P64.pdf

Tamarix gallica L.
Tamarix gallica L.
T. anglica WebbTamarix algeriensis Hort.
Tamarix brachylepis Sennen Tamarix madritensis Pau & Villar Tamarix: according to Bonnier, this refers to a smallstream in the Pyrenees; gallica: from France Arabic: fersig
Berber: tazuat
English: French tamarisk, saltcedar
French: tamaris de France
■ Status
According to the IUCN criteria this Mediterranean and
■ Morphological description
Saharo-sindian species falls into the "C" category.
A tall perennial shrub/small tree, densely ramified, The French tamarisk, a common garden plant, 2-10 m. high. The purple-brown bark is initially spreads vegetatively by adventitious roots or smooth with numerous elongated lenticels, later developing shallow splits and becoming roughwhen mature. The tiny, scale-like, 1-3 mm.-long ■ Part used
leaves are green or grey-green. The small flowers The leaves and bark are collected in the spring and have 5 lavender pink or white petals 1.5-2 mm.
prepared as an infusion, a decoction and a powder.
long, numerous on long, very slender, spike-like This can be taken by mouth, or used as an external racemes in terminal panicles. The fruits are small dry capsules containing small cottony seeds. Thecapsules are conical, trigonous, tapering and pale ■ Constituents
Its principal constituent is an alkaloid, tamarixin, Flowering starts around March and lasts until May.
along with traces of its aglocone, tamarixetin. The In the central Sahara it has been observed in full plant also contains a high level of tannin (ellagic and gallic) and quercetol (methyllic esther).
■ Geographical distribution
■ Pharmacological action and
Local: Common in Algeria.
toxicity
Regional: North Africa.
Astringent, tonic, diuretic, hepatic stimulant and Global: Mediterranean and throughout the Sahara,
The plant is not reported to be toxic.
■ Ecology
■ Pharmacopeias
Tamarix gallica is abundant along streams and wadis, on the banks of the rivers in moist sandysoil, with a high salt content. It has long taproots ■ Pharmaceutical products
that can penetrate to the deep water tables. The Product Range Bonnisan, Geriforte (GeriCare / French tamarisk thrives within a wide range of rain- StressCare), Liv.52 (LiverCare), Liv.52 drops, fall (around 600 mm./year in the Mediterranean Digyton, Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet, Liv.52 Vet.
regions to 100 mm./year in the Sahara).
A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa ■ Traditional medicine and local
Internet source 3 : http://www.naturalhealthcon- knowledge
It is used as an anthelmintic, antihaemorrhoid andhaemostat and for diarrhoea and gingivitis.
The plant is used to cure dromedary galls. It is used Bellakhdar, J., 1997. La pharmacopée marocaine for dyeing and as fuel. It is very tolerant of maritime traditionnelle. Médecine arabe ancienne et exposure and is a good shelter hedge in coastal savoirs populaires. IBIS Press. 764 p.
gardens. It is excellent for soil stabilisation thanks Benhouhou, S.S. & Saadoun, N., 1986. Contribution to its extensive root system and is suitable for use à l'étude de la flore de la région de Béni- Abbès. Undergraduate thesis. University of In Tissint (Morocco), powdered Tamarix gallica is given as a vermifuge and antidiarrhoeic. An infusion Duke, J.A. Phytochemical Database, USDA - ARS - of the leaves is taken for colds. It is considered as NGRL, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, In the Dra (Morocco), the nomads lie on a bed of Maire, R., 1940. Etudes sur la flore et la végétation fresh leaves to ease rheumatic pain.
du Sahara central. Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat.
Afrique Nord, Alger 3. pp. 1-433.
■ References
Ozenda, P., 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Ed.
Quézel, P. & Santa, S., 1962-1963. Nouvelle Flore Mukerjee, A.B. & Dasgupta, M., 1971. Cirrhosis of de l'Algérie et des régions désertiques méridio- Indigenous Drug: Liv.52. Journal of the Indian Sitouh, M., 1989. Les plantes utiles du Sahara. Ann.
Inst. Nat. Agro. El Harrach, Alger, vol. 13, n°2.
http//www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgibin/pfaf/arr_html Trabut, L., 1935. Répertoires des noms indigènes des plantes spontanées, cultivées et utilisées http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfin- Centenaire de l'Algérie, Alger. 355 p.
A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa

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