Aizoon canariense in Algeria: The Resilient Desert Herb of Native Algerian Flora
Taxonomy:
|
Aizoon canariense is a
fascinating component of Algeria’s native flora, especially in arid steppe and
desert zones. Its succulent leaves, ground-hugging habit, star-shaped fruit and
tolerance of harsh conditions make it both botanically interesting and
ecologically important. While it may not be as prominent as large shrubs or
trees, it enriches the biodiversity of Algerian
desert plants and the flora of
North Africa. For conservation, ecological restoration or simply
botanical interest, this species offers a wonderful case of adaptation to
dryness and poor soils.
Introduction
Aizoon canariense (Linnaeus) is a small, low-lying succulent herb belonging to the family Aizoaceae. Adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, it thrives in sandy, gravelly or saline soils and plays a subtle yet meaningful role in the flora of north Africa. In Algeria, it appears in dry pasture and steppe zones and contributes to the diversity of Algerian wild plants, native Algerian flora, and the flora of North Africa more broadly. This post will explore its taxonomy, synonyms, global and local names, Algerian distribution, botanical characteristics, ecological and ethnobotanical traits, and identification tips.
Synonyms:
Aizoon canariense L.
Aizoon canariense var. denudata Sond.
Aizoon procumbens Crantz
Aizoon spathulatum
Veslingia cauliflora Moench
Glinus chrystallinus Forssk
How to identify it?
Aizoon canariense is species of the genus Aizoon, native to the Canary Islands, and it is from the Aizoaceae family, it has spread widely in North Africa as well as the Mediterranean. It is a type of branching and succulent plant whose small single green to yellow flowers. They give, after fertilization, a red star-shaped capsule. It is a very drought tolerant plant. Once its life cycle is over, it dries up completely leaving only the plant's skeleton.
- Habit: Prostrate or low-lying annual or subshrub, many-branched, stems spreading along the ground.
- Leaves: Alternate, petiolate, fleshy (succulent), sub-orbicular to obovate/lanceolate, frequently with papillae or short hairs, margins entire. Size approx. 6–40 mm long, 2–40 mm wide.
- Stems and leaves often covered with fine papillae giving a glistening or textured appearance.
- Flowers: Solitary in leaf axils or branch forks, sessile or subsessile. Perianth (tepals) 1-3 mm long, yellowish inside and greenish or reddish outside, often hairy externally. Stamens ~12-15.
- Fruit: A depressed star-shaped (4 or 5-angled) capsule, diameter 5-8 mm, splitting into valves when moisture triggers dehiscence. Seeds many, reniform.
- Habitat clue: Look for it on shallow, dry, gravelly, sandy or saline soils—often in disturbed, open ground in arid zones.
|
Type
Of Plant |
Life
Cycle |
Height |
Flowering
Time |
Altitude |
|
Herbaceous |
Annual |
5 to 35 c m |
Feb to Sep |
0 - ? m |
|
Mediterranean |
Edible |
Color |
Abundance |
Toxicity |
|
Yes |
Yes/leaves seeds |
Green/yellow |
common |
No |
Other
Common Name:
|
Arabic |
Berber/Targui |
English |
French |
Other
Name |
|
Hadak |
|
Purslane-leaved aizoon |
Aizoon des
canaries |
Zulu spinach,Pata de perro |
Algerian Distribution & Where to Find It
According to succulent flora surveys in Algeria:
Aizoon canariense is listed among the native Aizoaceae of Algeria, recorded in “desert pastures” and arid regions of the Algerian Sahara.
Specific notes: Found in Western Sahara region of Algeria (e.g., around Béchar) and on rocky plateau of Hoggar at ~1,800 m altitude.
Habitat: Arid, gravelly or shallow soils, steppe or desert-pasture environments.
While exact coordinates are seldom published, the plant is broadly reported “throughout the Algerian Sahara in desert pastures”.Suggested locations for field search in Algeria:
Western Algeria (Béchar region) in desert steppe zones.
Hoggar (Ahaggar) mountainous plateau for higher altitude occurrences (~1,800 m).
Arid steppe pastures in central Algeria (Djelfa, etc) where soil is shallow, gravelly.International Distribution
Related
species:
§ Aizoon sessiliflorum
§ Aizoon Dinter
§ Aizoon procumbens
§ Aizoon spathulatum
§ Aizoon glinoides
§ Aizoon karooicum
§ Aizoon paniculatum
§ Aizoon rigidum
§ Aizoon sarmentosum
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