OR te 
the lower ones die early, but the axillary shoots remain 
active (Translocation of water). 
Closely related to the last is Agriophyllum latifolium 
(fig. 74). The chief difference is that this plant has broad, 
opposite ovate or almost circular leaves with long stalks, 
and the primary vein terminates in a thorn. The upper leaves 
all show transitions towards the narrow, grass-like leaf of 
the preceding species. All the leaves support long-lived bunches 
of thorns as in the former species. 
Salsola Kali also belongs to this type together with the 
allied species, S. sogdiana (fig. 76) and aperta, also Cornulaca 
Korschinskyi (fig. 68) and Arthrophytum subulifolium, all thorny- 
leaved, stiff, branched plants, and annuals except the last 
which is an undershrub. Acanthophyllum elatius, an under- 
shrub with prostrate branches and stiff, thorny leaves, should 
also be included here. Ceratocarpus arenarius (fig. 66), frequently 
a clay-plant, may also be found on sand; it is exceedingly 
branched and thorny and is generally globular in shape. The 
parenchyma dies away, but the midrib remains as a long, 
pointed thorn (comp. above p. 72 and chapt. 13). 
Convolvulus erinaceus, an undershrub very abundant loc- 
ally in the Sand-desert, also assumes the globular form. In 
spring it has true narrow foliage leaves at the base, but later 
on only scales are present and the work of assimilation is 
entirely carried on by the branches. The first-year shoots 
are strongly branched and geniculate at the nodes, and their 
branches of the later (1—2—3) sequences are thorns which 
bear a single flower. The plant forms a leafless thorny ball, 
it can attain a height of 40 centimetres and has very long 
roots. I have seen pieces several metres long, laid bare above 
the sand, and although only fixed at one end they were 
giving off fresh shoots. If the plant is buried the upper 
branches grow upwards through the sand. 
Convolvulus eremophilus has a similar structure, but it is 
less strongly branched and less thorny. 
Euphorbia cheirolepis an annual plant with small, bright 
green and glossy, spathulate and spiny toothed leaves belongs 
to another type. The same green colour distinguishes the vig- 
orous, broad-leaved and very thorny Cousinia annua which 
