''Tamarix aphylla'' is the largest known species of '' Tamarix'', with heights up to . The species has a variety of

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s, including Athel tamarisk, Athel tree, and Athel pine. It is an evergreen tree, native across North, East, and Central Africa, through the Middle East, and into parts of Western and Southern Asia.

Distribution

''Tamarix aphylla'' is found along watercourses in arid areas. It is very resistant to saline and alkaline soils. Its range extends from latitude 35°N to 0°N, and its W–E range extends from Morocco and Algeria in North Africa, eastwards to Egypt, and south to the

Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...

and into Kenya. It is found in the Middle East and the

Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate ...

, east through Iran, and into Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

Description

''Tamarix aphylla'' grows as a tree to high. The tiny leaves are alternately arranged along the branches, and exude salt, which can form a crusted layer on the surface, and drip onto the ground beneath. The species can reproduce by seed, by suckering, or from a cutting. It blooms between July till November.

Uses

''Tamarix aphylla'' has been used as a windbreak and shade tree in agriculture and horticulture for decades, especially in dryer regions such as the western United States and central and western Australia. Due to its higher fire adaptability, it can be used as a barrier to fire. Even when dry, the wood of ''Tamarix'' is difficult to burn, due to the high ash content (30–40%) and higher salt content of its foliage. After a fire it usually regrows, unless the root-crown is destroyed. The nectar from the blossoms of ''Tamarix aphylla'' produces high-quality honey with a unique taste. Due to the drought- and salt-tolerant properties of the tree, it could be planted as an agroforestry species, as well as for reclamation of marginal lands. A vegetative propagation method for the tree using the aeroponics technique has recently been developed.

Australia

Within these regions, it has spread, most dramatically and noticeably in central

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

after the floods of 1974 along the

Finke River The Finke River, or ''Larapinta'' (Arrernte), is a river in central Australia, one of four main rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin and thought to be the oldest riverbed in the world. It flows for only a few days a year and when this happens, its wate ...

in the Northern Territory. Since then it has become a serious weed and

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The species had been present for many decades without much spread before this. It tends to use more water than most native plants in Australia, which it outcompetes. It has replaced the indigenous eucalyptus along watercourses in the interior. It has been declared a weed of national significance in Australia.

United States

It is commonly used for windbreaks on the edges of agricultural fields and as a shade tree in the

desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...

s of the Southwestern United States. This species has not naturalized in areas of the United States where it has been grown, unlike other species in the genus '' Tamarix'' that are vigorously invasive.

History

Most botanists and Bible scholars believe that the ''eshel'' tree planted by Abraham in the Book of Genesis, was ''Tamarix aphylla'', Carl Linnaeus wrote that its name was derived from the Ancient Greek'' 'a''' "without", and'' 'phyllon "leaf". In Urdu and Hindi, the tree is called ''farash'' () and in

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

, it is called ''kooan'' (). In Baluchi, it is called ''shakargaaz'' or ''siahgaaz''. In Saraiki, it is called Khagal.

Chemistry

2,6-Digalloyl glucose and 3,6-digalloyl glucose are

gallotannin A gallotannin is any of a class of molecules belonging to the hydrolysable tannins. Gallotannins are polymers formed when gallic acid, a polyphenol monomer, esterifies and binds with the hydroxyl group of a polyol carbohydrate such as glucose. Meta ...

s found in

gall Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...

s of ''T. aphylla''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2889746

aphylla ''Aphylla'' is a widespread Neotropical genus of dragonflies of the Gomphidae family. They are commonly known as the greater forceptails because of their forceps Forceps (plural forceps or considered a plural noun without a singular, often a ...

Flora of North Africa Flora of Western Asia Trees of Africa Flora of Eritrea Flora of Libya Flora of Algeria Flora of Egypt Flora of Chad Flora of Sudan Flora of Pakistan Garden plants of Africa Drought-tolerant trees Flora of Israel Flora of Palestine (region) Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus