Haloxylon aphyllum
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| Haloxylon aphyllum | ||||||||||||||||
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| Haloxylon aphyllum |
The Black saxaul (scientific name: Haloxylon aphyllum), is a small tree belonging to the Amaranthaceae. It is found in continental deserts of Middle and Central Asia, including northern China, where it is a dominant plant along with the related white saxaul.
The black saxaul ranges between 4 and 10 metres in height and lacks large foliage-type leaves. It has a deep pivotal root system allowing it to thrive in dry, saline, and sandy environments. The tree is used for fuel and charcoal-making, impacting in some areas on tree numbers, and provides year-round feed for livestock. It is useful for restoring and improving desert fringe areas.
Turcmenigena varentzovi (Saxaul longhorn beetle, Varentsov’s longhorn beetle) is a pest of the black saxaul tree in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
