1919.] Notes on the Vegetation of Seistan. 273 
golden yellow shade that renders it most conspicuous against 
the dull grey clay. 
It is noteworthy, further, that two of the most conspicu- 
ous plants of the stony desert at Lab-i-Baring (the Artemisia 
The specific name of Salsola foetida would seem to indicate that 
it also has a strong scent, but this was not observed in the 
Seistan plant. The tempting-looking melon-like fruit of the 
Colocynth (the main function of which is to be blown along the 
punity. Conspicuous colouration, therefore, seems to be correl- 
ated in several instances with other properties deleterious or 
time mainly by the remains of stems, seed-vessels and the like. 
Such remains were partioularly abundant at Hurmuk, less so 
at Lab-i-Baring. | 
Il. THE VEGETATION OF THE BANKS OF SALINE STREAMS. 
At certain places there are on the edge of the Hamun-i- 
Helmand, the lake of Seistan, high cliffs formed of stiff clay 
i i These cliffs are breached by 
that grow commonly in soil of this description are :— 
Tamarix stricta, Boiss, 
Halostachys caspica, C.A. Mey, 
Halocnemum strobilaceum, Bieb., 
Aeluropus villosus, Trin., 
a a species of Salsola with peculiarly tomentose stems and 
eaves. 
_ Where the water is a little more abundant, Juncus mari- 
timus, Linn. and Phragmites ? communis, Trin. grow also at its 
edge. 
_ The tamarisk is by no means confined to such spots or to 
soil so full of salt, but it flourishes greatly in the gullies, 
| An analysis of water from one of the streamlets near Lab-i-Baring 
shows that it contains 10°683% of sodium chloride and 2°4476% of magne- 
sium oxide. 
