Common Name:

General Information

Nitraria retusa is a many-stemmed and profusely branched, erect shrub, forming with age a mound-shape due to the sand that accumulates around it; the plant can grow around 100 - 300cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is an important component of the desert environment, where it helps to stabilize the sand.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern Africa - northern Senegal to Morocco, to Egypt and Sudan; east through the Arabian Peninsular and eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan

Habitat

Dry and saline areas and salt marshes[]. Plains and depressions of the lower steppes[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Nitraria retusa is found mainly in arid and semi-arid regions of the subtropical zone.
Nitraria species generally prefer a light to medium well-drained soil in an open sunny position. Plants are very salt tolerant and usually grow well on saline soils[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A refreshing juice can be extracted from them. The red fruit contains a single seed[]. The fruit is sometimes used to make an intoxicating drink.

The leaves have been used as a source of salt in the desert.

Medicinal

The leaves are applied topically to reduce swellings[].

The ashes of the plant are dusted on infected wounds in order to dry fluids[].

The plant is used to treat dermatitis, abscesses and acne

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a good sand dune stabilizer. It stabilizes the sand by putting out lots of branches that cover the ground[].
The plant is an indicator of gypsophilous soils.

Other Uses

The wood is used for fuel in areas where there is very little woody material available.

Propagation

Seed - germinates best at 18-22°c. The seed is contained in a woody fruit. Pre-soaking for 24 hours in warm water can improve germination, cracking the woody shell (being careful not to damage the fseed) is also beneficial. Even then the seed can take one to severl months to germinate.
The seed germinates much better if it has passed through the digestive system - in particular the fruits were a favourite food for emus and defacated seeds would have a much higher germination rate[].