| OCR Text |
Show 108 STEPPES AND DESERTS. are found, interspersed among the Graminere, a few herbaceous, dicotyledonous plants, consisting of two very low-growing species of Mimosa (Sensitive Plant), Mimosa intermcdia, and Mimosa dormiens, which are great favorites with the wild horses and cattle. The natives give to this group of plants, which close their delicate feathery leaves on being touched, the expressive name of Dormideras-sleepy pl::t.nts. For many square miles not a tree is seen; but where solitary trees are found, they are, in moist places, the Mauritia Palm; in arid districts, a Proteacca, described by Bonpland and myself, the Rhopala complicata (Chaparro ·hobo), which Wildenow regarded as an Em bothrium; also the · highly useful Palma de Covija, or de Sombrero ; and our Corypha inermis, an umbrella palm allied to Chamrerops, which is used to cover the roofs of huts. How far more varied is the aspect of the Asiatic plains! Throughout a large portion of the Kirghis and Calmuck Steppes, which I have traversed from the Don, the Caspian, and the Orenburg Ural river to the Jaik, to the Obi and the Upper Irtysh near Lake Dsaisang, through a space of 40 degrees of longitude, I have never seen, as in the Llanos, the Pampas, and the Prairies, an horizon like that of the ocean, where the vault of heaven appears to rest on the unbroken plain. At the utmost this appearance presented itself in one direction, or towards one quarter of the heavens. The Asiatic Steppes are often crossed by ranges of hills, or clothed with coniferous woods or forests. Even in the most fruitful pastures the vegetation is by no means limited to grasses; there is a great variety of herbaceous plants and shrubs. In spring-time small snow-white and red flowering rosacere and amygdalere (Spirrea, Cratregus, Prunus spinosa, and Amygdalus nann) present a smiling aspect. I have already mentioned the tall and luxuriant Synantherre (Saussurea amara, S. salsa, Artemisias, and Centaureas), and of leguminous plants, species of Astragalus, Cytisus, and Caragana. Crown Imperials (Fritillaria ruthenica, and F. meleagroides), Cypripedias, and tulips, rejoice the eye by the bright variety of their colors. A contrast to the pleasing vegetation of these Asiatic plains is presented by the desolate salt Steppes, particularly by the part of the Barabinski Steppe which is at the foot of the Altai mountains, |
