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''Alhagi'' is a genus of
Jepson Manual TreatmentAlhagi maurorum Medik
* Water relation characteristics of ''Alhagi sparsifolia'' and consequences for a sustainable managemen
Hedysareae Fabaceae genera {{Faboideae-stub
''Alhagi'' is a genus of Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
plants in the family . They are commonly called camelthorns or manna trees. There are three to five species.
''Alhagi'' species have proportionally the deepest root system of any plants - a 1 m high shrub may have a main root more than 15 m long; due to their deep root system ''Alhagi'' species are drought-avoiding plants that utilize ground water, adapting in that way perfectly to the hyper-arid environment.
''Alhagi'' species are used as food plants by the larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The ...
e of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
species including '' Coleophora argyrella'' which feeds exclusively on ''A. maurorum''.
The genus name comes from the Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
word for ''pilgrim
A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on Pilgrimage, a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the a ...
''.
Uses in
Traditional Medicine
Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...
''Alhagi'' in Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
is "KhareShotor" which means ''thistle of camels'', as camels can eat it with its thorns. As such, it was figured out that the plant can sustain the abdominal organs in severe thirst. In the Middle East, its boiled or distilled juice is used against kidney and bladder stones.
Also, the plant foliage is the habitat of a scale insect
Scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient grouping than the ...
which produces ''Manna of hedysarum'' or Tarangabeen, which is used as a remedy for neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the white part of the eyes and skin in a newborn baby due to high bilirubin levels. Other symptoms may include excess sleepiness or poor feeding. Complications may include seizures, cerebral pals ...
.
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment
* Water relation characteristics of ''Alhagi sparsifolia'' and consequences for a sustainable managemen
Hedysareae Fabaceae genera {{Faboideae-stub