PLANTS OF NORTHERN GUJARAT. 
225 
and Polygonum plebcjum assumed an upright habit with longer inter- 
nodes and larger leaves and -other characteristics of shade plants, and 
even Gnaphalium pulvinatum showed a tendency in that direction. 
The following plants belong to this association, and are given more or 
less in^rder of frequency, though none can be regarded as dominant : — 
Polygonum plebejum (of various types, but specially one with 
short and brittle ' internodes and very long, prominent 
stipules), Golclenia procumbens , Mollugo hirta , Grangea 
maderaspatana , Spharanthus indicus , Eclipta erecta , (pros- 
trate, dwarf form), Chrozophora prostrata , (and possibly 
other spp.), Euphorbia wicrophylla , Gnaphalium indicum f 
G. pulvinatum , Heliotropinm supinum , Trigonella occulta* 
Class 5. Halophytes. 
There is little true halophytism in our area, though if the Rann of 
Cutch were more fully explored, extensive halophytic tracts would 
certainly be. met with. Besides - Kharaghoda there are a few loamy 
valleys in the Prantij Taluka which produce enough salt efflorescence 
to render the collection of the salt and its sale to the small Prantij soap 
factories possible. These associations have not been at all adequately 
studied by us at present. 
J. Association of Halophytic Savannah at Kharaghoda. 
This occurs on the margin of the Rann of Cutch, and must be 
regarded as under maritime influence. 
The most prominent shrubs (and very stunted trees) are Indigofera 
paucifolia and Acucia sp. (? A. aralica), and Sueda midiflora is common 
as a decumbent undershrub. Corchorus Antichorus is much lees common 
but of the same type, while Launea pinnatifida and Pkysalis minima 
are found under bushes of the Indigofera . In the wetter parts Blumea 
amplectens is found, as also various grasses ; of the latter Aeluropus 
villosus is occasionally the only plant found in small wet areas. Tamar ix 
gallica is frequent in water courses and ditches, and seems to be decidedly 
halophytic in some cases, though not necessarily so, 
II. Halophytic semi-desert at Prantij. 
All vegetation is scanty, and to the eye the tracts, which are small, 
present little but white salt efflorescence, and, in the monsoon and 
autumn, the weak panicles of Sporobolus. 
The following are the chief plants which occur : — 
Sporobolus ori/entalisj Chloris villosa , Eleusine agyptiaca (stunted 
form), Diplachne fusca (in wetter places) , Fimbristylis spathacea . 
