''Agriophyllum'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
s of the family
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae ( ) is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus '' Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, maki ...
, native to arid regions of Asia with a few occurrences in Eastern Europe. Reaching at most 1m, they are valuable as fodder and for wind‑blown soil capture.
In Kazakhstan, it is known as "kumarshyk". Scientists from the Atyrau Region patented a drink combining kumarshyk with camel's milk that's undergone lactic acid fermentation. In 2021, author Murat Bektenov, who is from the
Ryn Desert
The Ryn Desert or Ryn-Peski Desert (, ''Naryn-Qūmy''; ) is a desert in western Kazakhstan and Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.
Geography
It is located north of the Caspian Sea and southeast of the Volga Upland. The borders of the desert are very lo ...
region, published a book named after the plant. The book outlines how kumarshyk was used for sustenance by Kazakhs during times of war and famine. Like wheat, kumarshyk seeds can be roasted, milled, baked, or even made into porridge.
Species
Species currently accepted by
The Plant List
The Plant List was a list of botanical names of species of plants created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden and launched in 2010. It was intended to be a comprehensive record of all known names of plant specie ...
are as follows:
*''
Agriophyllum lateriflorum''
(Lam.) Moq.
*''
Agriophyllum latifolium''
Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*''
Agriophyllum minus
''Agriophyllum'' is a genus of flowering plants of the family Amaranthaceae, native to arid regions of Asia with a few occurrences in Eastern Europe. Reaching at most 1m, they are valuable as fodder and for wind‑blown soil capture.
In Kazakhst ...
''
Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*''
Agriophyllum montasirii''
El Gazzar
*''
Agriophyllum paletzkianum''
Litv.
*''
Agriophyllum squarrosum
''Agriophyllum'' is a genus of flowering plants of the family Amaranthaceae, native to arid regions of Asia with a few occurrences in Eastern Europe. Reaching at most 1m, they are valuable as fodder and for wind‑blown soil capture.
In Kazakhst ...
''
(L.) Moq.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2986375
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae genera