Tamarix aphylla
(L.) Karsten, Deut. Fl. 641.1882. Thuja aphylla L., Cent. Pl. 1:
32. 1755, p.p. Tamarix orientalis Forsskal, Fl. Aegypt-Arab. 206. 1775. T. articulata Vahl,
Symb. Bot. 2: 48, t. 32. 1791, nom. illegit; Dyer in Fl. Brit. India 1: 249. 1874.
Guj.: Lal-jhav-nu-jhudu; Hindi: Lal-jhav; Punj.: Farash, Kharlei, Narlei; Raj.: Farash; Tam.: Shivappu-atru-shavukku.
Small trees or tall shrubs, 2.5 - 11 m high. Leaves vaginate, the free part broadly triangular to triangular, abruptly acute to acuminate at apex, (0.2-) 0.5 - 3 mm long. Racemes mostly aestival, simple or compound, each 3.5 - 6.5 (- 9 .5) x 0.3 - 0.4(-0.6) cm; rachis glabrous; bracts vaginate in lower part, amplexicaul in upper part, 1.5 - 2 mm long, triangular, acute to acuminate at apex, denticulate to subentire, Flowers subsessile, pink or pinkish white, fragrant. Sepals 5, almost free, 1 - 1.5 (- 2) x 1 - 1.5 (-1.7) mm, broadly ovate to suborbicular, rounded at apex, obscurely denticulate, outer two slightly smaller than inner three. Petals 5, (1.5 -) 2 - 2.5 x 1 - 1.5 mm, oblong, oblong-elliptic or oblong-ovate, subpersistent to caducous. Stamens exserted; filametns (1.5 -) 2 - 3 mm long, mesodiscine. Disc ca 1 mm across, 5 - lobed, lobes notched. Capsules 3.5 - 4.5 x 1.3 - 2(-3.5) mm. Seeds ca 0.5 mm long;coma 2 - 3 mm long.
Fl. May - Aug.; Fr. Sept. - Dec.
Distrib. India: In sandy, saline habitats along streams and rivers. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, S.W. Asia and E.,N. & W. Africa.
Notes. Often cultivated as an ornamental, wind breaker and hedge. It is also recommended for planting in shifting sands. The timber is used in house building, for making agricultural implements and furniture etc. Baskets are made out of twigs and the wood is valued as cheap fuel. The bark and galls are used in tanning and as a mordant in dyeing. The bark is employed in treatment of eczema and other skin diseases. The galls and bark are astringent. The species is also a source of manna.
Chromosome number 2n = 24 (Bowden, W.M.,Amer. J. Bot. 32: 195. 1945).
Small trees or tall shrubs, 2.5 - 11 m high. Leaves vaginate, the free part broadly triangular to triangular, abruptly acute to acuminate at apex, (0.2-) 0.5 - 3 mm long. Racemes mostly aestival, simple or compound, each 3.5 - 6.5 (- 9 .5) x 0.3 - 0.4(-0.6) cm; rachis glabrous; bracts vaginate in lower part, amplexicaul in upper part, 1.5 - 2 mm long, triangular, acute to acuminate at apex, denticulate to subentire, Flowers subsessile, pink or pinkish white, fragrant. Sepals 5, almost free, 1 - 1.5 (- 2) x 1 - 1.5 (-1.7) mm, broadly ovate to suborbicular, rounded at apex, obscurely denticulate, outer two slightly smaller than inner three. Petals 5, (1.5 -) 2 - 2.5 x 1 - 1.5 mm, oblong, oblong-elliptic or oblong-ovate, subpersistent to caducous. Stamens exserted; filametns (1.5 -) 2 - 3 mm long, mesodiscine. Disc ca 1 mm across, 5 - lobed, lobes notched. Capsules 3.5 - 4.5 x 1.3 - 2(-3.5) mm. Seeds ca 0.5 mm long;coma 2 - 3 mm long.
Fl. May - Aug.; Fr. Sept. - Dec.
Distrib. India: In sandy, saline habitats along streams and rivers. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, S.W. Asia and E.,N. & W. Africa.
Notes. Often cultivated as an ornamental, wind breaker and hedge. It is also recommended for planting in shifting sands. The timber is used in house building, for making agricultural implements and furniture etc. Baskets are made out of twigs and the wood is valued as cheap fuel. The bark and galls are used in tanning and as a mordant in dyeing. The bark is employed in treatment of eczema and other skin diseases. The galls and bark are astringent. The species is also a source of manna.
Chromosome number 2n = 24 (Bowden, W.M.,Amer. J. Bot. 32: 195. 1945).
