Alhagi maurorum

Alhagistrauch ( Alhagi maurorum )

The Alhagistrauch ( Alhagi maurorum ) is a species of the genus Alhagi within the legume family ( Fabaceae ). It is a medicinal herb. It is an invasive Ackerbeikraut in some areas. In the Koran Alhagi maurorum is mentioned as Manna shrub.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Alhagi maurorum grows as a perennial herbaceous plant or shrub and reaches a height of 0.3 to 1.5 meters. It is a creeping, lignifying root system available. The pronounced root system runs both horizontally and 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. For this widely branched root system, new shoots can develop, arise from large stands. The many Stems are highly branched and spiny. The greenish shoot axes are initially pubescent. The 1 to 2.5 cm long thorns are colored yellow at the top and can be found mainly on short shoots.

Alhagi maurorum is deciduous in cool climates. The alternate arranged leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The petiole is short. The simple, thick, leathery leaf blade is initially hairy and verkahlt later. The up to 2.5 cm long leaf blade is elliptical to lanceolate, tapering towards the petiole.

Generative features

The flowering time is in the summer months. The flowers are formed on short shoots up to or close by thorns on the ends of the branches singly or in groups of two eight. During anthesis, the flower color changed from brown to red, maroon and purple and discolored when wither to purple. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic with a length of 8 to 9 mm.

The fruits ripen in late summer. The 1-3 cm long, reddish - brown legumes each containing usually three to five, rarely more seeds. Between the seed legume is highly constricted and towards the end pointed converging. The kidney-shaped seeds are dark brown to yellowish or greenish - brown mottled with dark spots.

Occurrence

The area of ​​origin of Alhagi maurorum ranges from the Indian subcontinent through Central Asia and Southwest Asia, Siberia, the Caucasus to North Africa. Locations are in the southern European part and the southern West Siberian part of Russia, Armenia, Aserbaitschan, Ciscaucasien, Dagestan, Kazakhstan, Tatschikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, in north-western China, Mongolia, in northern India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile Alhagi maurorum has spread to other areas of the world, such as Australia, South Africa and North America. In California, it was the first time in 1921 declared invasive plant and has spread from there to other states. The neophyte was originally spread via contaminated alfalfa seed, or compost, the imported Mediterranean plants was added. Within a certain area next to the natural distribution is also a vegetative spread by rhizomes adhering to tillage equipment or generative distribution by grazing livestock possible. In the northwestern United States, they will be evaluated and attacked as dangerous invasive plant.

Taxonomy

The first publication was in 1753 under the name ( basionym ) Hedysarum Alhagi by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2, p 745 New combination for today valid name Alhagi maurorum was built in 1787 by Friedrich Casimir Medicus lectures in the Chur - Palatinate physicalisch öconomischen society. Mannheim, Volume 2, page 397 published. Other synonyms for Alhagi maurorum Medik. are: Alhagi camelorum fish, Alhagi pseudalhagi ( M.Bieb. ) Desv. . ex B.Keller & Shap. , Hedysarum pseudalhagi M.Bieb.

Trivial names

The English common name Camel Thorn should not be confused with the German camel thorn. The German designations are Alhagistrauch, True manna clover, Manna Manna camel thorn or shrub.

Ingredients

In the context of various studies following ingredients could be characterized: Essential oils ( major components):

  • Leaves: Oxygenated sesquiterpenes ( 24.6 %)
  • Tribe: hydrocarbons ( 50.6 %)

Flavonoids: kaempferol, chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin

Use

Alhagi maurorum applicable in naturopathy as a diaphoretic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, and nausea triggering. It is used for the treatment of tumors, ulcers, nasal polyps, diseases of the bile, fever, headache and rheumatism.

Several effects have been confirmed in scientific studies. Thus showed antibacterial and antioxidant properties, as antipyretic and diarrhea soothing. Furthermore, in experiments with mice could be improved liver complaints and positive effects against tumors can be achieved.

Combat

Its rapid growth, the pronounced root system and low demands on the environment and climate make Alhagi maurorum become a serious weed. Especially in arable crop systems with frequent plowing the plant can become a problem. During tillage, the roots are divided, so a plant can develop into more individuals themselves. For effective mechanical control so the roots have to be transported by repeatedly cultivators to the surface, which is both time consuming and costly. For chemical control, a systemic herbicide is recommended.

Trivial names in different languages

Trivial names in different languages ​​:

  • English: camel thorn, camel thorn -bush, Caspian manna, manna Persian plans
  • Afrikaans: kameeldoringbos
  • Arabic: ' aaqool
  • Indian: jawans
  • Swedish: mannaklöver
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