THE FLORA OF THE INDIAN DESERT. ,513 



XVIII-B.), probably formed by accumulation of blown sand, which the dense 

 intertwined branches of the shrub prevent from bemg carried away bv rain 

 The plant, which also grew profusely on the slopes of the low dunes along the 

 road attained Its best development in a dry gravelly river-bed two miles east 

 of bodakoer (Flate XXX), and was not observed west of this village In the 

 river-bed referred to we came across a small grove of good-sized Cor'dia rothii 

 (Plate XXX), surrounded by a belt of Calotropis procera (Plate XXX- A.). The 

 last mentioned shrub is as common on gravel as on sand (Plate XXXII- A.)" 



Most trees and shrubs of the region belong to the gravel formation. We note 

 as particularly gregarious Zizyphus rotundifolia, which formed quite a forest 

 in a spot between Loharki and Sodakoer shown in the background of Plate 

 XXIII-A. ; on the margin of the bare gravel area in foreground of this view 

 stands an isolated specimen of Prosopis spicigera, another common tree, of a 

 poor looking habit. It sometimes forms small forests together with Salvadora 

 oleoides and Gymnosporia wowtana (Plate VIII-A.), or occurs in shrubberies of 

 Capparis decidua (Plate XXVIII- A.). Plate XXVIII-B. shows the scrub 

 vegetation at Bhikamkor, where the soil, originally gravelly, is beinw slowlv 

 covered by dune sand. In this locahty, some trees seem to thrive particularly 

 well. An unusually large specimen of Gapparis decidua, which species generally 

 has a shrubby habit, is shown on Plate IX-A. Galligonum polygonoides, in 

 localities such as the above, sometimes becomes a large chmber, with a thick 

 stem, and pendulous branches, a habit quite different from the usual appear- 

 ance of the plant when growing on dune sand. Such specimens are rare, 

 however. Except two at Bhikamkor, only one more was noted, climbing on a 

 Zizyphus tree, between Loharki and Sodakoer. One of the former is shown 

 on Plate IX-B. entirely covering the crown of a Prosopis tree, and associated 

 with Cocculus cebatha, another rambling plant. The smaller trees on the plate 

 are specimens of Gymnosporia montava, a good deal larger than usual. 



A view of the gravel plain near Jodhjmr (towards Kailana) with drifts of 

 sand here and there is shown on Plate VI-B. Perhaps Leptadenia spartium is 

 the commonest plant here. The curious habit of this shrub may be made out 

 fj'om Plate XVI ; in A. it associates with Aerua tomentosa, while in B. it 

 supports a generally prostrate, straggling Compositous plant, LaMwrca c/ioh^/'^V- 

 loides. The plant is not eaten by animals, and consequently may often be seen 

 protecting other, more palatable species, while close by free growing individuals 

 may be practically eaten u]). For a different habit of Leptadenia, see under 

 the sand formation. 



Eleusine aristata and E. cegyptiaca are two grasses, preferring gravelly soil, 

 often, as at Bhikamkor, covering the ground with their scapes, bearing on top 

 the four short spikes in the form of a horizontal cross. E.flageUifera is also foun;-" 

 on gravel, but more often on sand. Perotis latifolia is a rare gravel grass, com- 

 monest about Bhilvamkor. 



Between Phalodi and Bap, the gravel flora consisted first chiefly of Gorchortu 

 anticharis, Eleusine sp., Crotalaria burhia, Indigofera ovalifolia, Tephrosia sh 

 Convolvulus s^. ; later on, chiefly in the neighbourhood of water holes, of Bergia 

 odorata. The Eleusine specimens grow unusually tall. Almost bare gravel 

 patches are frequent, on which occur Cleome papillosa and Aristida hyslricula, 

 the latter a pretty grass, growing in small, isolated, shining tufts. The most 

 conspicuous gravel plant between Bap and Shihad is Bleplmris sindica. Pan mi >n 

 turgidum was observed growing prostrate on gravel at Loharki, its habit being 

 quite different from that of the straggling individuals so common on dune sand. 

 It had culms about two feet in length, and very small spikes. , ^, , -m 



Plate III-B. gives some idea of the gravel plain round Jaisalmcr, dotted witu 



Zizyphus and Capparis shrubs. Seetzenia orientalis was common here, and / n- 



hulusalatus occurred, as well as the much commoner T. terreslns.—X ^im&n, 



pretty tufted gravel grass, Pappophorum elegans, in habit aot unUke An 



13 



istida 



