Salt Tree (Nitraria retusa)
Description
Nitraria retusa is a salt-tolerant and drought-resistant shrub or bush in the family Nitrariaceae. The plant grows to 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) tall, although it is usually less than 1 m in height. It has tiny, white to green, fragrant flowers and small edible red fruit. The plant is native to desert areas of northern Africa, where it grows in primary succession on barren sand dunes and in areas with high salinities such as salt marshes. Nitraria retusa is a much-branched bush growing to a maximum height of about 2.5 m (8 ft). The twigs are downy when young, the bluish-grey fleshy leaves being alternate, wedge or sickle-shaped, with entire margins and measuring 10 to 15 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) by 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in). The small, sweetly-scented, whitish or greenish flowers have short pedicels and parts in fives. The fruit is a triangular drupe, 5 to 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) in diameter.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Sapindales
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Family: Nitrariaceae
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Genus: Nitraria
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