Plants of Israel: Anabasis setifera

Anabasis setifera, Anabasis,
Hebrew: יפרוק זיפני, Arabic: الشَّنَّان الشُعيري

Scientific name:   Anabasis setifera Moq.
Common name:   Anabasis
Hebrew name:   יפרוק זיפני
Arabic name:   الشَّنَّان الشُعيري
Family:   Chenopodiaceae, סלקיים


Life form:   Chamaephyte
Succulence:   Stem + leaf succulent
Stems:   Succulent stems; deeply grooved; the stomata in these grooves are unable to open widely, thus reducing the risk of over-loss of moisture
Leaves:   Opposite, cylindrial or terete
Flowers:   Green
Fruits / pods:   Dispersal fruit containing a seed, fruit coat, tepals, and 5 wings developing from the tepals back and assisting wind-dispersal
Flowering Period:   August, September, October, November
Habitat:   Desert
Distribution:   Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Anabasis, Ἀνάβασις, ana, “up” + bainein, “to go”.

setifera, seta, a bristle; fer, to bear, carry; bristle bearing.
The Hebrew word: יפרוק, yifrok , jointed, composed of articulated segments.

  • The standard author abbreviation Moq. is used to indicate Christian Horace Bénédict Alfred Moquin-Tandon (1804–1863), a French naturalist and doctor.

Minute insects penetrating into the young stems discharge white and sweet foamy liquid which is named by the Bedouin “mann” or “manna”.