52 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



fulness of the basin, is barren saline mud or sand. This foreshore is at 

 other seasons under water, and all which is liable to be submerged is 

 barren, except in the two instances above mentioned on the Tufileh 

 mud. 



An interesting assemblage of sea plants is congregated around the 

 Dead Sea. These are Sonchus maritimus, Linn.; Inula crithmoides, Linn.; 

 Lohis tenuifolius, Rchb. (Ly thrum hyssopifo Hum, Linn.); Salicornia herbacea^ 

 Linn.; Saholce; Sucsdcs; Atriplices ; Scirpus maritimus, Linn. ; Fimbristylis 

 dichotoma, Rottb.; Juncus maritimus, Linn., and Ruppia, sp. (?) {R. spiralis, 

 L'Her. ?). Some of these at first sight will hardly fail to impress the 

 observer with the idea that the vegetation must recently have under- 

 gone distinct maritime conditions ; but a little reflection will show that 

 the visits of aquatic birds, and the present suitability of the circumstances, 

 suffice to explain their presence. Moreover, the most conspicuous are of 

 the easily-diffused pappus-bearing compositee. 



Several of the most interesting species were obtained by penetrating 

 into the jungles in all directions. In the very heart of these, Cynanchum 

 acutum was abundant, trailing convolvulus-like about the reeds. These 

 jungles, and along the banks of the stream, were my best hunting 

 grounds. 



The luxuriance of some familiar British aquatic plants may be alluded 

 to. The sea rush, as already mentioned, reaches 7 feet in height. Inula 

 crithmoides 4 to 7 feet, and Lycopus europaeus 5 to 6 feet in height, while 

 gigantic plants of Lythrum salicaria had reached a height of 14 feet. 



One of my most interesting ' finds ' was that of a handsome acacia, 

 A. IcBta, Br., in the Gh6r. This species has not been recorded north of 

 Syene (Assouan) in Upper Egypt, seven degrees farther south. There 

 were several trees of this very distinct species, which is much larger and 

 better furnished than the other acacias met with. An Arab to whom I 

 silently pointed out one of this species at once exclaimed ' Sont,' and 

 proceeded to show me the difference in its leaves and fruit from that of a 

 Seyal, its neighbour. At 'Akabah an Arab called a large A. tortilis 

 ' Sunt.' It is an Egyptian name, but never applied to the Seyal. 



A few other remarkable species not noticed by previous botanists in 

 Palestine may be mentioned : Cocculus Lceba.^ B.C.; Sclerocepkalus arabicus, 

 Boiss.; Zygophyllum simplex, Linn.; Indigofera paucifolia, Del.; Rhynckosia 



