ANT 
p. 390) i. e. plants with the greatest number and the most 
vigorous leaves placed at the base of the stalk: Ranunculus 
oxyspermus and Sewerzowi, Eremostachys, Astragalus macro- 
nyx and sogdianus, Cachrys didyma, and to these may be 
added a number of ephemerals e. g. Malcolmia Bungei and 
africanum, Sisymbrium pumilum, Goldbachia laevigata. 
The presence of rosette and semi-rosette plants is also 
in accord with an open plant covering, since a dense vegeta- 
tion will favour plants with elongated shoots and high-placed 
leaves. 
As regards the floral features, small flowers seem to be 
more abundant than large ones, and white and yellow flowers 
are more frequent than blue or red although the red species, 
such as the poppies and tulips, are often prominent when 
they occur in masses. 
Some idea of the diversity of the spring vegetation of 
the Semi-desert may be obtained from the following repre- 
sentative lists of plants made in various localities. 
1. At Bami west of Askhabad; April 24%: Poa bulbosa, 
Roemeria rhoeadiflora, and a red species of Tulipa are domi- 
nant. Other species: Asperugo procumbens, Euclidium syriacum, 
Malcolmia africana, Myosotis sp., Hypecoum trilobum, Spinacia 
tetrandra, Ixilirion tataricum, Iris caucasica, Lepidium Draba 
and perfoliatum, Trigonella monantha, Sisymbrium Sophia and 
pannonicum, Koelpinia linearis, Matricaria lamellata, Papaver 
arenarium, Anagallis sp. and a few grey Artemisias. Beside a 
house were some willow-bushes with catkins, but no leaves. 
2. North of Dshisak at the foot of West-Thianshan; 
May 7: Poa bulbosa and a grey strongly aromatic Artemisia 
in places form the whole vegetation. 
3. Other places (near Balan Hur) are much richer, and 
in addition to Poa, poppies and tulips, one finds Jzilirion 
Pallasti, Carex stenophylla, Malcolmia Bunget,:Cryptospora fal- 
cata, Euphorbia pygmaea, Leptaleum filifolium, Astragalus sog- 
dianus, macronyx, mucidus, Solenanthus petiolaris, Gentiana 
Olivieri, Eremostachys labiosa, Ranunculus Sewerzowi. 
5* 
