- 207 — 



survives till the next vegetative period. The bark of the 

 persistent part is bi-own. 



The leaves are 2 — 4 centimetres long, linear-lanceolate. 

 They are grey with salt -excretions which take the form of 

 small white spots over depressions at the bottom of which 

 the secreting glands are found. The structure of these (fig. 

 46 B) is very similar to that of the glands figured by Volkens 

 (tab. V) from R. hirtella. Volkens was of opinion that 

 during the night the excreted salts absorbed water from the 

 atmosphere (dew), which might then be absorbed by the 



Fig. 46. Reaumuria oxiana. A and B parts of leaf in transverse section ; 

 in A sclerencliyma-cells are seen; B, a salt-gland. X 202. C, Surface section 

 of palisade tissue, showing palisade-cells and sclerenchyma-cells intermingled. 



gland and thus be utilised by the plant. Marloth (1887 

 p. 321) denies this and states that it is impossible for the 

 glands of the leaf to absorb water fi-om the surface without 

 at the same time absorbing the salts. On the contrary the 

 salt solution on the surface must absorb water from the 

 gland, and according to Fitting this is what takes place 

 (1. c. p. 267 note). And still more important, Fitting has 

 arrived at the result that plants in the desert store salt 



