— 50 — 



as it is mainly based on studies in Soutli Russia and Trans- 

 caspia. But the distinction between steppe (grass-steppe) on 

 the one hand and desert on the other, seems easier to apply 

 than the one maintained by most authors, for instance 

 Warming and Vahl. Phytogeographical literature defines so 

 many different kinds of steppe — Meadow-steppe, Grass-steppe, 

 Vermuth-steppe, Salt-steppe, Sand-steppe, Bush-steppe and 

 even such types as Orchard -steppe poor in grass, Tree-steppe, 

 Steppe-forest &c. (Engler 1910) — that it is hard to see 

 what they have in common except that all are more or less 

 xerophilous formations. 



What ScHiMPER, Krassnow and Tanfiljew have termed 

 steppe, is not an extreme xerophilous formation. The Sand- 

 steppe ("die Sandpuszte", Adamovic p. 320, W^oenig) belongs 

 to the steppe type, but differs from the "Sand-steppes" des- 

 cribed from Transcaspia which are desei-ts. Steppes, according 

 to the definition given here, do not occur in Ti-anscaspia 

 at all. 



CHAPTER 6 



Formation of the Salt-Deserts. 



Under this heading are classed localities where the plants 

 grow on soil so saline that the salt crystallizes out as a layer 

 covering the surface. The conditions which render this pos- 

 sible are: 1) the presence of salts in solution, 2) facilities for 

 the solution reaching the surface. It is essential for this that 

 the underground water-table is not located at too great a 

 depth. It is usual therefore to find salt-deserts in depressions. 

 The constant evaporation from the surface causes the salts 

 to crystallize out, and a fresh solution diffuses constantly 

 from below. Where the soil is loess, this upward diffusion 

 takes place rather easily on account of the capillary structure. 

 "Ssor" is the name given by the natives to wet saline flats. 

 They are often found among dunes and are said to be gener- 

 ally flooded during winter and spring. A "Ssor" is not a 

 very pleasant sight (fig. 2). The ground is flat and white like 



