0571 



TAMARISK 



Family: PORTULACACEAE [Translator's note: now in family Tamaricaceae.] 

 Reproductive system: PENTANDRY,TRIGYNY. 



The elegant foliage and wavy branches of the French tamarisk, Tamarix gallica, 

 LINN., give it a picturesque appearance. From a distance it could be taken for a cypress or 

 a savin, but its pretty flower spikes clearly distinguish it. The stem reaches a height of 

 three or four meters; it has slender, wavy, reddish branches. The leaves are tiny, short, 

 pointed, and imbricate. They look a lot like cypress leaves. The purple-white flowers 

 emerge on small slender spikes set alternately at the ends of the branches. The calyx has 

 five very deep divisions. The corolla has five petals that are larger than the sections of the 

 calyx. There are five stamens. The ovary terminates in three oblong stigmata. The fruit is 

 a capsule with three polyspermous valves. 



FLOWERS: from May until October. 



RANGE: southern France. 



Nomenclature. German, franzcesische tamarisken. English, thefrench 

 tamarisk. Spanish, taray, talaya. Russian, grebenschik. Commonly, tamarisk of 

 Nar bonne. 



USES. The roots and the bark of this shrub are used to treat dropsy and 

 obstructions of the liver, spleen, and other vital organs. They're used as ingredients in 

 laxative infusions and in decoctions. An extract of the bark prepared with white wine or 

 brandy is also a potent laxative when given at a dose of one or two drams. 



Dyers sometimes use the fruit instead of nutgall for a black dye. The wood is used 

 to make small furniture pieces, cups, goblets, etc. 



