''Zaleya pentandra'' is a prostrate perennial herb of the
Aizoaceae
The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice plants' or 'carpet weeds'. The Aizoaceae are also referred to a ...
family. It is widespread in semi-arid and arid climes and also in woodlands and can adapt to different ecological zones.
Distribution
The species is native to Africa with further dispersal to the
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the ...
,
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, and
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
.
It is sometimes called African purslane. It grows as a xero-
halophyte
A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. ...
herb in desert regions of
Cholistan
The Cholistan Desert (; ; Saraiki: ), also locally known as Rohi (), is a desert in the southern part of Punjab, Pakistan, Pakistani Punjab that forms part of the Greater Thar Desert, which extends to Sindh province and the Indian state of Rajast ...
and
Thar in Pakistan.
Description
The stems are
papillose
This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...
to glabrous and branches pubescent. Leaves can grow in various sizes, 1.5 – 4 cm long and 0.6 - 2.7 broad; oblanceolate to elliptical, dark green with a tinge of grey on the surface. Petioles are shorter than the blade at about 8 – 11 cm long with sheathing at the base.
Uses
A material used by some locals in folk medicine, root and leaf extracts are applied to treat snake bites, cough or stomach issues.
However, it is also considered highly toxic in some areas in India and as an
invasive weed
An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native species ...
in regions of Pakistan.
In
Senegal
Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...
, it is used as cattle fodder.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15567637
Flora of West Tropical Africa
Aizoaceae