bearing dwarf-shoots others bearing long-shoots; the deeper 
rhizomes appear more disposed to form flowering long- 
shoots, while those nearer the surface of the sand (warmer 
and drier) mostly form dwarf-shoots. Several rhizomes laid 
quite bare still carry living aerial shoots, both short-shoots 
and long-shoots. Fig. 22 shows a buried long-shoot on which 
one of the upper axillary buds has formed a new aerial 
shoot which forms a rosette on the surface of the ground. 
Horaninowia ulicina and Agriophyllum minus, dry annual 
plants with thorn-tipped leaves, are also common. Both have 
been already referred to. There are also the annuals Crozo- 
phora gracilis and Euphorbia cheirolepis, one woolly-haired, 
the other with glossy leaves. 
These plants form here an unusually rich desert- vegeta- 
tion, the average distance between the plants is about one 
metre. 
In moist depressions the vegetation is still denser, and 
includes Lycium ruthenicum, Halostachys caspica, Peganum 
Harmala, Pluchea caspica, Alhagi and especially Aeluropus 
repens. 
This locality forms a transition stage between the shifting 
desert and the hummock desert. Succulent halophytes occur 
only in the depressions; but here also the soil is sand. On 
the higher sand, dry plants only are present. 
4. Sand-desert north of Mailé Togai on the right bank 
of the Amu Daria. June 22. 1899. 
The soil, formed of sand, is fairly level with low dunes. 
Aristida pennata grows sparsely and not luxuriantly, Carex 
physodes on the contrary is rather frequent; Heliotropium sp. 
(Radula or sogdianum), Agriophyllum latifolium and dead stems 
of Cistanche also present. The switch bushes grow com- 
paratively close together but are stunted: Haloxylon, Ammo- 
dendron, Salsola Arbuscula, Calligonum Caput Medusae are 
metre-high bushes; some small single-stemmed trees of Am- 
modendron attain a height of 1—2 metres. 
A dark-spotted lizard, Scaptira grammica, was captured 
here, also a long slender greyish-green snake, very active in 
its movements, and which climbed up the bushes and hid 
itself among the branches. 
