Salsola imbricata

Salsola imbricata is a small species of shrub in the family Amaranthaceae. It grows in deserts and arid regions of north Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Asia.

Salsola imbricata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Subfamily:	Salsoloideae
Genus:	Salsola
Species:	S. imbricata
Binomial name
Salsola imbricata Forssk.
Synonyms
Caroxylon imbricatum (Forssk.) Moq.[1] Salsola baryosma (Schult.) Dandy [2]

Taxonomy

Salsola imbricata was first described in 1775 by the Swedish naturalist Peter Forsskål.[3] In 1849, Alfred Moquin-Tandon transferred it to the genus Caroxylon, making it Caroxylon imbricatum (Forssk.) Moq.,[1] but later it was mostly accepted in genus Salsola. Following a phylogenetic analysis of Salsoloideae in 2007 by Akhani, H., et al., it has been proposed to place Salsola imbricata back to Caroxylon imbricatum.[4] This matter is unresolved by ThePlantList,[5] but accepted by GBIF.[6]

Description

S. imbricata is a small, spreading shrub or sub-shrub growing up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall. The grey or reddish stems are up to 2 cm (0.8 in) thick and these and the lower leaves are densely hairy. In the upper parts of the plant the stems are creamy or pale grey and branch frequently, some branches growing vertically while others spread horizontally. Regularly-arranged, catkin-like branchlets project from the branches. The leaves are tiny, succulent and linear or narrowly triangular. The inflorescence is spike-like with bracts similar to the leaves, small flowers with 5 petals, 5 stamens and 2 styles. The fruiting perianth has silky wings.[7]

Distribution and habitat

This plant has a widespread distribution across the desert belt of Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, southern Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and northwestern India. It typically grows in disturbed areas such as runnels, washes, dry wadis, eroded slopes and coastal cliffs. It grows on various soil types and is a ruderal species, colonising fallow land and over-grazed pastures.[7]

Ecology

S. imbricata is a halophytic plant; under conditions of salt stress, the plant increases its water content (becomes more succulent) and decreases the surface area of its leaves.[8] Tests on the germination rates of seeds show that Salsola imbricata sprouts more quickly and consistently at 20 °C than at higher temperatures, and shows higher germination rates at lower salinity levels than high ones. However, seeds treated at high salinity levels recovered their germination potential after immersion in unsalted water.[9]

The species has traditionally been used as a vermifuge and for treating certain skin disorders.[8] Five triterpene glycosides have been isolated from the roots of Salsola imbricata, two of them being new glycoside derivatives not previously known.[10]

References

1. "Caroxylon imbricatum". The International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
2. "Salsola baryosma (Schult.) Dandy". The Plant List. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
3. "Salsola imbricata". The International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
4. Akhani, Hossein; Edwards, Gerald; Roalson, Eric H. (2007). "Diversification of the Old World Salsoleae s.l. (Chenopodiaceae): Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Nuclear and Chloroplast Data Sets and a Revised Classification". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 168 (6): 931–956. doi:10.1086/518263.
5. "Caroxylon imbricatum Moq". The Plant List. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
6. "Caroxylon imbricatum (Forssk.) Moq". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
7. "Salsola imbricata var. imbricata". Flora of Pakistan. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
8. Khan, M. Ajmal; Böer, Benno; Barth, Hans-Jörg; Kust, German S. (2006). Sabkha Ecosystems: Volume II: West and Central Asia. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 143–147. ISBN 978-1-4020-5071-8.
9. El-Keblawy, A.; Al-Ansari, F.; Hassan, N.; Al-Shamsi, N. (2007). "Salinity, temperature and light affect germination of Salsola imbricata". Seed Science and Technology. 35 (2): 272–281. doi:10.15258/sst.2007.35.2.03.
10. Hamed, Arafa I.; Masullo, Milena; Sheded, Mohamed G.; Mahalel, Usama A.; Tawfik, Moatz M.; Perrone, Angela; Piacente, Sonia (2011). "Triterpene saponins from Salsola imbricata". Phytochemistry Letters. 4 (3): 353–356. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2011.07.010.