Alhagi shrub
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Alhagi shrub ( Alhagi maurorum ) |
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The Alhagi shrub ( Alhagi maurorum ) is a species of the genus Alhagi within the legume family (Fabaceae). It is a medicinal plant . It is an invasive arable herb in some areas . In the Koran is Alhagi maurorum as Manna Bush mentioned.
description
Vegetative characteristics
Alhagi maurorum grows as a perennial herbaceous plant or shrub and reaches a height of 0.3 to 1.5 meters. There is a creeping, woody root system . The pronounced root system runs horizontally as well as vertically and reaches a depth of up to 2 meters and a distance of up to 8 meters to the stem axis. The roots form a symbiosis with nodule bacteria . New shoots can develop from this widely branched root system, resulting in large stands. The many shoot axes are strongly branched and thorny . The greenish shoot axes are initially hairy. The 1 to 2.5 cm long spines are colored yellow at the tip and are mainly found on short shoots .
Alhagi maurorum is deciduous in cool climates. The alternate leaves are arranged in a petiole and a leaf blade. The petiole is short. The simple, thick, leathery leaf blade is initially hairy and later bald. The leaf blade, which is up to 2.5 cm long, is elliptical to lanceolate and tapers towards the petiole.
Generative characteristics
The flowering time is in the summer months. The flowers are formed on short shoots or near thorns at the ends of the branches individually or in groups of two to eight. During the anthesis , the flower color changes from brown to red, chestnut and purple and changes color to purple as it fades. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic with a length of 8 to 9 mm .
The fruits ripen in late summer. The 1 to 3 cm long, reddish-brown legumes usually contain three to five, rarely more seeds . The legume is strongly constricted between the seeds and tapering towards the end. The kidney-shaped seeds are dark brown to yellowish or greenish-brown marbled with dark spots.
Chromosome number
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 16.
Occurrence
The area of origin of Alhagi maurorum extends from the Indian subcontinent through Central Asia and Southwest Asia , Siberia , the Caucasus region to North Africa . There are localities in the southern European part and in the southern West Siberian part of Russia, in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ciscaucasia, Dagestan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey , in northwest China, Mongolia, northern India and Pakistan.
In the meantime, Alhagi maurorum has spread to other areas of the world, such as Australia , South Africa and North America . It was first declared as an invasive plant in California in 1921 and was able to spread to other states from there. The neophyte distribution was done originally contaminated alfalfa - seed , or compost , the imported Mediterranean plants were added. Within a certain area, in addition to natural distribution, vegetative distribution through adhering pieces of roots on tillage equipment or generative distribution through grazing cattle is possible. In the northwestern United States, it is rated and controlled as a dangerous invasive plant.
Taxonomy
The first publication took place in 1753 under the name ( Basionym ) Hedysarum alhagi by Carl von Linné in Species Plantarum , 2, p. 745. The new combination for the name Alhagi maurorum is valid in 1787 by Friedrich Casimir Medicus in lectures of the Churpfälzische physical-economic society. Mannheim , Volume 2, p. 397 published. More synonyms for Alhagi maurorum Medik. are: Alhagi camelorum fish. , Alhagi pseudalhagi ( M.Bieb. ) Desv. ex B.Keller & Shap. , Hedysarum pseudalhagi M.Bieb.
Common names
The English common name Camelthorn denotes on the one hand the African camel thorn , also giraffe thorn, on the other hand - in oriental regions or contexts the Alhagi shrub (also Mannaklee or Manna shrub). Mentioned him e.g. B. the Bible as a camel thorn ( Isa. 55,13 NIV ).
ingredients
The following ingredients were able to be characterized in the course of various studies: Essential oils (main components):
- Leaves: Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (24.6%)
- Strain: hydrocarbons (50.6%)
Flavonoids : kaempferol , chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin
use
In naturopathy, Alhagi maurorum is considered to be sweaty, laxative, diuretic, expectorant and nausea. It is used to treat tumors , ulcers , nasal polyps , diseases of the bile , fever , headaches and rheumatism .
Several effects could be confirmed in scientific studies. It showed antibacterial and antioxidant properties, as well as antipyretic and diarrhea- relieving properties . Furthermore, liver problems could be improved in experiments with mice and positive effects against tumors could be achieved. Newborns and infants are warned of undesirable side effects.
Combat
Its rapid growth, the strong root system and the low demands on the environment and climate make Alhagi maurorum a weed to be taken seriously. The plant can become a problem, especially in arable farming systems with frequent plowing . During tillage the roots are divided, which allows a plant to develop into several individuals . For effective mechanical control, the roots must therefore be transported to the surface by cultivating several times , which is both time-consuming and expensive. A systemic herbicide is recommended for chemical control .
Trivial names in different languages
Trivial names in different languages are:
- English: camelthorn, camelthorn-bush, Caspian manna, Persian mannaplant,
- Afrikaans: kameeldoringbos
- Arabic: 'aaqool
- Indian: jawans
- Swedish: mannaklöver
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Fakhri, Adelzadeh, 2013: Pharmacology and Medicinal Aspects of Plants listed in Holey Quran; Alhagi (Alhagi maurorum), Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences, 2 (6), 19-22.
- ↑ a b c d e Cal-IPC: Invasive Plants of California's Wildland Status: December 29, 2013.
- ↑ a b c d e J. M. DiTomaso, GB Kyser et al .: Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States. Weed Research and Information Center, University of California, 2013.
- ↑ Alhagi maurorum at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ↑ a b c d Alhagi maurorum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
- ↑ Camel thorn tree - Acacia erioloba . After-work online services for senior citizens. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ a b Samejo et al., 2012: Chemical composition of essential oils from Alhagi maurorum, Chemistry of Natural Compounds, 48 (5), 898-900.
- ↑ Amani et al., 2006: Antiulcerogenic Activity of Alhagi maurorum. In: Pharmaceutical Biology , 44: 292-296.
- ↑ Alhagi pseudalhagi (Bieb.) Desv. ( Memento from December 31, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Status: December 29, 2013.
- ↑ Ethnobotany Query ( Memento of May 8, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Status: December 29, 2013.
- ↑ Boskabadi et al .: The Effect of Traditional Remedies (Camel's Thorn, Flixweed and Sugar Water) on Idiopathic Neonatal Jaundice. Neonatal Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. September 2011. PMID 23056809 .
