Maerua crassifolia is a species of plant in the Capparaceae family. It is native to Africa, tropical Arabia, and Israel, but is disappearing from Egypt. Foliage from this plant is used as fodder for animals, especially camels, during the dry season in parts of Africa.
The plant grows commonly in Yemen, where it is called Meru. In the 18th century the plant's Arabic name Meru (مرو) was used as the source for the genus name Maerua. The 18th-century taxonomist was Peter Forsskål, who visited Yemen in the 1760s.[2]
It is used as a common nutrition source in central Africa, where it is called jiga and made into soups and other dishes. It was part of the daily diet of the Kel Ewey tribe of the tuaregs in the Aïr Mountains as late as in the 1980s, who would mix the cooked leaves with goat milk.[3]Maerua crassifolia was considered sacred to the ancient Egyptians.[citation needed]
^Oldfield, S. (2020). "Maerua crassifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T137749048A165379886. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T137749048A165379886.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^Maerua crassifolia in Flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra, Volume 1, year 1996, page 366, by A.G. Miller and T.A. Cope. Also Maerua in Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica, by Peter Forskal, year 1775, page 104 (in Latin).
^Spittler, G. 1983. Les Touaregs face aux sécheresses et aux famines : Les Kelewey de l'Aïr, Niger (1900-1985). Karthala, Paris.
and 11 Related for: Maerua crassifolia information
Maeruacrassifolia is a species of plant in the Capparaceae family. It is native to Africa, tropical Arabia, and Israel, but is disappearing from Egypt...
four most visible stars of Crux are considered iggaren, i.e. four Maeruacrassifolia trees. The Tswana people of Botswana saw the constellation as Dithutlwa...
the riparian forest consists of both the living trees including Maeruacrassifolia and the remaining skeletons of dead trees. Sossusvlei, Sesriem Canyon...
(Acacia ehrenbergiana), Egyptian balsam (Balanites aegyptiaca), and (Maeruacrassifolia). Along the southern edge are steppes featuring clumps of bunchgrass...
Panicum turgidum in the western and southern valleys, Acacia raddiana, Maeruacrassifolia, Salvadora persica, Panicum turgidum, Chenbergiana and Leptadenia...
are 45 species in Capparales assessed as least concern. Cleome socotrana Maerua andradae Alyssum dagestanicum, Dagestanian alyssum Armoracia rusticana,...
Global Information
