Page:The Journal of Indian Botany.djvu/452

30 THE JOUBNAL OF INDIAN BOTANY. than in the case of Nos. 1 and 2 at Talegaon, on May 1, 1919. The available moisture round the roots was about 3*50 per cent.

In different situations the plant shows slight variation as regards the size of the leaves and their prickliness.

In the present instance it showed practically no deviation from the average plant. It had a tap root 9 — 10 inches long and i inch in diameter.

4. Argemone mexicana L. — Bather common. This spiny leafed plant was found under similar conditions to No. 3 at Talegaon on May 1, 1919. Available moisture round the roots was about 3'50 per cent.

Except for the size, the plant shows no appreciable difference in different situations.

In the present instance also it did not show any deviation from the normal type. The root was a tap root about 9 — 10 inches long and 3 — 2 inch in diameter, divided in the lower half into two slender branches about 5 — i inch in diameter.

At Talegaon and on the same day as the above plants were examined, the following plants were also noticed occupying a rugged place ; no samples of soil were however taken in their case : —

Euphorbia neriifolia Linn, — Several plants showing a sickly yellow colour and no leaves.

Bombax malabaricum DC— In a leafless condition.

Opuntia nigricans Haw, — Several plants with a yellowish colour and thin flaccid looking phylloclades.

Gymnosporia Rothiana Laws. — In a practically leafless con- dition.

Flueggia leucopyrus Willcl.— -In a practically leafless condi- tion.

Lantana indica Boxb. — In a practically leafless condition.

Vitis Woodrowii Stapf. — In a leafless condition, but the young leafbuds were just sprouting.

A.cacia arabica Willd. — Practically in the normal condition.

It may be noted that all these plants are perennial and with the exception of the Acacia and Opuntia (in which latter the leaves are absent) loss of leaves was their chief device for tiding over the drought.

5. Lepidagathis trinervis Nees — var. asperrima ?— Bather common in the place. It was found in a light grey coarse soil (murum) with a layer of dust above, in an open barren situation, at Belapur* on May 6, 1919. The soil round the roots contained 1*28 per cent. of available moisture.

above recorded.
 * The rainfall here is not unlike that at Ahmednagar or at Snevgaon