Zygophyllum fabago

Taxobox
name = "Zygophyllum fabago"


image_width = 250px
image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Zygophyllales
familia = Zygophyllaceae
genus = "Zygophyllum"
species = "Z. fabago"
binomial = "Zygophyllum fabago"
binomial_authority = L. [cite web
url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?42321
title=Zygophyllum fabago information from NPGS/GRIN
publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
accessdate=2008-04-30
last=
first=]

"Zygophyllum fabago" is a species of plant known by the common name Syrian bean-caper. It is considered a noxious weed of economic importance in many of the western United States. It is native to Asia and the Middle East.

The Syrian bean-caper grows long, thin stems with few oval-shaped, fleshy, waxy green leaflets each 2 to 3 centimeters in length. The flowers are small, compact bunches of five petals each with prominent stamens. The flowers have a taste and scent similar to caper. It grows in masses of individual plants, forming colonies, especially in dry, gravelly, saline, or disturbed areas where other plant life is rare.

The plant has invasive potential due to its long taproot which, even if fragmented, can produce a new plant, as well as the hardy wax coating on its leaves that tends to protect it from herbicides.

It contains about 0.002% harmine (entire plant). [cite web
url=http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/ayahuasca_apa/aya_sec2_zygophyllaceae.shtml
title=Erowid Online Books : "Ayahuasca: alkaloids, plants, and analogs" by Keeper of the Trout
publisher=www.erowid.org
accessdate=2008-04-30
last=
first=]

References

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7869,7881,7882 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Zygophyllum+fabago Photos]
* [http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Zygophyllum_fabago.html Info Sheet]