Calligonum polygonoides
Calligonum polygonoides, locally known as phog (Hindi: फोग), is a small shrub found in Thar desert areas, usually 4 feet to 6 feet high but occasionally may reach even 10 feet in height with a girth of 1 to 2 ft.[1] This plant is referred to as orta in old Arabic poetry. It commonly grows on dry sandy soils and on sand dunes. It is very hardy and being capable of growing under adverse conditions of soil and moisture. It is frost hardy. It produces root suckers and is easily propagated by cutting and layering.
| Calligonum polygonoides | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Genus: | Calligonum |
| Species: | C. polygonoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Calligonum polygonoides | |
Distribution
It is found from arid and semi-arid areas of Thar desert in India and Pakistan at the east to the Goravan Sands State Reservation in Armenia, Azerbaijan (Nakhichevan), and Turkey (Aralykh, Igdir). It is becoming increasingly rare due to the demand for its roots, which are used to make charcoal. Overgrazing and sand mining are also having an effect (Tadevosyan, 2001).
Uses
Its charcoal is used to melt iron. Its flowers, known as phogalo in Rajasthani, are used to prepare rayata.[1]
The plant is fed to cattle. It is an important part of the habitat for semi-desert wildlife.[1]
References
- L R Burdak (1982): Recent advances in desert afforestation, Dehradun, p.56
Further reading
- Kaul, R. N. (1963). Need for afforestation in the arid zones of India. La-Yaaran vol 13.
- Ghosh, R. C. (1977). Hand Book on Afforestation Techniques. Dehradun.
- Gupta, R. K. & I. Prakasah. (1975). Environmental Analysis of the Thar Desert. Dehradun.
- Tadevosyan, T. L. (2001). On the ecology of the joint weed-like calligonum (Calligonum polygonoides L., Dicotyledones, Polygonaceae). Proceedings of Republican Youth Scientific Conference: The Future of Ecological Science in Armenia. Yerevan. pp. 35-42. (In Russian)
- Tadevosyan, T. L. (2007). The role of vegetation in microhabitat selection of syntopic lizards, Phrynocephalus persicus, Eremias pleskei and Eremias strauchi from Armenia. Amphibia-Reptilia 28(3) 444-48.
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