THE I LOR A OF THE INDIAN DESERT, r,\-j 



As might have been expected, the Cyperacece are almost totally absent from 

 th? rocky areas. So much the more abundant are certain grasses, particularly 

 species of ^mfida (Plate XXII-B.), which at once make their preseTice known 

 to the pedestrian by means of the troublesome awns attached to the seeds These 

 often coUect m round balls, a couple of inches in diameter, which are carried out 

 across the plains by the wind, a method of seed dispersion efficient enough to 

 account for the great abundance of these grasses. What has just been said does 

 not apply to the very pretty Aristida hirtigluma, which is far less common than 

 the other species, and not at all troublesome. Where it occurs in any large quan- 

 tity, it is very conspicuous, its famiUes shming silvery white in the bright sun- 

 light. Plate XIX-B. shows a small black rhyolite knoll west of Loharki, colo- 

 flised by a family of this species. It appears, that no other plant can compete 

 with the grass in such a habitat, or rather that the grass is the only plant fit 

 for it. We observed, however, some scattered, often dwarfed specimens of Fago- 

 nia cretica, Cleome papillosa, Gracilea royleana, Aristida hystricula, Pappophorum 

 elegans, Boerhaavia diffusa, Aerua tomentosa. Euphorbia sp., Blepharis sindica. 

 A similar association with Aristida hirtigluma as dominant species was observed 

 from the train 73*5 miles from Jodhpur, west of the railway line, in a similar 

 habitat. On the hills round Bada Bag in the Jaisalmer area the species is com- 

 mon, and also on » low range of hills between Jaisalmer and Devikot. A small 

 isolated lava hill just north of this range was covered with Fagonia cretica. Eu- 

 phorbia neriifolia, which is absent on the range mentioned, becomes common 

 south of Devikot. 



Of other grasses, Oracilea royleana is a pretty little grass, preferring a rocky 

 habitat. Elionurus royleanus is common in all the rocky areas. Oropeiium 

 thomceum is less common. Tragus racemosus is rare, chiefly observed round Jai- 

 salmer and at Kailana Latipes senegalensis is another rather rare rock grass, 

 of an unusual habit. 



We give a Ust of the commonest plants observed on rocky ground on Kotda 

 hill : ( 1 ) At the foot of the hill, among pebbles, Eleusine aristata and E. cegyptiaca, 

 Aristida funicidata and A. hirtigluma, Gracilea royleana, Crotalaria omlifolia. 

 (2) In a rocky depression, Salvadora, Acacia Senegal, Capparis, Grewia populijolia 

 and G. villosa, Blepliaris sindica. (3) Higher up Fagonia cretica, Farsetia jacque- 

 montiana, Anticharis linearis, Cleome sp., Tribulus terrestris, Polygala erioptera, 

 Aristida hystricula. (4) Nearer to top Commiphora, Barleria acanthoides, Lin- 

 denbergia urticcefolia, Orygia decumhens, Ruellia patxda, Eleusine flagellifera. 

 Round the village and fort. Euphorbia neriifolia (on rock and sand). 



A single specimen of the fern Actinopteris dichotoma was collected on a hill 



slope at Barmer. 



At Bhikamkor, after heavy rain, evidence of Cryptogamic life was apparent 

 on the rocks close to the station. Minute, black Uchens were observed on the 

 stones, and algse in the form of small gelatinous brown lumps among the gra«8. 

 liver-wort was also noted. 



Ruderal Formation, 



Tinder this heading we bring together various classes of plants, which in one 

 way ?r anotir, owe thdr presentee A the region to certain changes brought about 

 by man, excluding cultivated plants in the strict sense. 

 A. Ruderals Proper. 



This group includes plants to be found only in the immediate vicinity of the 



^"''feald^^^nd within the .U.g« and to^ns^fjen^^^^^^^^^^^ 



t'ot! '*r„ jrrS^^S^oLlrp^cr r th^ hard sand, and ,.avel„ 



