Vern. Khar, Barilla, sajji.

Salsola stocksii Boiss., Diagn. Ser. 2 (4): 75. 1859; Haloxylon recurvum sensu Bunge in Boiss., Fl. Or. 4: 950. 1879. excl. type (ad ripam Irwaddy -Wallich); Jafri, Fl. Kar., fig. 96. 1966.

Shrub, very variable in habit, up to 90 cm or more tall, often straggling, glabrous, pruinose, dark-brown, paniculately branched; branches divaricate, spreading, strict or recurved, ending in strict spikes, 5-15 cm long; segments (4-) 6-20 mm long, shorter in inflorescence region. Leaves distinct, (3-) 5-8 (-10) x 1-2 mm, trigonous or semiterete, sessile, ovate-subulate or ellipsoid to oblong, obtuse or acute; young leaves sometimes up to 25 mm long. Flowers axillary forming interrupted spikes; bracts almost equalling the flowers, slightly exceeding the bracteoles; bracteoles ovate, acute, thick, fleshy. Fruiting perianth c. 6 mm in diam., including wings, scarious.

Fl. Per.: October-December.

Type: Pakistan: “in ditionibus Beloutschistan et Scinde Indiae finitimis”, J.E.Stocks (G-microfiche !).

Distribution: Pakistan, Afghanistan, W. India (Punjab, Rajhastan).

Barilla (Sajji) is manufactured after burning dried plants and collecting its juice in a wide hole at the base (vide Parker, For. Fl. Punj. 2nd. ed. 415. 1921). Also appreciated as fodder for camels.

Hooker, f. (Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 15. 1890) called our plants H. recurvum (Wall. ex Moq.) Boiss. saying that he could not separate the Burmese and S. Indian plant from our material, which he regarded as a distinct species. However, the older name from S. India is Caryoxylon indicum Wight and the south Indian plants should be named as Haloxylon indicum.