— 202 



P 



of two metres, but in the desert it does not as a rule exceed 

 half a metre. The shoot is of Salicornia type with reduced 

 scale-like opposite leaves. The position of the branches is 

 also regularly opposite (decussate or brachiate). 



The year-shoot ends in a large paniculate inflorescence 

 which is still present next year in a more or less dead con- 

 dition. Underneath the inflorescence the yeai'-shoot bears many 

 branches; some of these are assimilating shoots which fall 



off before the next vegetative 

 period, while others are per- 

 sistent rejuvenescence shoots. New 

 assimilating shoots arise both 

 from the old and the new year- 

 shoots in places where vegetative 

 or inflorescence-branches were 

 formerly present, and sometimes 

 two branches issue from the 

 same leaf-axil. 



The flowers are small, and 

 sit three together in the axils of 

 peltate bracteoles; they open in 

 July. The fruit is a nut (V4 m. m. 

 long) enclosed in the enlarged 

 perianth; it may still be found 

 on the plant in the following 

 year. 



The green assimilating bark 

 is enclosed in a one-layered, 

 strongly papillose epidermis (fig. 42). There are about 5 

 layers of loose palisade cells of which the outermost contain 

 the greatest, the innermost the smallest number of chlorophyll 

 grains. Underneath the palisade cells there is no starch- 

 sheath, but numerous veins are spread out there (fig. 42 B.) 

 which lead to the central cylinder through the adjacent 

 aqueous tissue. 



The anatomy of the wood has been described by Gernet 

 and Gheorghieff. 



Fig. 42. Halostachys caspica. 

 A, Part of transverse section of 

 an assimilating branch: N, vein; 

 Phi., phloem; V, vessel; Ms, med- 

 ullary rays. — B shows a vein 

 leading from the central cylinder 



to the palisade tissue. X 47. 



