age = 
a 
of two metres, but in the desert it does not as a rule exceed 
half a metre. The shoot is of Salicornia type with reduced 
scale-like opposite leaves. The position of the branches is 
also regularly opposite (decussate or brachiate). 
The year-shoot ends in a large paniculate inflorescence 
which is still present next year in a more or less dead con- 
dition. Underneath the inflorescence the year-shoot bears many 
branches; some of these are assimilating shoots which fall 
off before the next vegetative 
period, while others are per- 
om sistent rejuvenescence shoots. New 
Hai N I N assimilating shoots arise both 
Ih Hl from the old and the new year- 
it el shoots in places where vegetative 
= or inflorescence-branches were 
formerly present, and sometimes 
two branches issue from the 
same leaf-axil. 
| The flowers are small, and 
SE sit three together in the axils of 
peltate bracteoles; they open in 
July. The fruit is a nut (?/ı m. m. 
Fig. 42. Halostachys caspica. long) enclosed in the enlarged 
A, Part of transverse section of perianth ; it may still be found 
an assimilating branch: N, vein; : - 
, ; nut lant in t l n 
Phl., phloem; V, vessel; Ms, med- J he DA ina he followi 5 
ullary rays. -— B shows a vein Year. 
Eee ke cone wane The green assimilating bark 
is enclosed in a one-layered, 
strongly papillose epidermis (fig. 42). There are about 5 
layers of loose palisade cells of which the outermost contain 
the greatest, the innermost the smallest number of chlorophyll 
grains. Underneath the palisade cells there is no starch- 
sheath, but numerous veins are spread out there (fig. 42 B.) 
which lead to the central cylinder through the adjacent 
aqueous tissue. 
The anatomy of the wood has been described by GERNET 
and GHEORGHIEFF. 
