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Balanites aegyptiaca

Authority (L.) Delile Family Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Sapindales:Zygophyllaceae Synonyms Agialida barteri, Agialida senegalensis, Balanites aegyptica, Balanites zizyphoides, Ximenia aegyptiaca Common names archnu (Lybia), badana (Amargna), baddanno (Oromiffaa), balanita, bito tree, desert date, guasa (Amargna), hankalta (Konsogna), heglig, kullan, loba, lolab tree, merwa tree, q-og-g-ogat, saronga, shashoba, tau Editor Ecocrop code 3608

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small evergreen or semi-deciduous tree or shrub reaching a height of 6-12 m. It has a remarkably fluted trunk, with greyish-brown to yellowish-green, scaling bark, a spherical crown and long, straight, green spines arranged spirally along the branches. The flowers are yellowish-green and the fruit is about 2,5 cm long and 1.2 cm in diameter, it has a single hard seed and resembles a small date when ripe. USES The bittersweet fruit is edible and has medicinal properties. The bark can be used as poison against fish, snails and tadpoles. The seeds yield a fixed oil. The wood can be used as firewood. KILLING T Frost resistant. GROWING PERIOD Slow-growing perennial. May reach a height of 1-3 m after 3 years, or 2-5 m after 8 years. COMMON NAMES Desert date, Lalob, Soapberry tree, Thorn tree, Jericho balsam, Heglig, Corona di Jesus, Lamunch, Shimaron, Najlij, Bhanitez, Aduwa, Tanni, Kingo, Mnyara, Njienjia, Adowa, Goleteki, Got, Mourotoki, Taborak, Tabarak, Aduwa, Kullum, Ghut, Arraronyit, Ol Ngoswa, Mkonga, Mjunju. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: B. zizyphoides, Ximenia aegyptiaca, Agialida senegalensis, A. barteri. Desert date is indigenous to African woodlands along the Sahara's southern border. It can be found at elevations from 380 m below sea level to 2300 m above sea level. Often found in vallies and on river banks, in depressions and and on the foot and slope of rocky hills. It is drought hardy and mentioned as a possible agroforestry species. The tree withstands grass fires. It can run wild in to abundante environments and become a weed.
Sources
Grassland Index Roecklein J 1987 pp 211 [USE] Duke J 1975 pp 8 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] White F 1983 pp 87 105 107 206 224 Puri S 1992 pp 46-2 National RC 1983c pp 54-55 [USE, DRA, TEXT, DEP, TEMP, RAIN, SAL, LIMITS] Iwu M 1993 pp 129 [USE] IBPGR 1984 pp 24 Maydell H 1986 pp 179-182 [DRA, TEXT, RAIN, USE] Hensleight T 1988 pp 372 [TEMP, RAIN, TEXT, USE]