Tamarix aphylla (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Tamarix aphylla (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Tamarix aphylla Tamaricaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: Athel tree, Leafless tamarisk, Salt cedar, Tamarisk
- Afargna: Segentu
- Somaligna: Dokon, Dur
- Tigrigna: Obel, Ubul
Ecology
This family, mainly of shrubs, is centred in the Mediterranean area. The species, T. aphylla is a tree of humid lowland savannah and woodlands as well as open floodplains and along rivers. It is common in the Middle East, extending to north-west India. In Ethiopia, it is usually found with Acacia albida, Balanites and Tamarindus in Bereha and Dry Kolla agroclimatic zones of Welo, Hararge, Shewa and Sidamo, from sea levle to 900 m.
Uses
Firewood, charcoal, timber (general purposes), fodder (leafy branchlets), mulch, soil conservation, soil improvement, dune fixation, windbreak, firebreak.
Description
A well‑branched evergreen shrub or tree to 9 m. The irregular grey‑green crown is rather like that of a conifer.
- BARK: Light grey to red‑brown, becoming thick and rough, deeply ridged. Branches smooth purple‑brown.
- LEAVES: Sprays of slender green‑grey branchlets or twigs, very drought hardy, have the function of usual green leaves. Leaves remain as 2 mm scales, encircling the branchlets, each with a sharp tip and appearing as one section along the jointed twig.
- FLOWERS: At the tips of branchlets, about 15 cm long, each one less than 3 mm, pink‑white, with 5 floral parts.
- FRUIT: Many narrow pointed capsules, 5 mm, splitting into 3 to release tiny brown seeds each with a tuft of white hairs.
Propagation
From cuttings of the previous year’s growth.
Seed
- Treatment: No need.
- Storage: Seeds lose viability within a few days so trees are normally established by cuttings.
Management
Coppicing.
Remarks
Like other tamarisk, it excretes “salt” which drips from glands in the leaves at night to cover the soil beneath. This salty drip kills any plants under the tree and the fallen leaves are too salty to burn — hence use of this tree as a firebreak. Crops should not be planted close to tamarisk as it can outcompete them for water and plant nutrients in the root zone.
