Salvadora persica
Toothbrush tree ( Salvadora persica )
The toothbrush tree ( Salvadora persica, Syn: Galenia asiatica, Salvadora indica ) is a plant that belongs to the small family of Salvadoraceae in the order of Kreuzblütlerartigen ( Brassicales ). Other common names are salt bush, Mustard tree and Arrakbaum or Arakbaum.
Dissemination
This species occurs today in Africa and India. It is in some arid regions a naturalized Salvadora persica Art thrives on sandy, dry sites or saline soils. A typical beach plant, it is not. In India, it grows at altitudes up to 500 meters and comes in Tanzania them at altitudes of 1800 meters before.
Description
Salvadora persica is an evergreen, fast -growing shrub or small tree, reaching heights of growth of 2.7 to 6 m, with hanging branches and characteristic, distributed over the whole plant long buds. The stalked, oblong- oval or egg-shaped, stiff and fleshy leaves are 1.4 to 10.5 cm long and 1.2 to 3 ( rarely to 7.5) cm wide. The cuticle of the leaves is quite thick. The leaves are built isolateral and not sunken stomata are located on both leaf surfaces. The vessels endings are surrounded by numerous Speichertracheiden. The leaves have a water storage tissue. The petioles are 0.3 to 1.3 (rarely to 2) cm long.
The axillary or terminal, compound, paniculate inflorescences consist of racemose partial inflorescences and are up to 10 cm long. The small flowers are greenish-white fourfold. Two carpels are present per flower. The stamp is short.
The pea- shaped, narrow and round fruits are red or dark purple at maturity; they contain only one seed.
Use
Owes its name to the toothbrush tree of the fact that its buds, roots and branches are used traditionally for dental care. For this purpose they are cut and then as long as chewed until an end is so frayed that it is reminiscent of a brush. So that the teeth are brushed Then, the breaking off pieces of wood are spat out. These toothpicks are used for cleaning the teeth than tongue scraper and for massaging the gums. One finds in the Islamic customs of prayer performing the following mention: "... the necessary provisions of prayer according to the Hanafi school of law are the following: toothbrush to use of toothbrush tree. ... " This natural toothbrush is also called Miswak or Siwak.
In the plant, essential minerals, crude fiber, protein and germ-inhibiting active substances are included. In particular, deposits of fine bassanite crystals support the cleaning of the teeth by chewing the plant parts. The woods contain a high fluoride content 8-22 ppm.
Ayurvedic Toothpaste contains active compounds from this Article
The leaves and bark contain trimethylamine. The seeds are rich in oils and organic acids.
Ecology
It is the food plant for the butterfly species (Lepidoptera ): Charaxes Hansali, Colotis phisadia, Colotis vestalis, Nepheronia buquetii.
Swell
- B. Verdcourt: Salvadora persica L. In: Flora of Tropical East Africa, 1968 online at Aluka. . (English )