Page:The Journal of Indian Botany.djvu/453

DEOUGHT EESISTING PLANTS IN THE DECCAN. 31 The species seems to vary much as regards the size of the plant or its leanness. It also shows some variation as regards having two kinds of roots, viz. fibrous roots in addition to the tap root in various situations, (possibly this is also true in the case of several other plants mentioned in this list, though perhaps to a less extent than in the present case).

As collected here the plant had a diffuse woody stem covered with very small cuspidate leafy bracts provided with rough hairs. The tap root was woody, about 6 — 8 inches long and ^ inch in diameter with numerous fine rootlets or feeding roots near the surface of the soil where they came in contact with the dust. The plant was in fruit.

In the present instance the practical absence of leaves, presence of numerous feeding roots in addition to the woody tap root and the possession of hairs on the minute leafy organs (reduced bracts ?) seems to be the plant's response to the drought conditions.

6. Tephrosia purpurea Pers.— The plant is common in the tract. It was found in light grey coarse soil (murum) in an open barren situation, at Belapur, on May 6, 1919. The soil round the roots contained 1*38 per cent, of available moisture.

The species varies to some extent as regards the size of the plant, the size and number of leaflets, and the hairiness of the plant in different situations.

In the present instance reduced size and some suppression of the leaflets seems to be the only response of the plant. The root of the plant was a tap root 8 — 9 inches long, about inch in diameter, with several small lateral branches.

7. Zizyphus xylopyra Willd.— This prickly plant is very com- mon in the tract. It was found at Belapur on May 6, 1919 on light grey poor soil in an uncultivable place. The soil round the roots contained 1'89 per cent, of available moisture.

It varies a great deal as regards the size of the plant and of the leaves according to situation. In favourable situations it grows into a tree.

In the present instance the plant was scarcely three feet high and had very small loaves about | — f inch in diameter. It was much branched from near the base. It had a long tap root f inch in dia- meter with several laterals which spread somewhat horizontally.

A mere reduction in size was therefore the response though not necessarily an unusual response of this plant. Often in ordinary times also the species does not assume larger dimensions in this tract.

8. Tragia cannabina L. — This occurred at Belapur on May 6, 1919, in deep black very sticky soil, which round the roots of this plant contained 3.36 per cent, of available moisture.