Besides the white saxaul {Haloxylon persicum) and black saxaul {Haloxylon aphillum), the main wood and shrubby species in desert areas are Salsola richteri, several types of Calligonum, Ephedra, Halothamnus, Ammodendron and Astragalus. The key forest-forming species are poplar, oleaster, willow, tamarisk and others. At present, the overall area of tugai forests in Turkmenistan is 26,200 ha, not including the territory of the Amu Darya State Reserve (5,000 ha). However, those species most characteristic of salt soils are Tamarix and specifically Tamarix meyerii.