Haloxylon ammodendron
2360287
204571335
2008-04-09T23:33:39Z
BáthoryPéter
5940645
interwiki:hu
{{Refimprove|date=March 2008}}
{{Taxobox
| image = Saxaul-baum.JPG
| image_width = 220px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
| familia = [[Amaranthaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Chenopodioideae]]
| genus = ''[[Haloxylon]]''
| species = '''''H. ammodendron'''''
| binomial = ''Haloxylon ammodendron''
}}
The '''saxaul''', sometimes '''sacsaoul''' or '''saksaul''' (scientific name '''''Haloxylon ammodendron'''''), is a plant belonging to the [[Amaranthaceae]]. The name saxaul is also applied to ''Haloxylon persicum'' (or [[White saxaul]]) and ''Haloxylon aphyllum'' (or [[Black saxaul]]).
The saxaul ranges in size from a large shrub to a small tree. The wood is heavy and coarse and the bark is spongy and water-soaked. The leaves of the tree are so small that it appears to be without leaves, giving it a dull grey appearance. However, the branches of young trees are green and pendulous. The saxaul has small yellow flowers.
==Distribution==
The saxaul is found in the arid salt deserts of Central Asia, particularly in the [[Turkestan]] region and east of the [[Caspian Sea]], as far as the [[Gobi]], and also in many scattered areas of [[Iran|Iranian]] deserts. It is often found in 'saxaul forests'.
Already listed as at risk of extinction<ref name=HuangPX>{{cite|author=Huang PX.|date=2000|title=No-irrigation vegetation and its restoration in arid area.|publisher=Beijing: Science Press.}}</ref>, the saxaul now is facing additional pressure as it is being used for fuel to fight the [[2008 Central Asia energy crisis]].<ref name=EN>{{cite web|author=Farangis Najibullah|date=[[January 13]] [[2008]]|title=Tajikistan: Energy shortages, extreme cold create crisis situation|work=[[EurasiaNet]]|accessdate=2008-03-07|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp011308.shtml}}</ref>
==Uses==
The thick bark of the saxaul tree stores water. Quantities of the bark may be pressed for drinking water, making saxaul an important source of water in arid regions where it grows.
In the Gobi desert, the saxaul is often the only kind of tree found. It used to be, and in some place still is, the only kind of wood that [[nomads]] can use for heating and cooking.
A parasitic plant, ''[[Cistanche deserticola]]'', that grows on the roots of the saxaul is prized in [[Chinese medicine]] as the '[[ginseng]] of the desert'.
Saxaul is planted on a large scale in the [[afforestation]] of arid areas in China. Being highly drought-resistant, it has played an important role in the establishment of shelter belts and the fixation of sand dunes as a counter to [[desertification]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Amaranthaceae]]
[[de:Saxaul]]
[[fa:تاغ]]
[[hu:Szakszaul]]
[[ru:Саксаул зайсанский]]
[[zh:梭梭]]