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sometimes reaching the height of 5 Sashen (about IOV2 metres) 

 with a stem diameter of half an Arshin (about 0,35 metre). 

 The poplars often grow along with reeds on low islands, 

 which are covered at high water. The tamarisks grow smaller 

 a few fathoms away from the river and become mixed with 

 salsolaceous plants which enjoy the moisture, but even at a 

 distance of two to three Versts (about 1 kilom.) into the de- 

 sert stunted tamarisks may still be seen. 



The vegetation of the river sides contains no flora of herba- 

 ceous plants and in this respect it differs from the alluvial forests 

 in Russia, where Populus nigra takes the place of P. euphratica. 

 Antonow is, however, of opinion that the term forest should 

 not be used for this formation, because it only appears in 

 strips along the rivers and has so to speak only one dimen- 

 sion. In my opinion this remark is not quite correct, for in 

 some places at least the vegetation in question has a con- 

 siderable width, for instance in a deserted river-bed where 

 the conditions of moisture are good. 



Where a river bends sharply or has changed its bed, 

 "Starizi" are often formed, enclosed backwaters where bushes 

 and rushes grow, and "other herbaceous forms" occur around 

 the stagnant water. In this connection, large "swamp-lakes", 

 are also mentioned which are frequently formed in the plains 

 by the snow-water in spring. Round these grow salsola- 

 ceous plants, but the occurrence of reeds and Tamarix makes 

 it reasonable to include these places as riverside thickets. — 

 Such thickets are often extensive, the haunts of wild boars 

 and numerous birds, but as a rule uninhabited by man, 

 hence Antonow calls them "biological oases." * 



3. The formation of the Loess-steppe is found on the 

 same type of soil as the clay-desert, but with more abundant 

 moisture; it occurs most frequently at the foot of mountains. 

 It is rich both as regards species and individuals. As a type of 

 vegetation it corresponds to the steppes of Southern Russia, 

 but differs in its floristic composition. (Yet Antonow tells us 

 later that no carpet of vegetation is formed, which is an 

 important difference between this and the Russian steppe). As 

 in southern Russia, Caragana and Prunus grow near streams, 

 so here Tamarix is found, and in both countries tall herb- 



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