Conocarpus lancifolius

Conocarpus lancifolius

Classification of the plant

Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnopsida
Order	Myrtales
Family	Combraceae
Genus	Conocarpus
Specie

 

Habitat

It is native to coastal and riverine areas of Somalia, Djibouti, and Yemen. It is found throughout East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and South Asia. Commonly found in residential compounds in Dubai U.A.E. The tree has no common name in English. In Somali, it is called ghalab; in Arabic, the name is damas.

Biological Importance

·         The tree's wood is dense and suitable for charcoal. Goats use the young trees and shoots as fodder, although the leaves contain tannin.

·          Because of its high salt tolerance and relative drought tolerance, the tree is sometimes planted as a pioneer species in re-forestation projects in its native habitat.

·         With suitable plant spacing it can also be grown as a hardy single-stemmed tree which is good for shade.

·         The tree thrives exceptionally well in the hot and dry climate of the city.

Aesthetic Value

·         The tree has been extensively used in Karachi for landscaping along roads and by homeowners as a tall hedging tree for screening purposes

·         The tree has a symmetrical growth habit and can easily be shaped into a variety of different forms.

·         It can be shaped into short and tall hedges, and is effective for creating a visual or a noise barrier.