At present no trees occur naturally in the valley in the vicinity of Ghardaia or any of the sister cities. The French portion of Ghardaia contains ornamental or shade trees, such as the ash, sycamore, and betoum. The largest native shrubs are a species of _Tamarix_, growing by the oued, and a few specimens of _Zizyphus lotus_, the latter confined to the side gulches and numbering half a dozen specimens. Among the most generally distributed plants in the valley are _Peganum harmala_ (figs. 27 and 28) and _Haloxylon articulatum_; the former is a half-shrub of wide distribution in southern Algeria, occurring from Biskra on the north, and although not strictly confined to the flood-plains of the oued is most abundant where the soil is relatively deep. The leaves are rather large and do not appear to have unusual protection against drought.[23] Like its relative in the southwestern portion of the United States, the creosote bush (_Covillea tridentata_), it is not eaten by any animals, although not armed and not poisonous. This species, therefore, is one of the few which to-day probably retains essentially the same distribution and appearance it had before the country was inhabited. It is interesting to note that _Peganum_ is generally distributed through the M’Zab Valley, being especially abundant between Ben Isguen and Melika. Here in November _Peganum_, except where trodden under foot by the flocks and caravans, retained much of its foliage, although rain was said not to have fallen for twelve months. In the protected areas also, as will be mentioned below, this species was found to be fresh green, showing little or no indication of the long drought. Of other species found in unprotected places in the valley, _Haloxylon articulatum_ and _Henophyton deserti_, although eaten by animals so as to be recognized only with difficulty, were also fairly abundant. There were found also _Euphorbia guyoniana_, called “le bain” by our French-speaking Arab helper, because it is used by the natives as a soap, and _Nolletia chrysocomoides_, _Æluropus_ sp., and others. PROTECTED AREAS NEAR GHARDAIA.