Cornulaca

Cornulaca is a genus of flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae. These are halophytic (salt-tolerant) shrubs or subshrubs adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, particularly in North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

Description: Cornulaca species are typically characterized by their highly branched, often spiny or thorny appearance. The leaves are small, scale-like, or reduced to spines, an adaptation to minimize water loss in their dry habitat. The flowers are inconspicuous and usually clustered within the leaf axils.

Distribution and Habitat: Cornulaca species are predominantly found in desert and semi-desert regions with saline soils. Their distribution ranges from the Sahara Desert across the Middle East to Central Asia. They are often found in coastal salt marshes, inland salt flats, and other areas with high salt concentrations in the soil.

Ecology: Cornulaca plays a role in stabilizing soils in fragile desert ecosystems. As halophytes, they can tolerate high salt concentrations that are toxic to many other plant species, allowing them to thrive in harsh environments. They may also provide limited forage for grazing animals.

Taxonomy: The classification of species within Cornulaca has been subject to some revision. Molecular studies and morphological characteristics are used to determine species boundaries.