Plant Archive

This page represents a living archive of ancient and contemporary knowledge about the plants we use in agricultural cultivation, ecological restorative efforts, and the overlapping spaces of regenerative agriculture.

Salsola’s Plant Archive presents medicinal, botanical, and scientific properties of different fruits, vegetables, trees, and shrubs, but also emphasizes spiritual and historical facets, demonstrating the ways in which are deeply entangled in surrounding vegetation and food systems. Humans have coexisted with plants for millennia, and acknowledging our profound connection with these species allows for more meaningful and effective work in creating systems to support our health and intertwined with collective health on this planet.

Working with trees, shrubs, vines, fruits, and vegetables is not simply a matter of technical and biological knowledge, but it is also a spiritual practice and a way to tap into generational, land based wisdom that is invaluable to the human experience.

Acacia أَكاسِيا खदिर

Acacia gerrardii

"٥٦: ٢٩ وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ… فِى سِدْرٍۢ مَّخْضُودٍۢ وَطَلْحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ

And the people of the right—how blessed will they be! They will be amid thornless lote trees, clusters of acacia.” Quran 56: 27-29

Native to: With hundreds of species of acacias, there are varieties native to almost every continent in the world.

Medicinal Properties: With antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, Acacia gerrardii is known to be helpful in many ailments including sore throat and cough, pulmonary issues, and diarrhea.

Agricultural and Ecological Use: Acacia varieties are extremely resilient to heat, drought, and often time salinity, making them useful as part of a “swelter belt”, or areas in a farm that create microclimate through dense planting of low-maintenance trees. Some acacias are also nitrogen fixers, increasing fertility of soil, and because of their fast growth can be well integrated into agroforestry systems for “chop and drop”. Recent studies have also shown that the acacia gerrardii produces higher levels of bioactive compounds which are helpful in staving off environmental pathogens, and could have properties to support anti-fungal support in agriculture.

Ginger زنجبيل आर्द्रक

Zingiber officinale

٧٦:١٧ ۞ وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا

“And they will be given to drink thereof a cup in which there is a mixture of ginger.” Qur'an 76:17

Native to: Southeast Asian Islands

Medicinal properties: Used extensively in Ayurveda, with numerous health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and its ability to support cold symptoms, nausea, and digestive issues. It may help lose weight, manage arthritis, reduce menstrual symptoms, and many more functions.

Agricultural and Ecological Use: A perennial herbaceous plant, ginger can be integrated as a shrub layer in agroforestry systems, and can be dispersed among annual crops to contribute to pest control. Additionally, ginger is a cash crop and can be used rotationally for income generation. Ginger prefers warmer climates, without risk of frost, long spans of indirect sunshine, and well-fertilized, slightly acidic, moist soil with decent drainage.

Nutritional Value: Ginger is rich in antioxidants, and is a source of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B6.

“Ginger rhizomes are "warming and digestive, soften the intestines gently, and are good for the stomach.” Dioscorides, De Materia Medica, 1st century CE
“Ginger of Syria [is] aromatic, tonic and stimulant.” Maimonides, Regimen of Health, 1198

Ghaf الغاف

Prosopis cineraria

Native to: Arabian Gulf, specifically UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Prosopis cineraria is the national tree of the UAE.

Medicinal Properties: Every part of the tree can be used for medicinal purposes, and it was widely utilized by desert dwellers of the Arabian peninsula from the treatment of eye, tooth, and sinus issues with the leaves, to support for broken bones using ashes from the burnt wood. The bark of the tree is tonic, and can be used for treating colds, rheumatism, dysentery, scorpion stings, and much more. The ghaf has acted as a pharmacy for an array of health challenges for centuries.

Agricultural and Ecological Use: The roots of the ghaf tree can reach up to 60 meters long, tapping into groundwater and irrigating themselves independently. This tree is extremely valuable to integrate into regenerative farming operations in desert climates, as it provides fodder, medicine for humans and animals, biomass for mulching more sensitive trees, and can support in the creation of irrigation-independent microclimates.

Nutritional Value: Leaves of the ghaf are rich vitamin A, C, and K, as well as calcium, magnesium, and iron, and have high antioxidant content.

Gourd يقطين अलाबु

Cucurbita, Lagenaria species

٣٧:١٤٥-١٤٦ ۞ فَنَبَذْنَـٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌۭ. وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةًۭ مِّن يَقْطِينٍۢ

“But We cast [Jonah] onto the open shore, totally worn out. And caused a squash plant to grow over him.” Qur'an 37:145-146

Native to: Arid and tropical Africa

Medicinal properties: Pumpkin and quash are used in Ayurveda to cure fatigue, thirst, cold, ache, throat and eye infection. It is extremely supportive for the digestive system and purifies the blood. Pumpkin seeds have also been used in Native American folk medicine to treat urinary conditions and intestinal parasites.

