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| Taverniera aegyptiaca | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Taverniera |
| Species: | T. aegyptiaca
|
| Binomial name | |
| Taverniera aegyptiaca Boiss.[1]
| |
Taverniera aegyptiaca is a subshrub or shrub in the legume family, native to arid regions from Egypt and Eritrea through the Arabian Peninsula to Sudan and South Sudan.[1]
Taverniera aegyptiaca is a small, well-branched shrub ranging from 30 to 75 cm tall, with a generally green appearance. It commonly flowers between March and April.[2] The plant is characterized by its small, deciduous leaves, and its dark purple flowers, which become paper-like in texture and enclose the segmented fruit. The fruit is a small, tuberculous pod that is segmented.[3]
Taverniera aegyptiaca occurs naturally in Egypt, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and across the Arabian Peninsula, thriving in desert and dry shrubland biomes.[1] In Qatar, it is locally frequent in the northeast in sandy and compact soils, typically near the coast.[2] It is adapted to sub-saline, sandy-clayey soils.[3]
It is commonly used as fodder,[3] and is noted for its year‑round palatability to sheep and goats.[4]
Wikidata ☰ Q15542625 entry