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Common Name: Manna Plant

General Information

Tamarix gallica is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 4.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

W. Europe - France. Naturalized in Britain[].

Habitat

Damp ground near the coast[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils and tolerant of saline conditions[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils as well as in sands and even shingle[]. Usually found near the coast, it succeeds inland if given a fairly good deep loam and a sunny position[, ]. Tolerant of maritime winds and dry soils when grown near the coast[], plants require a moister soil and shelter from cold drying winds when they are grown inland in non-saline soils because they use the soil salts that are found in saline soils to help them reduce transpiration[].
This species flowers on the current year's growth[]. Any pruning is best carried out in spring, hedges are also best trimmed at this time[]. Plants are tolerant of severe pruning, sprouting freely from old wood[].
The very closely related T. anglica is often included in this species.
A good bee plant[].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[, ].

Edible Uses

A manna is produced by the plants in response to insect damage to the stems[, ]. It is sweet and mucilaginous[]. There is some confusion over whether the manna is produced by the plant, or whether it is an exudation from the insects[]. The insects in question live in the deserts around Israel, it is not known if the manna can be produced in Britain[].

Medicinal

The branchlets and the leaves are astringent and diuretic[]. An external compress is applied to wounds to stop the bleeding[].
The manna produced on the plant is detergent, expectorant and laxative[].
Galls produced on the plant as a result of insect damage are astringent[]. They are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].

Other Uses

Very tolerant of maritime exposure, it makes a good shelter hedge in coastal gardens[, , , ]. It dislikes being trimmed[]. The plant has a rather open habit, however, and so is not tremendously effective at reducing wind speeds[].
The extensive root system of this plant makes it suitable for use in erosion control in sandy soils[].
The plant contains a high level of tannin[]. Galls produced on the plant as a result of insect damage contain up to 40% tannin[]. The tannin can be used as a dyestuff for fabrics[]. (No details are given about the colour, though it is likely to be some shade of brown.)
Wood - fairly hard, not strong, close grained, takes a high polish, it is often twisted or knotty[, , ]. Used for general construction, poles, turnery[, ]. It makes a good fuel, burning well even when green due to the wax content of the wood[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Very easy[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 15 - 25cm long, planted outdoors in late autumn in a nursery bed or straight into their permanent position. High percentage[, ].