. Europe and other continents . e of the most remarkable is the porcupine grass which grows on the sandy plains of the northwest interior, and is so hard, wiry, and spiny as to prevent passage through it. Plants with leaves which taste of salt also thrive here, being fitted for growth on plains that are too arid and alkaline for grass. These salt bushes are so valuable as forage for sheep and cattle that they are now introduced into the arid section of southwestern United States. The scrub trees that flourish in the arid interior have devel-oped a foliage able to resist evaporation. For exampl
. Europe and other continents . e of the most remarkable is the porcupine grass which grows on the sandy plains of the northwest interior, and is so hard, wiry, and spiny as to prevent passage through it. Plants with leaves which taste of salt also thrive here, being fitted for growth on plains that are too arid and alkaline for grass. These salt bushes are so valuable as forage for sheep and cattle that they are now introduced into the arid section of southwestern United States. The scrub trees that flourish in the arid interior have devel-oped a foliage able to resist evaporation. For example, thegum trees (Eucalyptus) hold their narrow leaf blades verti-cally with only the edges toward the suns rays; the leaves ofwattles (Acacia) and other plants have shrunk to thorns; andsome trees secrete odorous oils which check evaporation. Theleaves are too tough and leathery to wilt, and their dull greensgive a sombre tone to the scattered woods. In these interiorforests, which the settlers call scrub, the thorny acacia and. Fig. 343. Undergrowth in the Austral-ian forest. RABBIT
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectgeograp, bookyear1901
