Anastatica hierochuntica L.
كف مرمي، تومه، شجرة مرمي، كباد، كففية
For people
- Eaten by people
- Not edible
- Toxic to people
- Not toxic
For livestock
- Grazed by livestock
- Good fodder
- Toxic to livestock
- Unknown
Edibility and safety notes
Not a food plant: people do not eat it, although the dried plant is soaked in water and the infusion drunk in folk medicine (especially around childbirth). It is generally regarded as non-toxic, but because it is traditionally used to bring on labour, pregnant women should avoid it. The field guide rates it as good grazing; no independent data on livestock were found.
This guide is a hobby project, not expert advice. Never eat a wild plant, or feed it to animals, on the strength of this page alone. Read the disclaimer
Description
A small gray annual herb rarely growing above 15 cm high with minute white flowers. Stems branch from the base and are usually ascending, densely pubescent with stellate hairs. Branches roll inward when dry, reopening when moistened.
Habitat
Typical plant of extreme desert environments, common in areas receiving less than 70 mm average annual rainfall. Found in sandy areas, rocky places, silty plains and dry wadis.
Distribution
Native to western Asia and the arid sandy zones of the Middle East, Sahara Desert, northern Africa, Iran, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Jordan and Pakistan.
Pastoral value
Rated as good grazing in the field guide.
Other uses
Traditionally used as a natural hygrometer to predict the weather, because its branches open in humid air and close when dry. Widely used in folk medicine in Arabia, North Africa and south-east Asia: the dried plant is soaked in water and the infusion is traditionally taken to ease childbirth and for various other complaints. Laboratory studies report antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Sources
- الدليل الحقلي المصور للنباتات البرية في سلطنة عُمان (BOOK.pdf p.59)
- Plants of the World Online — Anastatica hierochuntica L. — powo.science.kew.org
- Flora of Qatar — Anastatica hierochuntica — floraofqatar.com
- Wikipedia — Anastatica — en.wikipedia.org
- PMC — Anastatica hierochuntica (Kaff Maryam) review: ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, safety — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Research Journal of Pharmacognosy (2024) — Traditional uses and pharmacological properties of Anastatica hierochuntica — doaj.org
