ornamentals, windbreaks, or as stabilize stream banks from those areas, such as in
North America in 1823 (Jaseim et al. 2019) and on steppic Algerian areas (DGF
2017). It is widely distributed in many arid areas of North Africa (Battandier 1907;
Ferlin 1981). T. articulata was naturally recorded in Algerian Sahara where it was
required for their gall “Takaout” used by local population for staining. For that it was
often cultivated in oasis. After 1880, it was more cultivated in the Tell, but it does not
produce the gall, because the insect that bites it to produce the gall is absent
(Battandier 1907). T. articulata (aphylla) is a long flowering and spreading trees,
which grown up 15 meters high with pendulous multi-divided branches and long
lived about 100 years (Jaseim et al. 2019). The old one has different roots lateral and
deep to adsorb the water and minerals (Litwak 1957; Jaseim et al. 2019). It rises in
very varied soils, since from sandy soils to dirty soils in depressions. It is a
particularly interesting species due to its extreme drought resistance, salt tolerance,
ease of multiplication by cuttings, and its speed of growth in favorable conditions. It
is also one of the rare woody species that can be used both north and south of the
Sahara (Ferlin 1981).
In Algerian areas, Tamarix articulata formed a natural eco-botanical group
“NERIO-TAMARICETEA BRAUN-BLANQUET and BOLOS 1958” (BraunBlanquet and Bolos 1958). This class colonizes the sandy areas with a little deep
of aquifer undergrounded water; it has been identified in the region of Ben Khellil
(Nâama) and in Taghit (Bechar). Tamarix articulata represent a dominant botanical
group in this region named: “TAMARICETALIA AFRICANAE” and second name
“TAMARICION AFRICANAE” by Braun-Blanquet and Blos (1958). T. articulata
group was identified in: (1) Sandy valleys of great Saharan wadis (Guir, Zousfana);
and in (2) Border of depression (Dayet Tiour: Taghit; Oglat Ed-Daïra: Naâma). This
group is distributed in saline depressions with superficial underground water with the
presence of thick alluvium retaining constant humidity, which qualified them as
“Azonal vegetation.”
14.2.4 Tamarix gallica L.
(Tamariscus gallicus, Tamariscus narbonensis, Tamariscus pentandra (unresolved
name), T. anglica). Tamarix gallica is a species of smaller size than T. aphylla, it is
not exceeding 6–9 m high, and more often bushy. It can be used for fixing the dunes
(Ferlin 1981), as used in Algerian steppic areas for fixing the cordon dune (INRF
1984). But T. aphylla is usually preferred due to its greater development (Ferlin
1981). T. gallica is a shrub with reddish brown bark and thin hairless twigs,
appearing feathery. The leaves are alternate, of a pinkish white green, they are
only about 5 mm in diameter, but very numerous, arranged in dense spikes, giving
the whole plant a pink coloring. The fruit is a seed topped with a short tuft of hair
(Belhadj-Sgheir et al. 2019). T. gallica is one of the constituents of Indian traditional
herbal recipes, which is hepatotonic, stimulant and has been used traditionally in the
treatment of various liver disorders (Bettaib et al. 2017). Moreover, recent study
reported that T. gallica has a potent chemopreventive effect and may suppress
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
407
North America in 1823 (Jaseim et al. 2019) and on steppic Algerian areas (DGF
2017). It is widely distributed in many arid areas of North Africa (Battandier 1907;
Ferlin 1981). T. articulata was naturally recorded in Algerian Sahara where it was
required for their gall “Takaout” used by local population for staining. For that it was
often cultivated in oasis. After 1880, it was more cultivated in the Tell, but it does not
produce the gall, because the insect that bites it to produce the gall is absent
(Battandier 1907). T. articulata (aphylla) is a long flowering and spreading trees,
which grown up 15 meters high with pendulous multi-divided branches and long
lived about 100 years (Jaseim et al. 2019). The old one has different roots lateral and
deep to adsorb the water and minerals (Litwak 1957; Jaseim et al. 2019). It rises in
very varied soils, since from sandy soils to dirty soils in depressions. It is a
particularly interesting species due to its extreme drought resistance, salt tolerance,
ease of multiplication by cuttings, and its speed of growth in favorable conditions. It
is also one of the rare woody species that can be used both north and south of the
Sahara (Ferlin 1981).
In Algerian areas, Tamarix articulata formed a natural eco-botanical group
“NERIO-TAMARICETEA BRAUN-BLANQUET and BOLOS 1958” (BraunBlanquet and Bolos 1958). This class colonizes the sandy areas with a little deep
of aquifer undergrounded water; it has been identified in the region of Ben Khellil
(Nâama) and in Taghit (Bechar). Tamarix articulata represent a dominant botanical
group in this region named: “TAMARICETALIA AFRICANAE” and second name
“TAMARICION AFRICANAE” by Braun-Blanquet and Blos (1958). T. articulata
group was identified in: (1) Sandy valleys of great Saharan wadis (Guir, Zousfana);
and in (2) Border of depression (Dayet Tiour: Taghit; Oglat Ed-Daïra: Naâma). This
group is distributed in saline depressions with superficial underground water with the
presence of thick alluvium retaining constant humidity, which qualified them as
“Azonal vegetation.”
14.2.4 Tamarix gallica L.
(Tamariscus gallicus, Tamariscus narbonensis, Tamariscus pentandra (unresolved
name), T. anglica). Tamarix gallica is a species of smaller size than T. aphylla, it is
not exceeding 6–9 m high, and more often bushy. It can be used for fixing the dunes
(Ferlin 1981), as used in Algerian steppic areas for fixing the cordon dune (INRF
1984). But T. aphylla is usually preferred due to its greater development (Ferlin
1981). T. gallica is a shrub with reddish brown bark and thin hairless twigs,
appearing feathery. The leaves are alternate, of a pinkish white green, they are
only about 5 mm in diameter, but very numerous, arranged in dense spikes, giving
the whole plant a pink coloring. The fruit is a seed topped with a short tuft of hair
(Belhadj-Sgheir et al. 2019). T. gallica is one of the constituents of Indian traditional
herbal recipes, which is hepatotonic, stimulant and has been used traditionally in the
treatment of various liver disorders (Bettaib et al. 2017). Moreover, recent study
reported that T. gallica has a potent chemopreventive effect and may suppress
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
407