Salsola oppositifolia Desfontani

About Salsola Oppositifolia Desfontani:

• It is a species that belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae.
• Features
  • It is a perennial shrub that grows in saline, arid to semi-arid environments.
  • It is a succulent shrub that can grow one to two metres tall and have a smooth, cylindrical, woody base.
  • It is rarely prostrate and unlike other species of Salsola, does not have any hairs.
  • As the name oppositifolia suggests, the leaves of this plant grow opposite each other in the stem.
  • It is a halophyte plant -a plant adapted to growing in saline conditions.
• This species, earlier known from Italy, Northern Africa, Palestine, Spain and Western Sahara.
• It has been reported for the first time from India based on the collection made from Khadir Bet, Kutch, Gujarat at 15.5-m altitude. 
• It is the sixth species of Salsola genus to be discovered in India.
• Five other species of Salsola genus which have been recorded in India are Salsola kali, Salsola hatmanii, Salsola monoptera, Caroxylon imbricatum (Salsola baryosma) and Halogeton glomeratus (Salsola glomerata).
• Plants of the Salsola genus have salty juice stored in their leaves.
• Uses
  • Salsola oppositifolia is used as a raw material for manufacturing soda ash.
  • Other Salsola species are used in manufacturing lye and soaps.
  • Research has established that the species of this genus are rich in pharmacological properties also.