Common Name:

General Information

Calligonum comosum is an evergreen shrub, much branched from the base, growing 2 - 3 metres tall and as much or more wider[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

N. Africa - Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt; Asia - Arabian Peninsula, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Irag, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan

Habitat

Sandy soils and dunes[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Calligonum comosum is native to arid regions, often growing in areas where the mean annual rainfall is less than 100mm[].
Requires a well-drained, sandy soil and a sunny position[].

Edible Uses

Flowers - raw[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antiinflammatory and antiulcer[]. It is used in the treatment of gastric problems[].
The young shoots and leaves are made into an ointment and used to treat skin problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has an extensive root system and long taproots that are able to reach down to the water-table. It stabilizes the shifting sands, forming large hummocks[].

Other Uses

The plant is a source of tannins[].

The branches make an excellent firewood[].

We have no more specific information for this species, but the vaarious species of Calligonum, growing mainly in the sandy deserts of Central Asia, often provide the only available source of fuel. They have also long been highly appreciated as planting material for the fixation of shifting sand. Young fruits of some species of the section Pterococcus are used for food, while ripe fruits have weak tanning properties. The hard wood of the taller species is sometimes used for the production of miscellaneous articles[].

Propagation

Seed - very easy[]. The seed is probably best sown in a sunny position in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in early summer of the following year.