26 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



Turr. ; Polycarpaa prostrata, Dene. ; Hehanthemum Lippii, Pers. ; 

 Atractylis flava, Desf. ; Zygophyllum album, Linn., and others of com- 

 moner sorts. 



In these depressions of the plateau, where water and soil are of more 

 frequent occurrence, there is an abundance of grayish scrub, short, thin, 

 and interrupted, and composed chiefly of Zygophyllum dumosum. Anabasis 

 (Salsola) articulata, Ephedra alte and Atriplices, Nitraria, Zilla, Retem, 

 and sometimes tamarisk. 



Sonchus nudicaulis, Linn. ; Dcemia cordata, Br. ; Gomphocarpus and 

 Lindenbergia still occur. 



I endeavoured to obtain the Arabic names of the commoner species, 

 and to confirm them from the mouths of two or more Bedawin. These 

 names so obtained rarely agree with those I find quoted in Forskahl, 

 Boissier, Tristram, and others. It is probable that every tribe has its own 

 plant-names. 



An Arab informs me that ' boothum,' a tree growing on Jebel Serbil 

 and nowhere else, with a stony fruit, is used, its leaves being boiled as a 

 cure for rheumatism, an infirmity to which the Arabs are martyrs. I 

 suspect the plant to be Cratcegus aronia. Also that safsaf {Salix safsaf, 

 Forsk., or Populus euphratica, Linn.) is the wood in demand for charcoal 

 to colour their gunpowder. This they obtain in the valley between Jebel 

 Musa and Jebel Katharina as well as on the latter mountain. The pro- 

 portions of their gunpowder are — one part sulphur, four parts saltpetre, 

 and a little charcoal to colour. 



Anastatica hierochuntina, Linn., ' Kaf Maryam,' or Rose of Jericho, 

 was first seen here, and becomes common to 'Akabah and northwards 

 to the Gh6r es Safieh. Ephedra alte is the most characteristic and 

 abundant species. Acacias are almost absent. We were on a limestone 

 tableland with occasional outcrops of sandstone. Once on such an outcrop 

 a single shrub of Acacia seyal occurred. In exposed situations these 

 acacia bushes, formed like a table, with its single leg much nearer one side 

 than the middle, point with their overhanging part in the direction of the 

 prevailing wind. On reaching the granite pass into 'Akabah the acacias 

 again become abundant, but their absence above may be partly explained 

 by the exposed situation. 



Camels eat even the milky asclepiads, as Daemia, which is said to be 



