Salsola melitensis
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
Salsola melitensis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Salsola |
Species: | S. melitensis
|
Binomial name | |
Salsola melitensis |
Salsola melitensis is an endemic vascular plant of the Maltese archipelago. Its generic name is derived from the Latin word “salsus” which means salty, attributing to the salt tolerant nature of the species within this genus. The genus name was published in 1753 in the Species Plantarum composed by Carl Linnaeus but was reclassified again by Akhani et al. in 2007.
Classification
The Maltese Salt Tree (MT: Xebb / Siġra tal-Irmied) is scientifically known as Salsola melitensis Botsch., or its synonym Darniella melitensis (Botsch.) Brullo. Work towards the identification and classification of Salsola melitensis began in around 1970 when Lanfranco and Brullo confirmed that Salsola vermiculata (now Caroxylon vermiculatum) did not occur in Malta, contrary to what was so far reported, since Maltese specimens of purported S. vermiculata did not correspond to any existing taxonomic description at the time. S. melitensis was eventually classified by Botschantzev in 1976 from a herbarium specimen in Leningrad, establishing it as distinct from Salsola vermiculata with which it was confused for many years since 1915 after Sommier and Caruana Gatto's description.
Its generic name is derived from the Latin word “salsus” which means salty, attributing to the salt tolerant nature of the species within this genus. The genus name was published in 1753 in the Species Plantarum composed by Carl Linnaeus but was reclassified again by Akhani et al. in 2007; the number of species belonging to this genus amount to around 178 according to The Plant List. Species in the Salsola genus were reorganised various times, and their synonyms may be found in: Darniella Maire & Weiller, Fadenia Aellen & Townsend, Neocaspia Tzvelev, Hypocylix Wol., and Seidlitzia Bunge ex Boiss. In 1984, some shrubby species in the Salsola genus were reorganised according to Brullo under the Darniella genus, which was created by Maire and Weiller in 1939. Salsola melitensis was until then known as Darniella meliltensis. In 2000, the classification of the 12 Darniella species proposed by Brullo was rejected by Govaerts, and its species were included back in the Salsola genus.[2][3]
Botanic characteristics
Salsola species are defined by Haslam and Freitag et al. as rarely annuals (such as
Occurrence
Salsola species are normally distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Given that its seeds are winged, minuscule and therefore easily transported by wind, S. melitensis is known to colonise sea-side cliffs where it can avoid anthropogenic pressure; the plant is historically reported to also grow on slanting walls in fortifications in many parts of Malta, Gozo and Comino, and is reported to grow in the fortifications of the Citadel and Xagħra. In 1927, Borg reported S. melitensis (under the name of S. vermiculata) as being rare in Malta and occurring in Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġa, and seaside cliffs in Dingli and Baħrija. In 2020, Brullo et al. reported that S. melitensis (= D. melitensis) occurs in so-called permasigmeta and geopermasigmeta habitats composing Suaedo verae-Darnellio melitensis communities on dry marly-clayey outcrops near the sea that allow for salty/nitrophilous environments. The plant is reported as being very resilient to harsh abiotic conditions, including lack of water, strong winds, sea spray and very little soil. Brullo et al. report the plant occurring in various locations providing comprehensive coverage in their account, including Baħrija valley, Għar Lapsi, Mġarr ix-Xini, Xlendi valley, Babu valley, Dikkiena cliffs, Tal-Bardan cliffs, Ta’ Ċenċ, Dwejra, Dingli, Comino, and some others. According to Mifsud et al. the species does not occur in Selmunett despite having been historically reported to occur there.[5][6][7]
Legal protection
The conservation status of S. melitensis is “not evaluated” according to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility , and does not appear listed within the Red List of the IUCN. It is listed as threatened in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Malta.
Uses and benefits
The Maltese salt tree is a rather unknown plant outside of Malta, and virtually no research on its biology or biochemistry has been done on it internationally. It is not within the inventory of plants of the Seed Information Database of the
Some medicinal and cosmetic uses are also attributed to Salsola species, such as in the treatment of heart and skin conditions, or also cough. For several Salsola species, the whole plant, its parts or the extracts may purportedly be used to address various ailments. In S. kali, the powdered form of the entire plant is used to treat cough, while the ashes of aerial parts of S. imbricata are used mixed with sugar to treat abdominal distention, constipation and dyspepsia. Given the Maltese translation of the Maltese Salt Tree to “tree of ashes,” it may also be the case that similar uses were found for this plant in antiquity. Salsola species additionally produce useful biochemicals. The salsoline and salsolidine found in the leaves, flowers and fruits of Salsola species, particularly of S. richteri, are used to treat hypertension.
The salt extract of S. tragus is also considered important for the regulation of hypertension, and acts as a uterine vaso-constrictor, and to it are attributed other uses amongst which as a diuretic and for the treatments of intestinal obstructions. The roots of S. tetrandra are reported to produce tetranin alkaloids,[9] which are also useful to treat hypertension, and bear potential for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions. These compounds are normally found in spider mites’ saliva and elicit host plant defence against these pests. It is justified to think that such compounds may be developed into eco-friendly biocontrol agents which stimulate a plant's natural defences against pests.
The scientific studies on the uses of S. melitensis are virtually non-existent therefore no clear understanding exists about the potential uses of this plant. However, it is not preposterous to assume that some of the uses attributable to other members of the Salsola genus may also extend to the Maltese Salt Tree as well.[10]
References
- ^ "Salsola melitensis Botsch". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Govaerts, R. "World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS D: 1-30141. mentioned in: "Darniella melitensis (Botsch.) Brullo"". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b Haslam, S. M. (1977). Flora of the Maltese islands.
- ^ Akhani, Hossein; Edwards, Gerald; Roalson, Eric H. Diversification of the Old World Salsoleae s.l. (Chenopodiaceae): Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Nuclear and Chloroplast Data Sets and a Revised Classification.
- ISBN 9783030345242.
- ISBN 3874291049.
- .
- ^ Mifsud, Stephen (2002-08-23). "Salsola melitensis (Maltese Salt Tree) : MaltaWildPlants.com - the online Flora of the Maltese Islands". www.maltawildplants.com. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- S2CID 85455944.
- )