriplex hali- 
mus, an omni-Mediterranean meso-halophyte, well eaten by all 
animals. It may also be used for human consumption as a boiled 
vegetable or salad. The bush branches out profusely from its 
base, and can be used well in soil conservation and for the pre- 
vention of flash-flood damage. Large-scale reseeding with this 
species has already been successfully attempted (especially for 
reinforcement of dykes and terraces). 
Calligonum comosum is a Saharo-Sindian species which, to- 
gether with Haloxylon persicum, forms the climax vegetation of 
sandy soils situated on the borders between steppe and desert 
(g). It is apparently a good prospect as a pasture plant. Experi- 
mental reseeding has already given promising results. 
Colutea istria, a Saharo-Sindian leguminous species, is consid- 
ered an excellent pasture shrub, and has already been used for 
reseeding of depleted desert pastures. 
From pasture plants introduced from abroad we mention: 
Panicum antidotale and various Atriplex species like Atriplex 
semibaccata, A. spongiosa, A. vesicaria. Our A. halimus seems, 
however, to be more suitable under local conditions. 
Oryzopsis miliacea and Phalaris bulbosa strains, which origi- 
nated in the Mediterranean area, were improved upon in the 
United States, and then were reintroduced to Israel. As far as 
desert agriculture is concerned our own local ecotypes seem to 
be superior. 
