Search for Supplementary Useful Plants in Indian Desert and their Ecology. 1. <I>Salvadora persica</I> Linn. and <I>S.Oleoides</I> Decne.

Abstract

There are some definite characteristic features in the leaves, fruits and their colours, morphology of seeds and their contents in Salvadora persica and S.oleoides. Seeds did not exhibit any dormancy and germination of seeds took place within 24 hours provided sufficient moisture was available. The growth was faster in S.oleoides as compared to S.persica. The presence of definite inhibiting principles in the pulp of the fruits did not let the seeds germinate quickly, consequently there was slow regenaration of these species in the Indian desert where rainfall is poor. The percentage of total sugars in S. oleoides was found to be more than in S.persica. The amount of oil content did not differ markedly in the two species, specially in the larger type of seeds. The small type of seeds in case of S. persica have very low percentage of oil content.