Tamarix hispida

Plant Name

Tamarix hispida Willd.

Botanical Info

Shrub or tree up to 6 m heigh

Geography:

Central Asia: Aral-Caspian Sea (south), Balkhash (south), the Kara-Kum-Kum Kyz., Amu Darya, Syr Darya, Turkmenistan mountains, Pamir-Alai (upper r. Amu Darya), Tien-Shan. (North). It is found on river valleys salt marshes and along the shores of lakes; also on saline sands.

Chemical Content

Root bark:Tannins 6.4%. Stems. Tannins to 3.3 ‘%. The bark: Coumarins 0.23%. Tannins 6.2%. Flavonoids 2.1%.Anthocyanins. Green twigs. Coumarins 0.18%. Tannins to 2.8%. 1.2% of flavonoids: quercetin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol, tamarixetin, tamarixin. Flowers. Coumarins 0.08%. Tannins 5.7%. 2.6% of flavonoids: quercetin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol, tamarixetin, tamarixin. Anthocyanins 8.75%. Fruit. Coumarins 0.16%. Tannins 16.88-22.58%. Flavonoids 3.44%. Anthocyanins 6.2%.

Traditional Use and Activity

In Central Asia, fresh plant juice is used in the treatment of ulcerative stomatitis. In the South West of Kazakhstan – it is widely used as fuel. In Uzbekistan the roots are astringent ans are used to treat gastro-intestinal diseases. Stems makes good material to strengthen railway embankments, walls of wells, etc. In Central Asia, bark is an astringent for gastro-intestinal diseases. Green twigs are used as dying agents staining skin in cherry tones and colouring wool in gray, green and yellow hues. Silk is dyed in yellow and brown tones with aqueous extract of the twigs and buds. Yellow, brown, maroon and violet colour effects are controlled with the application of different mordants. In Central Asia leaves are used in the treatments of rheumatism. Leaves are decorative.