Argan Tree, Spiny Argania, Morocco Ironwood
Argania spinosa

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

Argan tree or Argania spinosa is a medium-sized, spiny evergreen tree commonly grown in Southwest Morocco for its highly valuable oil. It usually grows up to 10 m high with a trunk diameter of up to 100cm. It has small and oblong leaves that occur in clusters, small flowers that are yellow green in colour, and fruits that are hard and green. Argan seed oil is rich in vitamin E and can lower blood cholesterol levels, stimulate blood circulation, facilitate digestion, and strengthen the body’s natural defences. It can also be used in treating chicken pox and juvenile acne, and in removing stretch marks. The oil is also edible. It can be mixed with almonds and honey, or wheat germ and honey. Argan tree can be planted to prevent soil erosion due to its extensive root system. It also serves as wind breakers and is used for fencing. Its wood is very hard, heavy, and durable thus it is used in carpentry. It also makes a quality fuel and charcoal. Argan tree is drought-tolerant and frost-tolerant.

Argania spinosa is an evergreen Tree growing to 7 m (23ft) by 12 m (39ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Butterflies. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 7

Where it is found

Slopes of rough hills, seeming to thrive between the rocks on poor soil, at elevations up to 1,500 metres.

Northwest Africa - Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Africa, Algeria, Australia, Canary Islands, East Africa, Egypt, Haiti, Israel, Kenya, Libya, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Spain, Sudan.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Edible portion: Nut - oil, Leaves, Fruit. An edible oil is obtained from the seed . The white seeds contain up to 50% of a light brown oil. This oil is an excellent source of vitamin E, and has a high nutritional value in the human diet. The locals mix oil with almonds and honey to make an almond butter; it also mixed with wheat germ and honey to make gruel. The residue from the kernels, after oil extraction, is a thick chocolate-coloured paste called 'amlou' which is sweetened and served as a dip for bread at breakfast time in Berber households. Its flavour is similar to that of peanut butter . The fruit are pressed for the oil which has an aroma and is used in cooking. The oil is cold pressed from the fruit. The oil is used like olive oil for cooking, frying and salad dressing.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Chocolate: substitutes for chocolate, that is.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The oil from the seeds is rich in vitamin E and has properties which lower blood-cholesterol levels, stimulate circulation of the blood, facilitate digestion and strengthen the body's natural defences. It is used as a cure for chicken pox, to treat juvenile acne and help remove stretch marks on pregnant woman.

Anticholesterolemic: Prevents the build up of cholesterol.

Digestive: Aids digestion.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Vasodilator: Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.

Other

Rating: 3

Other uses rating: Medium (3/5). Agroforestry Uses: Argania spinosa shields thin soils from erosion, especially in overgrazed lands. Its deep roots help to bind the soil, facilitate water infiltration and replenish groundwater, thus helping to stabilise environmental conditions. The tree provides valuable shade for humans and livestock as well protecting pasture grasses from the extreme evapotranspiration that would result from direct exposure to sunlight. Argan woodlands form a green belt that functions as a buffer against desert advancement in southern Morocco. The plant is used for fencing and windbreaks Other Uses: An oil obtained from the seed is used for lighting and to make soap. The wood is very hard, heavy and durable. It is very resistant to damage from wood-eating organisms. It is used in carpentry, for making agricultural implements and building poles. The wood is a good fuel and makes a very good charcoal. The seed shells are also burnt as a fuel. Suitable for xeriscaping

Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.

Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Lighting: Plants that can be used as torches etc. See also Oil and Wax.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Shelterbelt: Wind resistant plants than can be grown to provide shelter in the garden etc.

Soap making: Plants used as an ingredient in making soaps. Does not include the essential oils, dyes and oils that are also used in making soap.

Soil reclamation: Plants that can be grown in such circumstances an the spoil tips of mines in order to restore fertility.

Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

New Crop: Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

New Crop: Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Coppice: A traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of very arid areas, mainly in the subtropical areas of northwest Africa, but just entering the tropics in Mauritania, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres . It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 20° - 30°c, but can tolerate 10° - 35°c. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower, but new growth is severely damaged at 0°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range of 200 - 300mm, but tolerates 100 - 400mm. Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, including very poor, dry soils. The tree is well suited to calcareous soils, sandy deposits and relatively poor semi-desert soils conditions but not drifting sands or water-logged soils. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8. Established plants are very drought tolerant - they can shed their foliage and remain in a state of dormancy for several years during prolonged droughts. Trees may start to bear when 5 - 6 years old from seed, and reach maximum production at the age of 60 years. The average fruit yield maybe about 8 kg per tree. A long-lived species, with trees living for 200 - 400 years. Trees respond very well to coppicing.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling

Its other names

Local names

Argan tree or Argania spinosa

Synonyms

Argania sideroxylon Roem. & Schult. Sideroxylon argan (Retz.) Baill. Sideroxylon spinosum L. Verlang