Halothamnus somalensis

Halothamnus somalensis

Halothamnus somalensis is a species of the genus Halothamnus in the family of Amaranthaceae ( Amaranthaceae ). It occurs in arid areas of East Africa (Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia) and is used folk medicine.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Halothamnus somalensis grows as a shrub, reaching heights of growth of 30 to 90 centimeters. The thorny sharpened, olive branches are partially black in drying. The pressed against the branches standing, semi- terete leaves are linear with a length of only 0.5 to 3 millimeters.

Generative features

The flowers are 3 to 4.7 millimeters in size. The winged fruit has diameter of 8 to 12.5 millimeters, the wings remain bright even on black plants. The pits on the underside of the fruit are the form of lines and borders close to the surrounding wall, between them no nerves can be seen.

Fruit ( bottom )

Anatomical features

In contrast to other types of Halothamnus the epidermis of the stem axis of Halothamnus somalensis is cutinisiert in the exterior walls and partly also the radial walls.

Occurrence

Halothamnus somalensis is endemic in Djibouti, Somalia and arid areas of Ethiopia; similar plants of the Arabian Peninsula are among Halothamnus bottae subsp. niger plants grow in open thorn savannah on sandy, loamy or rocky terrain at altitudes 0-1750 meters.

Use

The roots of Halothamnus somalensis are traditionally used as a medicinal plant against parasitic worms in animals and humans.

Taxonomy

The first description of this kind took place in 1909 when Nicholas Edward Brown under the name Salsola somalensis. It was incorporated in 1981 by Victor Petrovich Botschantzev under the name Halothamnus somalensis in the genus Halothamnus.

Synonyms for Halothamnus somalensis ( NEBr. ) Botsch. are Salsola somalensis NEBr. , Salsola bottae ( Jaub. & Spach ) Boiss. var faurotii Franchet and Salsola bottae ( Jaub. & Spach ) Boiss. var farinulenta Chiov ..

Common names

In Somalia, is Halothamnus somalensis as " gosomadowbeye " known ( " gowsa - madobeyi ", " Goso - mudo - WEYI ", " gusomadobeye ", " gosama do Beya " ), which is different from the Somali words Goso ( = molar ) and madow ( = black ) is derived, and refers to the observation that the teeth and lips of grazing animals are often black, after the plants have eaten .. Other common names are " afmadobeye ", " dankup ", " mirrow ", " mimou " or " Mirgi - edalis ". In Djibouti, the type is also called " Yagali ".