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Achyranthes sicula -Algeria’s Overlooked Wildflower Gem

 

is achyranthes sicula found in algeria

Taxonomy:       

Kingdom:

Plantae

Phylum:

Tracheophytes

Class:

Angiosperms

Class:

Eudicots

Order:

Caryophyllales

Family:

Amaranthaceae

Genus:

Achyranthes

Species:

A. sicula










flora of algeria  Algerian wild flowers  endemic plants of algeria  algerian native plants  native algerian flora  rare plants in algeria  Flora Algeria  Achyranthes Argentea

While much attention goes to Algeria’s iconic Saharan cypress or wild thyme, few know about Achyranthes sicula ,a discreet yet fascinating member of Algeria’s native flora. This plant, sometimes classified as Achyranthes aspera var. sicula, is a botanical enigma hiding in plain sight.

 

Synonym:

·        Achyranthesa aspera var.sicula

·        Achyranthes Argentea lam

·        Achyranthes aspera auct

 

Why you’ve never heard of it?

Unlike more famous Algerian wild plants, this species suffers from:

  • Few scholarly articles or nature blogs cover it
  • Identification confusion: Often mistaken for its cousin A. aspera
  • Habitat secrecy: Grows in scattered, hard-to-reach locations
Yet its story is key to understanding:
Algerian plant biodiversity mysteries
Ancient medicinal uses now forgotten
Survival strategies of Algerian desert plants

     

      How to identify it?

Leaves: Opposite, oval with wavy margins (unlike Achyranthes aspera)

Flowers:Greenish-white spikes that cling to clothing

Habitat: Rocky slopes and abandoned fields in Northern Algeria

Primary: Greenish-white to pale yellow

Distinctive Feature: Tiny flowers cluster on upright spikes with a texture (cling to clothing/fur).

Growth Form: Sprawling to semi-erect, often forming dense patches.

 
Field Tip: Look for its red-tinged stems and upward-curving flower spikes to distinguish it from common Achyranthes aspera.
 
 

Type Of Plant

Life Cycle

Height

Flowering Time

Altitude

Herbaceous

Perennial

30 to 70 cm

March to June

50 - 1200 m

Mediterranean

Edible

Color

Abundance

Toxicity

Yes-rare

Yes

Greenish-white

 Non Common

No

 

Other Common Name:

Arabic

Berber/Targui

English

French

Other Name

dhil Elfar,Qatifa shouk

ⵜⴰⵙⵍⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵉⵖⵔⴼ Taslit n ighref

Devile's horsewhip

Queue de rat

prickly-chaff flower,abrojo rabo de gato


Where to Find this wild plant in Algeria?

This rare plant in Algeria favors:
The Kabylie region’s limestone outcrops
Abandoned olive groves near Constantine
Coastal cliffs east of Algiers

 

Pro Tip: Look for its sticky seed pods attached to animal fur, nature’s tracking device.

 

The Forgotten Uses

While not currently listed among medicinal plants in Algeria, historical records suggest:

  • Berber communities used its roots for wound healing
  • Leaves may have served as famine food (wild edible plants alternative)
Potential as a natural pesticide (research ongoing)

 

Related species:

Achyranthes aspera

Achyranthes aspera var.rubrofusca

Achyranthes aspera var. aspera

Achyranthes aspera var .pubscens

Achyranthes Sicula

  • Achyranthes aspera var.sicula

·        Achyranthes argentea lam

·        Achyranthes aspera auct

  • Achyranthes argentea var.viridescens 
  • Achyranthesa aspera var.argentea  
  • Achyranthes aspera f.suffruticosa

  

Another Web Photos: Achyranthes Argentea:

algerian native plants Achyranthes Argentea Endemic Algerian Wildflower Achyranthes algerian wild plants

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