In the dayas one sees _Zilla macroptera_, _Peganum harmala_, but
chiefly _Zizyphus lotus_ and the betoum (_Pistacia atlantica_),
which is perhaps the only species of tree outside of the oasis in
this portion of the Sahara. Massart mentions not seeing any tree
away from oases from the time he left Biskra until he reached the
region north of Berrian, the northern portion of the Chebka. As
the betoum is so conspicuous among the Saharan plants, and also
from the very remarkable relationship existing between it and the
jujube, the species is of very great interest. The relationship
will be described under an account of one of the largest dayas of
the region, that of Tilrempt.
DAYA OF TILREMPT.
The daya of Tilrempt is one of the largest (about 103 hectares) and
is the most southerly of all. It lies near the southern margin of
the daya region, and is surrounded by a gently undulating plain
(hamada), whose surface is strewn with stones and pebbles, with
apparently an underlying stratum of impervious material, since
such is to be seen wherever erosions have laid it bare. The floor
of the daya is free from stones, being composed of soils of a
fine texture which have been washed or blown by the wind from the
surrounding higher country, and is apparently not underlaid by a
hardpan. Judging from the depth of the two wells at the daya (which
were dug, not bored), the deeper of which is said to be 95 meters,
there is an abundance of earth for the roots of the plants. Besides
the wells there is a cistern, sunk below the general level of the
daya floor, which receives and stores up flood-water; it is rarely
filled, but occasionally contains considerable water, possibly
up to one-fourth of its capacity; its filling is very uncertain,
depending on the rare and scant rains. According to Massart, no
rain had fallen during the two years previous to his visit, and
the cistern was empty when we were there. These observations are
given to show under what intensely arid conditions such a tree as
the betoum (mature specimens of which carry an immense evaporating
area) can become of large size, giving but slight evidence of a
severe struggle against such adverse conditions. The altitude of
the daya is about 600 meters.
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