PLOttA OF ADM. 
309 
Description : — Usually a large shrub, 5 feet high and more, erect; 
branches numerous, ascending, marked with prominent leaf-scars, pale, 
glabrous. Leaves sessile, 4 — 1 by ^ inch, linear, obtuse or subacute, 
sometimes apiculate, bright-green. 
Flowers polygamous, in slender lax spikes, the clusters distant, each 
in the axil of a short leaf ; bracteoles minute, ovate, acute, entire. Peri- 
anth y 1 ^ inch long; segments oblong, obtuse. Stigmas 2 — 5, short. 
Seed vertical, ovoid, smooth, shining, black. 
Flowers and fruits: — November (Schweinf.). 
Locality : — Near Maala, Goldmore Valley, eastern shore of the isthmus 
(Schweinf.) ; valley near Steamer-Point, isthmus (Deli.); near the tanks 
(Busse); without locality (Birdw.). — Very common in the Hinterland 
between Aden, Shaikh O'thman and Bir Achmed (Dell.). 
Distribution : — Upper Egypt, Nubia, Libya, Eritrea, Abyssinia, 
Arabia, Somaliland, Sansibar, South Deccan, Ceylon. 
Note: — S. monoica is a very variable plant. On the sand of the 
eastern shore of the isthmus close to the high water- work, this plant which, 
otherwise, forms high bushes or even small trees is a low decumbent 
shrub and, growing together with Sueeda fruticosa , covers the ground as 
with a thick carpet. 
There occurs, besides, another curious form of this species which quite 
resembles a branch of a Silver Fir spread out on the ground. This 
appearance is due to the broad-linear, flat and blunt, almost distichously 
arranged leaves. 
Other forms of the same plant and in the same locality are disting- 
uished by flesh-red coloured leaves, whilst the young shoots are generally 
light green turning dark black-green when old (Schweinf.). 
Uses : — -This plant, which is so common in the vicinity of Aden, is of 
no slight importance to the inhabitants of Aden. As fire- wood is very 
scarce on the peninsula, the woody stem and branches of the f Assal ; arc 
used as fuel along with Babul-wood ( Acacia arabica) } which has to be 
brought from the interior. Every day groups of Arab and Somali 
women may be seen gathering the shrubs and carrying them in bu ndles 
to Shaikh CFthman. From there the wood is brought to Aden by don- 
keys or camels. 
Watt (Commercial Prod, of India, p. 118) says: “ There seems to 
exist a fairly extensive manufacture of sodium carbonate at Aden from 
the so-called Aden Balsam {? Sueeda nudiflora) . 33 We have not been 
able to ascertain whether the ‘ Aden Balsam 3 is Suacda monoica Forsk. or 
Suada fruticosa Forsk. 
Hunter (under f Potash or Alkali-burning/ p. 82) says : “ Aden 
balsam, which is however not found in anv quantity in the place itself, is 
