
          -12-

An Artemisia-Lyciodes shrub vegetation appears like a natural
climate expression over many of the higher slopes, 7000 to 9000  feet,
in the Kerman desert area.  The larger Lycium-like shrub has been extensively
pulled as firewood, leaving only the bushy Artemisia and
accompanying low bush Astragalus as perennial principles. (Fig 1). It is
accompanied by perennial grasses of several species, rather numerous
umbells, and rarer legumes.  A few of the latter were found only growing
in the protection of the bushes.

On the intrusive igneous hills both south and east of Sirjan
there exists a singualr low perennial herbaceous cover characterized
by an ornamental yellow-flowering and yellow-leaved umbell, "Jashir",
and the extraordinary, big-leaved, wild rhubarb. The three or four
leaves of the latter are 16 to 24 inches in diameter, lie flat upon the
ground like platters with raised edges, turn red below and when observed
were drying, abscissing just below the soil surface and were being blown
away by the wind to leave only the diffuse panicle of reddish-purple
inflorescences standing alone.  The soil of this habitat is thin, rocky,
and rather barren and occupies elevations between 6500 and 8500 feet.

Where not cultivated, the dry silty valleys in the Kerman area 
are either barren or occupied by two or three species of leafy bitter
but green and thriving perennial herbs.  Two of them are Astragalus
species, the other is a common weed, observed from Western Pakistan
and Afghanistan to here.  They say that sheep and goats eat the Astragali
after they have flowered, fruited, and dried.
        