Zygophyllum simplex
Linn.
Simple-leaved bean caper
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) grinnin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) grinnin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) brendanwj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaZygophyllum simplex, synonym Tetraena simplex, commonly known as hureim or simple-leaved bean caper, is a halophytic flowering plant that is distributed in arid regions of the Western Asia and Africa. It is an annual and has a history of being used in Arabic folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory.
Description
A succulent annual herb. It can be a straggly plant in dry conditions or a rounded mat in damp conditions. It grows 10 cm high. The leaves are fleshy and bright green. They are simple and cylinder shaped. The flowers are yellow. They occur singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. They smell sweetly at night. The fruit vary in shape but are succulent when fresh. They contain 1-9 seeds.
Edible Uses
The seeds are eaten.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. It can grow in salty soils. It can be grown to reduce soil salinity. It is very salt tolerant. In Bahrain it grows in sandy, gravelly or stony soils. It grows between sea level and 1,370 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Asia, Bahrain, Botswana, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chad, Comoros, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Kenya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Middle East, Namibia, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Reunion, Saudi Arabia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Yemen,
Also Known As
Alethi, Haram, Kabaqooyis, Lunio, Lunwa, Onona, Qarmal, Um thareeb
References (5)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 705
- Karim, F. M. & Dakheel, A, J., 2006, Salt-tolerant plants of the United Arab Emirates. 2006. International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dubai, UAE. p 158
- Phillips, D.C., 1988, Wild Flowers of Bahrain. A Field Guide to Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees. Privately published. p 176
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 13th June 2011]
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
