Salt Bush, Mustard Tree
Salvadora persica
Family: Salvadoraceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows 4-6 metres high. It has many branches forming a rambling habit. The stems are crooked and can grow along the ground. The branches are drooping and twisted. They are slender and greenish white. The bark is thin and rough. It is cream coloured. The leaves occur opposite one another along the stem. They are on short stalks. The leaves are smooth and fleshy but thick and leathery. They are greenish blue and have small stipules. The leaves are oval and 7 cm long by 3 cm wide. They end in a short stiff point. The flowers are yellow and small. many flowers occur together in a branched arrangement near the ends of branches. These flower arrangements are 5-8 cm long. The fruit is a round berry about 6 mm across. They are red when ripe. Seedless fruit can occur. The seedless fruit are dark red. The fruit are edible.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in the dry tropics. It grows in the Sahel. It occurs at low altitudes. It suits high temperatures. Temperatures of 20-30°C annual average are appropriate. It cannot stand frost. It occurs in areas with an annual rainfall of 50-300 mm but also in areas with 1,100 mm. In high rainfall areas it occurs on salty soils. It prefers clay to sandy soils such as on flood plains. It can be in mangroves. It can be used to reclaim salty soils. In Kenya it grows from sea level to 1,500 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Algeria, Angola, Arabia, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Chad, China, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are edible when cooked. They are also used to make a drink. The fruit can be dried and stored. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in sauces. The tender shoots and leaves are eaten raw in salads. The seed oil is edible. A fat from the seeds is used as a substitute for vegetable butters in chocolate. The seeds have a spicy taste like mustard. A vegetable salt is derived form the ash of the plant.
Edible parts
Seeds, leaves, fruit, bark, vegetable, seeds - oil
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds. Many seeds are produced. Germination is poor due to substances in the fruit flesh. Therefore it is important to remove seeds from the fruit before planting. Plants can be grown in a nursery then transplanted when 3 years old.
In the Sahel the plant flowers in January-February and fruit ripens February-March. In Tanzania, fruit are collected during the rainy season.
Its other names
Local names
Acuil, Adai, Ade, Arak, Asiokon, Ateta, Bouco, Caday, Cengeno, Chhota peelu, Chokow'o, Chota pilu, Dadaho, Dhalu, Diyar, Eremit, Esekon, Ghunia, Goni-mara, Grape of the desert, Hadayito, Huda, Irak, Jal, Jhak, Jhal, Kalawa, Kallijari, Karkol, Khabar, Khakhin, Kharijal, Kharijar, Kharjal, Khoris, Kickni, Kotungo, Lirak, Mard, Mawaki, Meethal jal, Mero, Miraj, Mirajoli, Mithi jal, Motijalya, Mswache, Mswake, Mswaki, Mukayau, Munbouco, Muswak, Nancapa, Ol-remit, Oremit, Peelu, Pelo, Pelu, Perungoli, Pilu, Piludi, Pilva, Plaman, Rak, Rhakhan, Riga llkani, Rumay, Shao, Sykotei, Thorapilu, Toboto, Toothbrush Tree, Ughaiputtai, Ui, Varagogu, Vivay, Xamudh
Synonyms
Galenia asiatica Burm.f.; Salvadora indica Wight; Salvadora persica var. wightiana (Planch. ex Thwaites) Verdc.; Salvaroda wightiana Planch. ex Thwaites;