Fagonia bruguieri DC.
الشكاعي، مدرمية، حنب، جنبة عربية، شويكة، ضرمية، شاج
For people
- Eaten by people
- Unknown
- Toxic to people
- Unknown
For livestock
- Grazed by livestock
- Limited fodder
- Toxic to livestock
- Not toxic
Edibility and safety notes
No source documents people eating this spiny shrublet; it is only used in folk medicine as a decoction. No human poisoning is reported but there are no safety studies, so it should not be eaten. Livestock, especially camels, browse it to a limited extent without reported harm; grazing pressure is even listed as a threat to the species in the UAE.
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 profusely branched pale green biennial or perennial shrublet up to 30 cm tall, covered with minute hairs or capitate glands. Branches are prostrate to erect, 4-angled. Basal leaves are trifoliolate, upper leaves unifoliolate, fleshy. Flowers are small, 8-10 mm across, pale-pink or purplish.
Habitat
Grows in deserts, dry washes, ditches and on rocky outcrops.
Distribution
North Africa, Sinai, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan to Pakistan and north-west India; throughout the Arabian Peninsula including Qatar, the UAE and Oman.
Pastoral value
Of low grazing value; browsed by camels.
Other uses
Traditionally used in Oman: the crushed and boiled leaves and roots are drunk for colic and to reduce fever, and the whole plant boiled with thyme is used for kidney stones and eye complaints. Elsewhere in the region Fagonia species are used as bitter medicinal decoctions.
Sources
- الدليل الحقلي المصور للنباتات البرية في سلطنة عُمان (BOOK.pdf p.198)
- POWO — Zygophyllum bruguieri (DC.) Christenh. & Byng (accepted name of Fagonia bruguieri) — powo.science.kew.org
- UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants — Fagonia bruguieri — nationalredlist.org
- Flora of Qatar — Fagonia bruguieri — floraofqatar.com
- Burton, The Land of Midian Revisited (1879), appendix IV: Fagonia bruguieri 'animals eat' — burtoniana.org
