Halothamnus subaphyllus
Halothamnus subaphyllus is a species of the plant genus Halothamnus, that is now included into the family Amaranthaceae, (formerly Chenopodiaceae).
Morphology
Halothamnus subaphyllus is a sub-shrub 0,5-1,2 m high (on sand also shrub up to 2,5 m high), with blueish-green or green branches. The lower leaves are half-terete, fleshy, linear and up to 35 mm long, the upper ones are scale-like, only 1–4 mm long, basally and laterally and mostly at the tip with narrow membranaceous margin. The bracts resemble the leaves, at the upper flowers they are shorter than bracteoles and flowers, with membranaceous margin all around. The bracteoles are scale-like, transverse-oval, with membranaceous margin all around, adjacent to the flowers, together with the bract forming a low cup. The flowers are 3,2-5,0 mm long with oval tepals, the stigmas are truncate at their tip. The winged fruit is 11–17 mm in diameter, their wings inserted in or a bit below the middle. The tube of the fruit is dish-like, narrowed to its base, with prominent ridges, at its bottom with flat, oval to round pits.
The species is classified into three subspecies:
- ssp. subaphyllus
- ssp. psammophilus, a shrub up to 2,5 m with shorter and thinner flower-bearing branches and longer upper leaves.
- ssp. charifii, with conspicuous tufts of long curly hairs in the axils of the leaves.
Distribution
The distribution area of Halothamnus subaphyllus includes Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Baluchistan). It grows in steppe, semideserts and deserts on stony, clayey or sandy ground, often on salty or gypsum soils, up to 2400 m above sea-level.
Cultivation and uses
Halothamnus subaphyllus is an important fodder plant of the grazed deserts of Middle Asia. It is eaten by sheep, goats and camels[1] and by cattle,[2] therefore it is cultivated in artificial recultivated pasture.[3] Most productive is the subspecies psammophilus. The subspecies psammophilus is also planted for the stabilisation of mobile sand dunes.[1] As traditional medicine, Halothamnus subaphyllus is used for women's diseases, for strengthening of the hair, and against scabies of sheep.[4] and for anthrax and healing of wounds.[5] The plants are rich in medically used alkaloids (Subaphyllin, Salsolin).[6][7] Furthermore it is used as dying agent for tissues.[8] The ash of the plants was formerly used to extract soda and potash for making soap.[9][10] The leaves accumulate boron.[11]
Taxonomy
Halothamnus subaphyllus (C.Meyer) Botsch. s.l., Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk SSSR 18: 171, 1981.
- Synonyms for ssp. subaphyllus
- Salsola subaphylla C.Meyer
- Caroxylon subaphyllum (C.Meyer) Moq
- Salsola subaphylla C.Meyer var. typica Drobov, nom. inval
- Salsola subaphylla C.Meyer ssp. typica (Drobov) Iljin, nom. inval
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen ssp. eu-subaphylla Aellen, nom.inval
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Botsch. ex Aellen, quoad nom.
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen ssp. subaphylla
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen ssp. sabetii Aellen
- Salsola subaphylla C.Meyer var. arenaria Drobov
- Salsola arenaria (Drobov) Iljin, nom. nud
- Salsola subaphylla C.Meyer ssp. arenaria (Drobov) Iljin
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen ssp. turcomanica Aellen
- Aellenia turcomanica (Aellen) Čer.
- Synonyms for ssp. charifii (Aellen) Kothe-Heinr., 1993
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen ssp. charifii Aellen
- Aellenia subaphylla (C.Meyer) Aellen ssp. gracilenta Aellen
- Halothamnus subaphylloides Botsch
- Synonym for ssp. psammophilus (Botsch.) Kothe-Heinr., 1993
- Halothamnus psammophilus Botsch.
- Vernacular names
- Usbekistan: ČOGON, ČOGAN, ČUGON
- Kasachstan: ŠONGAJNA
- Russian: солянка малолистная
References
- Gabriele Kothe-Heinrich: Revision der Gattung Halothamnus (Chenopodiaceae). Bibliotheca Botanica Bd. 143, Schweizerbart, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 978-3-510-48014-2, p. 136-151.
- Gabriele Kothe-Heinrich: Halothamnus. - In: Karl Heinz Rechinger et al. (Edit.): Flora Iranica Bd. 172, Chenopodiaceae - Akad. Druck, Graz 1997, ISBN 3-201-00728-5, p. 285-289 and fig.7-8, tab.158.
- ^ a b G. K. Kinzikaeva: Aellenia. - In: P. N. Občinnikov (Hrsg.): Flora Tadžikskoj SSR 3: p.419-425. - Leningrad: Nauka, 1968
- ^ N. T. Nečaeva u.a.: Žiznennye formy rastenij pustyni Karakumy. - Moskva: Izdat. "Nauka", 1973
- ^ [1] Combating Desertification – Traditional Knowledge and Modern Technology for the Sustainable Manangement of Dryland Ecosystems, UNESCO–MAB Drylands Series No. 4, p.156, 2005
- ^ S. S. Sachobiddinov: Dikorastuŝie lekarstvennye rasteniâ Srednej Azii. - Taškent: Gosizdat Uz.SSR, 1948.
- ^ I. V. Larin: Kormovye rasteniâ senokosov i pastbuŝ SSSR 2. - Moskva/ Leningrad: G.I.S.L. 1951
- ^ A. F. Gammerman u.a.: Lekarstvenny rasteniâ SSSR, rastitelnoe syr'e SSSR. - Moskva, Leningrad: Izd. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1957.
- ^ S. E. Zemlinskij: Lekarstvennye rasteniâ SSSR. - Moskva: Medgiz, 1958.
- ^ O. A. Enden: Krasil'nye rasteniâ Turkmenii. - Trudy Turkmensk. Fil. Akad. Nauk SSSR 5, 1944.
- ^ P. Aellen: Chenopodiaceae. - In: G. Hegi (Hrsg.: K. H. Rechinger): Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa, 2. Aufl. 3(2): p.533-747. - Berlin/Hamburg: Parey, 1961.
- ^ N. V. Pavlov: Rastitel'noe syr'e Kazachstana. - Moskva/Leningrad: Isdat. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1947
- ^ N. M. Amanova & G. K. Kinzikaeva: Marevye (Chenopodiaceae Vent.) Ûžnogo Tadžikistana kak nakopiteli bora. - Izv. Akad. Nauk Tadžiksk. SSR Otd. Biol. Nauk 3: p.18-24, 1973.
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