TamarixgallicaL.

CommonName Family Synonyms KnownHazards Habitats

Noneknown Dampgroundnearthecoast[17, 100]. W.EuropeFrance.Naturalized inBritain[17]. MannaPlant Tamaricaceae

Range

EdibilityRating

MedicinalRating Care

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:TeunSpaans

Summary

PhysicalCharacteristics

TamarixgallicaisadeciduousShrubgrowingto4m(13ft)by6m(19ft)ata mediumrate. Itishardytozone5.ItisinflowerfromJuntoAugust.Theflowersare hermaphrodite(havebothmaleandfemaleorgans)andarepollinatedby Bees.Itisnotedforattractingwildlife. Suitablefor:light(sandy),medium(loamy)andheavy(clay)soils,preferswell drainedsoilandcangrowinheavyclaysoil.SuitablepH:acid,neutralandbasic (alkaline)soilsandcangrowinveryalkalineandsalinesoils. Itcannotgrowintheshade.Itprefersdryormoistsoil.Theplantcantolerate maritimeexposure.

Habitats
WoodlandGardenSunnyEdgeDappledShadeHedge EdibleUses EdibleParts:Manna. EdibleUses:

Amannaisproducedbytheplantsinresponsetoinsectdamagetothestems[2,105].Itissweetandmucilaginous[105].Thereissomeconfusionoverwhetherthe mannaisproducedbytheplant,orwhetheritisanexudationfromtheinsects[4].TheinsectsinquestionliveinthedesertsaroundIsrael,itisnotknownifthemanna canbeproducedinBritain[K]. MedicinalUses

PlantsForAFuturecannottakeanyresponsibilityforanyadverseeffectsfromtheuseofplants.Alwaysseekadvicefromaprofessionalbeforeusingaplant medicinally. AstringentDetergentDiureticExpectorantLaxative. Thebranchletsandtheleavesareastringentanddiuretic[7].Anexternalcompressisappliedtowoundstostopthebleeding[7].Themannaproducedontheplantis detergent,expectorantandlaxative[240].Gallsproducedontheplantasaresultofinsectdamageareastringent[240].Theyareusedinthetreatmentofdiarrhoeaand dysentery[240]. OtherUses DyeFuelHedgeHedgeSoilstabilizationTanninWood. Verytolerantofmaritimeexposure,itmakesagoodshelterhedgeincoastalgardens[7,11,49,75].Itdislikesbeingtrimmed[75].Theplanthasaratheropenhabit, however,andsoisnottremendouslyeffectiveatreducingwindspeeds[K].Theextensiverootsystemofthisplantmakesitsuitableforuseinerosioncontrolinsandy soils[149].Theplantcontainsahighleveloftannin[7].Gallsproducedontheplantasaresultofinsectdamagecontainupto40%tannin[240].Thetannincanbeused asadyestuffforfabrics[7].(Nodetailsaregivenaboutthecolour,thoughitislikelytobesomeshadeofbrown.)Woodfairlyhard,notstrong,closegrained,takesa highpolish,itisoftentwistedorknotty[61,149,227].Usedforgeneralconstruction,poles,turnery[61,149].Itmakesagoodfuel,burningwellevenwhengreendueto thewaxcontentofthewood[74].