(aphylla) and T. gallica are classified as heliophylous species with efficient sexual
and vegetative reproduction with a large production of seeds and a high success rate
in germination and cuttings (Lavaine et al. 2011b). Often in arid and semiarid
Algerian areas, their regeneration process is blocked by a harsh environmental
condition such salinity (DGF 2017), which require the presence of symbiotic
microorganisms such arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to accomplish their regeneration
(Bencherif et al. 2019a). However, T. articulata (aphylla) and T. gallica are cited for
their biological adaptation strategy for many abiotic stresses. Such as in salinized
areas for salt extraction in South Africa (Newet et al. 2018), in dunes’ fixation, and in
inhabiting degraded areas, which would otherwise be subjected to desertification
(Newete et al. 2020). These ecological roles of Tamarix species are still not well
known and not exploited (Kuzminsky et al. 2014). Thus the use of Tamarix species
to study the biological process adaptation to abiotic stress is rare, for that, in this
book chapter, we focused on the biological (morphological, anatomical, and biochemical) strategies adopted by two Tamarix species (T. articulata and T. gallica) to
alleviate the most abundant abiotic stresses in Algerian arid and semiarid areas. At
first Tamarix spp is presented in Algerian areas, before focalizing on the two
abundant species Tamarix articulata and Tamarix gallica, dealing with the ecological, physiological, morphological, and biological strategies employed on abiotic
stress adaptation with the aim of generating consciousness who will serve as serious
perspective for the degraded Algerian and Mediterranean areas.
14.2 Biology, Ecology, and Phylogeography of Tamarix Genus
in Algeria
Tamarix genus are the first genus of four one composed Tamaricaeae family,
Hololachna; Myricaria; Reaumuria, and Tamarix. Angiosperm phylogeny group
classification (APG 2016) places this family under Caryophyllales order, with
78 total species whose 60 are placed under Tamarix genera (Christenhusz and
Bung 2016). The species of Tamarix genus are characterized by multibranched
riparian trees, which are up to 12 m high (such T. articulata), or shrubs with
6–8 m high (T. gallica). These species are considered to be tolerant of highly saline
soil, hence their common name “Saltcedar” (Brotherson and Field 1987; Marlin et al.
2017). The Tamarix species can excrete salt through specialized glands in their
leaves which increases the salinity of the soil surface under the tree canopy and may
make the surrounding area unusable by other species (Thomson and Liu 1967;
Marlin et al. 2017). But this faculty can be useful for phytoremediation of
contaminated soils (Manousaki and Kalogerakis 2009; Marlin et al. 2017; Newete
et al. 2020). Tamarix are long lived (up to 100 years), and are classified as facultative
phreatophytes because of their extensive, deep, root systems (up to 30 m), allowing
the plants to exploit deep water tables, and tolerate drought stress (Brotherson and
Field 1987; Marlin et al. 2017). Tamarix species have two forms of growth:
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
403
and vegetative reproduction with a large production of seeds and a high success rate
in germination and cuttings (Lavaine et al. 2011b). Often in arid and semiarid
Algerian areas, their regeneration process is blocked by a harsh environmental
condition such salinity (DGF 2017), which require the presence of symbiotic
microorganisms such arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to accomplish their regeneration
(Bencherif et al. 2019a). However, T. articulata (aphylla) and T. gallica are cited for
their biological adaptation strategy for many abiotic stresses. Such as in salinized
areas for salt extraction in South Africa (Newet et al. 2018), in dunes’ fixation, and in
inhabiting degraded areas, which would otherwise be subjected to desertification
(Newete et al. 2020). These ecological roles of Tamarix species are still not well
known and not exploited (Kuzminsky et al. 2014). Thus the use of Tamarix species
to study the biological process adaptation to abiotic stress is rare, for that, in this
book chapter, we focused on the biological (morphological, anatomical, and biochemical) strategies adopted by two Tamarix species (T. articulata and T. gallica) to
alleviate the most abundant abiotic stresses in Algerian arid and semiarid areas. At
first Tamarix spp is presented in Algerian areas, before focalizing on the two
abundant species Tamarix articulata and Tamarix gallica, dealing with the ecological, physiological, morphological, and biological strategies employed on abiotic
stress adaptation with the aim of generating consciousness who will serve as serious
perspective for the degraded Algerian and Mediterranean areas.
14.2 Biology, Ecology, and Phylogeography of Tamarix Genus
in Algeria
Tamarix genus are the first genus of four one composed Tamaricaeae family,
Hololachna; Myricaria; Reaumuria, and Tamarix. Angiosperm phylogeny group
classification (APG 2016) places this family under Caryophyllales order, with
78 total species whose 60 are placed under Tamarix genera (Christenhusz and
Bung 2016). The species of Tamarix genus are characterized by multibranched
riparian trees, which are up to 12 m high (such T. articulata), or shrubs with
6–8 m high (T. gallica). These species are considered to be tolerant of highly saline
soil, hence their common name “Saltcedar” (Brotherson and Field 1987; Marlin et al.
2017). The Tamarix species can excrete salt through specialized glands in their
leaves which increases the salinity of the soil surface under the tree canopy and may
make the surrounding area unusable by other species (Thomson and Liu 1967;
Marlin et al. 2017). But this faculty can be useful for phytoremediation of
contaminated soils (Manousaki and Kalogerakis 2009; Marlin et al. 2017; Newete
et al. 2020). Tamarix are long lived (up to 100 years), and are classified as facultative
phreatophytes because of their extensive, deep, root systems (up to 30 m), allowing
the plants to exploit deep water tables, and tolerate drought stress (Brotherson and
Field 1987; Marlin et al. 2017). Tamarix species have two forms of growth:
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
403