''Agriophyllum'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s of the family
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making it ...
, native to arid regions of Asia with a few occurrences in Eastern Europe. Reaching at most 1m, they are valuable as fodder and for wind‑blown soil capture.
In Kazakhstan, it is known as "kumarshyk". Scientists from the Atyrau Region patented a drink combining kumarshyk with camel's milk that's undergone lactic acid fermentation. In 2021, author Murat Bektenov, who is from the
Ryn Desert
The Ryn Desert or Ryn-Peski Desert ( kk, Нарын құмы, ''Naryn-Qūmy''; russian: Рын-пески) is a desert in western Kazakhstan and Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.
High winds sweep across the desert, and in 2001 a dust storm in the Balti ...
region, published a book named after the plant. The book outlines how kumarshyk was used for sustenance by Kazakhs during times of war and famine. Like wheat, kumarshyk seeds can be roasted, milled, baked, or even made into porridge.
Species
Species currently accepted by
The Plant List
The Plant List was a list of botanical names of species of plants created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden and launched in 2010. It was intended to be a comprehensive record of all known names of plant species ...
are as follows:
*''
Agriophyllum lateriflorum''
(Lam.) Moq.
*''
Agriophyllum latifolium''
Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*''
Agriophyllum minus''
Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*''
Agriophyllum montasirii''
El Gazzar
*''
Agriophyllum paletzkianum''
Litv.
*''
Agriophyllum squarrosum
''Agriophyllum'' is a genus of flowering plants of the family Amaranthaceae, native to arid regions of Asia with a few occurrences in Eastern Europe. Reaching at most 1m, they are valuable as fodder and for wind‑blown soil capture.
In Kazakhst ...
''
(L.) Moq.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2986375
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae genera