Agricultural Use: Gourds and pumpkins grow on vines, offering generous shade; depending on the variety, they can provide great ground cover and in symbiosis with other plants (e.g. traditional corn, pumpkin and beans trio, known as the “Three Sisters”), and can also grow vertically on fences and shade sructures. Dried gourds can be used as biodegradable containers, while the luffa plants, from the same family, can be used as a natural skin exfoliant.

Nutritional Value: Many of the varieties in these families, such as cucumber, watermelon, melon, pumpkin and different kinds of squash, are edible and provide nutritional values such as hydration, betacarotene, Vitamin C, fibre and essential oils. The seeds are rich in protein, healthy fats, zinc, magnesium and antioxidants.

Grape عنب द्राक्षाफलम्

Vitis vinifera

٢٣:١٩ ۞ فَأَنشَأْنَا لَكُم بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ مِّن نَّخِيلٍۢ وَأَعْنَـٰبٍۢ لَّكُمْ فِيهَا فَوَٰكِهُ كَثِيرَةٌۭ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ

“With it We produce for you gardens of palm trees and grapevines, in which there are abundant fruits, and from which you may eat.” Qur'an 23:19

Native to: South Caucasus, spreading to Fertile Crescent, Jordan and Egypt 5,000 years ago

Medicinal Properties: Due to its vitamin and mineral content, grapes may help heart health and reduce cholesterol. Grapes contain resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant which has been shown to block the growth and spread of cancer cells, particularly in the cases of colon and breast cancers.

Agricultural and Ecological Use: Grapevines thrive in warm, dry, sunny locations, with well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil, they are a beautiful and useful way to utilize fencing and covered areas in food cultivation. There are diverse varieties for different climatic zones, with varieties for extreme heat and very frosty climates. Grapevines require the following nutrients to grow optimally: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper and boron. Yearly pruning is essential to produce either greater fruit production or greater vine growth.

Nutritional Value: Source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, thiamoin, riboflavin, potassium, copper, Vitamin B6, manganese, Vitamin E. Source of natural fruit sugars and dietary fibre, especially when dried.

Henna حناء मेहन्दी

Lawsonia inermis

Native to: Semi-arid and tropical northern Africa, Asia and northern Australia

Medicinal properties: The dried, ground leaves, mixed with water to form a paste, have antifungal, antiseptic, and cooling properties, from which its uses as a dye on skin and hair developed. Used in Ayurveda also to strengthen brittle nails, and internally (under expert supervision) to detox the liver and digestive system.

Agricultural Use: Drought tolerant, henna plants can be grown as hedges into hardiness zones 11+, in desert, tropical, Mediterranean or subtropical climates.

"My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En Gedi." Song of Solomon 1:14

Tamarisk اثل झावुक

Tamarix aphylla

٣٤:١٥ لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍۢ فِى مَسْكَنِهِمْ ءَايَةٌۭ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍۢ وَشِمَالٍۢ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۚ بَلْدَةٌۭ طَيِّبَةٌۭ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌۭ. فَأَعْرَضُوا۟ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ ٱلْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَـٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَىْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍۢ وَأَثْلٍۢ وَشَىْءٍۢ مِّن سِدْرٍۢ قَلِيلٍۢ.

“Indeed, there was a sign for Sheba in their homeland: two orchards—one to the right and the other to the left. Eat from the provision of your Lord, and be grateful to Him. Yours is a good land and a forgiving Lord. But they turned away. So We sent against them a devastating flood, and replaced their orchards with two others producing bitter fruit, fruitless bushes, and a few thorny trees.” Qur'an 34:15-16

Native to: Eurasia and Africa

Medicinal Properties: Its bark, shoots and gallnuts have been used in traditional medicine to treat jaundice, bladder complaints, and as a poultice for foot ulcers, while its wood has been traditionally used in purification ceremonies. In parts of the Indian subcontinent it has been used also to treat rheumatism, wounds and absesses, and to remove the evil eye.

Agricultural and Ecological Use: Very resistant to alkaline and saline soils, making it ideal in arid environments and along coastlines. Excellent windbreak and shade tree, and as a fire repellent as it does not burn easily due to its high salt and ash content; can regrow well after a fire. Can be invasive e.g. in Australia, when exposed to heavy rains. Its leaves are not appetizing as fodder for animals, protecting it from browsing, while its wood is useful to make furniture.

Botanists and Bible scholars generally agree that the eshel tree that Abraham plants in the Book of Genesis, 23:33, was a tamarix aphylla: “Abraham planted a tamarisk as Beersheb and called there on the name of the Lord."
An Akkadian Disputation Poem from the 18th century BCE, written on clay tablets during the time of Hammurabi, features an argument between a tamarisk and a date palm. “Tamarisk answered and spoke unto Palm, / "Consider what is yours among the palace equipment! / "On my table the king eats, / "And from my basket, the warriors eat. / "[I am a we]aver—I warp the threads, / I clothe the troops and brighten [the king]. / "I am an exorcist—I purify the temple, / "[I am truly superior]—I have no rival!"
Tamarisk is also mentioned in cuneiform texts as a windbreak and shade tree.