Page:The Journal of Indian Botany.djvu/456

34 THE JOURNAL OF INDIAN BOTANY. The plant did not show any deviation from the normal type. Leaflessness, succulence, and the possession of a number of small feeding roots seem torenable the plant to overcome drought. The root was about 4 — 6 inches long. There were also numerous small feeding roots arising from part of the stem which came in contact with the dusty soil. It may be noted that the plant is used by the poorer classes as a vegetable in times of scarcity.

17. Fagonia cretica L. — Rather common. This prickly under- shrub was found at Newasa on May 8, 1919, on light grey, somewhat sandy soil, containing flakes of mica. The soil round the roots contained at that time 2'06 per cent, of available moisture.

The plant shows slight variation in size in different situations. A practically leafless condition of the plant due to the reduction of the leaf-surface and the general reduction in size are characters which enable the plant to stand drought. The root was a slender tap root 6 — 8 inches long and about !• inch in diameter with one or two slender laterals in the lower half.

18. Heliotropium supinum L — It was found in sticky silt containing Kankar nodules in a dry stream at Newasa, on ' May 8, 1919. The soil round the roots contained 2'46 per cent, of available moisture.

The plant shows some variation as regards the size in different situations. In the present instance it only showed a slightly reduced size as compared with the normal type. The root was slender, 6 — 7 inches long and | inch in diameter, devoid of lateral branches.

19. Alysicarpus rugosus var. styracifolius Baker.— This was found in a sandy soil in a dry stream at Newasa on May 8, 1919. The soil round the roots only contained 0'80 per cent, of available moisture.

In the present instance the plant only shows a great reduction in size as it usually does in dry situations. It was only 3 — 4 inches high The root was a slender tap root 4 — 5 inches long and about rt> inch in diameter, divided into two branches and a few very small lateral rootlets.

20. Trichodesma indicum Br — Rather common. It was found on light yellow or brown soil at Shevgaon on May 9, 1919. The soil round the roots contained 1'70 per cent, of available moisture.

The plant shows praotically no deviation from the normal beyond some reduction in size as is usual with it in such conditions. Its root was a slender tap root about 8 — 10 inches long and J — £ inch in diameter with several slender laterals spreading horizontally.

21. Celosia argentea L. — It was found on light, yellow or